How to Chat with Strangers Online: A Safety Checklist

Keep identifying details out of public chat

Do not share passwords, one-time codes, payment information, your address, or live location with someone you have just met. Be cautious about details that can identify you when combined, such as a workplace, a small school program, and a precise neighborhood. The FTC warns that people online may not be who they claim to be and recommends protecting personal information. ^[1]

Recognize pressure and suspicious links

Requests for money, account access, private images, or fast decisions deserve extra scrutiny. Avoid opening unexpected links or attachments. If a message claims to come from someone or an organization you know, verify it independently instead of replying through the message. ^[1][2]

Use the controls the service actually provides

Check whether the service offers reporting, blocking, moderation rules, or privacy controls, and learn how to use them before you need them. Do not assume that a text-only room is automatically moderated or risk-free. If a conversation becomes threatening, coercive, or uncomfortable, leave it and use available reporting tools. ^[3]

Remember the limits of anonymity

A display name is not the same thing as end-to-end encryption, verified anonymity, or protection from screenshots. In ChatHere, topic rooms are public: other participants can read messages while they are available. Avoid sharing sensitive information there.

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