Who We Are and What We Expect
Effective Date: February 27, 2026
Vetted is a dating app where women rate men after dates across five categories: Respect, Effort, Conversation, Honesty, and Appearance Accuracy. Date with confidence.
These Community Guidelines (“Guidelines”) explain what is and is not allowed on Vetted. They apply to all content and behavior on the Service: profiles, photos, Private Photos, chat messages, chat media, verification selfies, events triggered by usage (likes/passes/super likes), reports, and interactions with other users. They also apply to certain off-platform behavior when it is connected to Vetted (for example, using information from Vetted to stalk, harass, extort, out, or doxx someone).
Our mission and values
Dating apps work only when people feel safe enough to be themselves. Our values are:
- Authenticity: be real; represent yourself honestly; don’t catfish.
- Respect: treat people with dignity, including when you’re not a match.
- Consent: consent is required for everything—messages, photos, meetups, and boundaries.
- Mutual care: watch out for each other; report harmful behavior; don’t weaponize tools.
- Kindness: lead with kindness and responsibility. Disagreement is normal; cruelty is not.
- Discretion and privacy: social circles overlap, and not everyone is out. Outing is serious harm.
Scope and relationship to other policies
These Guidelines are part of our broader rules and safety framework. They operate alongside our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Safety Notice. If there is a conflict, the Terms of Service control. By using Vetted, you agree to follow these Guidelines.
Consequences overview
If you violate these Guidelines, we may take action to protect the community. Actions may include warning you, removing content, restricting features, reducing your visibility (shadow ban), suspending your account, or permanently banning you. Some violations are zero tolerance and may result in immediate permanent ban and reporting to authorities where required (for example, content involving minors).
Safety is not optional
Vetted is not a “anything goes” platform. We will prioritize user safety over growth metrics and engagement. If your behavior makes Vetted less safe for others, you may be removed.
Be Real
Use real photos of yourself
Your profile photos must be of you. Using someone else’s photos (including models, influencers, porn performers, or your friend) is not allowed—even if you “look similar” or think it’s a joke. Catfishing damages trust and is a safety risk.
- Allowed: clear photos of you taken recently; everyday life photos; beach photos where you are clearly you.
- Not allowed: stolen photos; photos of someone else; photos where you are not identifiable; photos that are primarily another person.
No AI-generated, deepfake, or synthetic-person profiles
Vetted is for real people. You may not use AI-generated faces, deepfakes, face swaps, or manipulated images intended to mislead. You also may not create “fictional” personas or roleplay identities that could be confused for a real person.
Light edits (cropping, brightness, normal filters) are generally fine. Edits that materially change your appearance or identity (for example, altering facial features, age, body shape, or embedding someone else’s face) are not.
Keep photos reasonably current
You don’t need professional photos, but you should be recognizable. As a rule: your main photos should reflect how you look now. If you use older photos, include at least one recent photo so people aren’t surprised when you meet.
Be honest about age and eligibility
Vetted is adults-only (18+). You must not misrepresent your age. If you are under 18, you cannot use Vetted. If we suspect underage use, we may suspend your account while we investigate. If we confirm underage use, the account will be removed and we may retain limited data to prevent re-registration and comply with legal obligations.
Be honest about identity and intentions
You control what you share, but what you share must not be deceptive. That includes:
- Dating intent: Serious, Casual, Friends, Activity Partner—choose the one that best matches what you’re seeking.
- Relationship status: don’t lie about being single/open/etc. if you know it matters to someone you’re messaging.
- Languages: choose languages you can reasonably communicate in; don’t mock accents or language ability.
One account per person
You may have only one Vetted account at a time. Multiple accounts are not allowed, even if you think you’re using them for different “modes” (dating vs friends) or as a backup. Multiple accounts are often used for harassment and ban evasion and will be treated as a serious violation.
No impersonation
Do not pretend to be another individual, a public figure, a business, a staff member, or law enforcement. Do not claim to represent Vetted. Do not use another person’s name or identity in a way that confuses or deceives others.
Photo Verification: encouraged, not a free pass
We encourage users to complete Photo Verification to reduce catfishing. Verification is meant to increase trust, but it is not legal ID verification and does not excuse bad behavior. Verified users must follow the same rules as everyone else.
Profile honesty
Your profile must accurately represent who you are. Misrepresenting your identity, intentions, or other material details undermines trust and can put people at risk.
Consequences of deception
Deception is not “harmless.” Depending on severity and pattern, deception may lead to: removal of specific content, reduced visibility, feature restrictions (including messaging), suspension, or permanent ban. Repeated deception is treated as intentional harm to the community.
Respect Everyone
Basic respect is the baseline
People use Vetted with different backgrounds, identities, and comfort levels. You don’t have to like everyone. You do have to treat everyone with basic respect. That means:
- no harassment, threats, humiliation, or intimidation;
- no “punishing” someone for not replying;
- no hostile messages after rejection (“you’re ugly anyway,” “slut,” “die,” “I’ll out you”);
- no pressure or guilt trips (“why won’t you send pics,” “you owe me,” “prove it”).
Handle rejection maturely
Rejection happens in dating. A lack of response is not an invitation to escalate. If someone isn’t interested:
- stop messaging if they ask you to stop;
- don’t send repeated follow-ups;
- don’t insult them or threaten them;
- move on—use Pass and continue swiping.
No harassment, intimidation, or stalking (on or off platform)
Harassment includes unwanted sexual messages, repeated unwanted contact, threats, doxxing, monitoring someone’s whereabouts, contacting their friends/coworkers, or showing up at places you know they will be. This includes off-platform behavior tied to Vetted, such as:
- using their photos to identify them on social media and then harassing them there;
- using information from chat to contact them from other phone numbers;
- threatening to contact their workplace, family, or friends;
- trying to track them using location cues from the app.
No hate speech or dehumanizing language
Hate speech is not allowed on Vetted. This includes slurs, derogatory stereotypes, or dehumanizing language targeted at a person or group based on protected attributes. Protected attributes include (not limited to):
- race, ethnicity, color, or caste;
- national origin, ancestry, or immigration status;
- religion or belief;
- disability, neurodiversity, or medical condition;
- HIV status, STI status, or other health conditions;
- age;
- body type, weight, or appearance;
- gender identity or expression;
- sexual orientation;
- socioeconomic status (including homelessness or job status); and
- language, accent, or cultural background.
No “no [race]” policies. Profiles or messages that exclude, demean, or stereotype entire racial or ethnic groups (for example, “no Asians,” “no Blacks,” “no Whites,” “no Filipinos”) are not allowed. Our community is multicultural. Discrimination is harmful and not welcome.
No femme-shaming, masc-policing, or body-shaming
Masculinity and femininity are not requirements for respect. Do not shame people for being “too fem,” “too masc,” “too fat,” “too skinny,” “too old,” “too young,” “too hairy,” “not hairy enough,” or for having a certain body type. Self-described labels and tags are personal identifiers—not weapons. Using them to insult or dehumanize others is not allowed.
Respect pronouns and identities
If someone shares their pronouns or gender identity, respect it. Deliberate misgendering, deadnaming, or identity-based mocking is harassment.
No unsolicited explicit content
Sexual conversation can be part of dating, but consent still applies. Do not send unsolicited explicit messages, explicit photos, or aggressive sexual demands. If you want to talk sexually, ask first and respect the answer. If someone says “not into that” or doesn’t respond, stop.
Cultural sensitivity
Vetted brings together people from many backgrounds. Cultural references can be meaningful, and also easy to misuse. We expect you to:
- avoid mocking accents, dialects, or language ability;
- avoid stereotypes about specific ethnic, racial, or cultural communities;
- avoid fetishizing people as “exotic” or using similar demeaning framing;
- treat sensitive topics—like being out, family expectations, and community visibility—with care.
Consent Is Everything
Consent standard: clear, ongoing, freely given
Vetted is a consent-first community. Consent must be:
- Clear: a genuine yes, not silence, not “maybe,” not pressure.
- Ongoing: consent can be withdrawn at any time.
- Freely given: not obtained through coercion, guilt, threats, blackmail, or intimidation.
- Specific: consent to one thing is not consent to another.
Consent applies to digital interactions
Consent isn’t only about physical contact. It applies to:
- sexual conversation in chat;
- sending any sexually explicit media;
- requesting or sharing Private Photos;
- recording calls, taking screenshots, or saving media;
- sharing someone’s identity, messages, photos, or personal information outside the app.
“But it was on the internet” is not consent. “They sent it to me once” is not consent to keep or share it.
No cyberflashing
Do not send explicit images without consent. Even if you think you’re being flirty, unsolicited explicit content can be harassment and may lead to enforcement. Explicit content belongs in Private Photos (consent-gated) or mutually consented chat—not as a surprise.
Private Photos are consent-gated (and consent is revocable)
Private Photos are designed to protect discretion and give users control. Rules:
- you may request Private Photos, but you may not pressure, threaten, or guilt someone into granting access;
- if someone says no, that’s the end of it—do not keep asking;
- if someone grants access, that is permission to view inside Vetted, not permission to save, screenshot, or share;
- if access is revoked, you must treat the content as no longer available and you must not claim entitlement to it.
Absolutely no non-consensual intimate content
Sharing or threatening to share someone’s intimate images without consent is a major harm. This includes:
- “revenge porn” and any non-consensual distribution;
- hidden-camera or voyeur content;
- content recorded without knowledge or consent;
- threats like “send more or I’ll post this,” “pay me or I’ll out you,” or “I’ll send this to your job.”
This is a severe violation and will typically result in a permanent ban and may involve law enforcement cooperation.
Outing threats are harassment (and likely coercion)
Threatening to out someone—whether to family, friends, coworkers, or the public—is harassment and often coercion. Tight-knit communities make outing especially dangerous. Outing threats are treated as severe violations, even if you never follow through.
Consent and substances
If someone is significantly intoxicated or impaired, they may not be able to consent. Do not use intoxication to push boundaries. If you’re unsure, pause. Respect and safety come first.
If your consent is violated
If someone violates your consent on Vetted:
- Get safe first (especially if you’re meeting in person).
- Preserve evidence: screenshots of messages, profile info, and threats.
- Block to stop contact in-app.
- Report so we can investigate and enforce.
- Emergency situations: call 911.
For more practical safety guidance, see our Safety Notice.
Content Rules
These rules are organized by content type because Vetted has different media categories with different visibility and risk. Content must follow these rules regardless of whether you are free or subscribed to Vetted+.
Profile Photos
Profile photos are public within the app experience (for example, in discovery and profile views). They must be appropriate for broad visibility.
Profile Photos: required standards
- Must be you: your face or body should be identifiable as you. No using other people’s photos.
- Must be adult-only: no minors, ever. This includes childhood or teenage throwbacks and minors in the background.
- No nudity or explicit sexual content: profile photos cannot show genitals, explicit sexual acts, or explicit focus on genitals.
- No underwear/jockstrap-focused photos: lingerie, jockstrap “posing,” or underwear-only photos intended primarily as explicit content are not allowed in public profile photos.
- No hate symbols: no Nazi symbols, racist imagery, or extremist symbols.
- No weapons: no guns, knives, or weapons displayed or brandished.
- No graphic violence: no blood, gore, or violent imagery.
- No ads or watermarks: no OnlyFans promo, QR codes, Cash App handles, social handles, or marketing overlays.
- No text-only images: your profile photo slots are for photos of you, not memes, quotes, or “message me on IG.”
- No exposing others without consent: don’t upload photos that clearly show someone else’s face unless you have their permission and you are clearly the primary subject.
Profile Photos: “shirtless is fine” and where the line is
Shirtless photos can be normal. Here’s the line:
- Generally okay: shirtless beach/fitness photos where the primary focus is you (not explicit) and there is no nudity.
- Not okay: underwear/jockstrap-only photos, fetish shots intended to be explicit, visible erections, explicit “bulge focus,” sexually explicit posing, visible genitals, or photos that mimic pornography.
When in doubt, keep explicit content in Private Photos (consent-gated) and keep public profile photos PG-13.
Profile Photos: quality and relevance
We may remove photos that are misleading or not useful for real connections, such as:
- photos that are so blurry your identity can’t be confirmed;
- photos that are mostly scenery with no clear person;
- photos that are primarily a pet, a car, a meme, or a product;
- photos that appear to be screenshots of social media with visible handles.
Bio Text and Prompts
Bios and prompts are where personality lives. Keep it real, keep it respectful, and avoid using them to route people off-platform or target others.
Bio/Prompts: not allowed
- Hate speech or slurs or dehumanizing content about any protected group.
- Harassment or threats, including outing threats.
- Solicitation or advertising (escort services, “hosting for $$,” OnlyFans, pornography promos, “DM my Snap,” selling products, event promotion that is primarily commercial).
- Off-app routing: phone numbers, emails, social handles (Instagram, Snapchat, Telegram, WhatsApp, etc.), links, QR codes, or “text me at…”
- Doxxing: posting another person’s private info (full name, workplace, address, phone number).
- Discriminatory “no [race]” policies or blanket exclusion statements targeting protected classes.
- Sexual content descriptions that are explicit in ways that turn the public profile into pornography.
Bio/Prompts: cultural respect
Avoid cultural appropriation or using cultural references to fetishize people. If you reference any culture, do it with respect.
Bio/Prompts: humor vs cruelty
Humor is welcome. Cruelty is not. “Jokes” that demean people for race, body type, HIV status, femininity, or identity cross the line. If your humor depends on someone else feeling unsafe or unwelcome, it doesn’t belong here.
Private Photos
Private Photos are consent-gated albums. Explicit content is allowed only in Private Photos (and only if it is legal and consensual). Private Photos are designed to protect privacy and discretion, but they require responsibility from both the sender and the viewer.
Private Photos: allowed (with consent and legality)
- adult nudity or sexual content that is consensual and lawful;
- explicit images shared between consenting adults with clear boundaries.
Private Photos: absolutely not allowed
- Any content involving minors or anyone who appears under 18 (zero tolerance).
- Non-consensual intimate imagery, voyeur, hidden-camera, or “leaked” content.
- Sexual violence, exploitation, or coercion (including content depicting force or unwilling participants).
- Sex trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation.
- Bestiality or content involving animals in a sexual way.
- Illegal drug sales or criminal activity depicted as promotion or solicitation.
Private Photos: consent-gated means consent matters
- Do not pressure people to grant access.
- Do not demand Private Photos as “proof.”
- Accept “no” immediately.
- Revocation must be respected.
Private Photos: no redistribution (zero tolerance)
Saving, screenshotting, recording, or sharing someone’s Private Photos is prohibited. If we determine you redistributed Private Photos (or attempted to), we will typically permanently ban your account and may preserve evidence and cooperate with law enforcement where appropriate.
Chat Messages and Chat Media
Messaging is for mutual matches. It is not a license to harass, threaten, or pressure. Chat content is reviewable if reported, and patterns of abuse will be enforced.
Chat: not allowed
- Spam or bulk messaging, including copy-paste solicitation and repeated messages after no response.
- Harassment, threats, intimidation, or hate speech.
- Unsolicited explicit content or cyberflashing.
- Sextortion, blackmail, or coercion (“send pics or else,” “pay me or else”).
- Doxxing or sharing private information about someone else.
- Off-platform coercion (“give me your number or I’ll report you,” “meet me now or I’ll out you”).
Chat: consent before sexual content
Many users want to keep chat respectful and safe. If you want to get sexual in chat, ask first. If the other person is not interested, stop. If you continue, that may be harassment.
Verification Selfies
Verification selfies are used for Photo Verification and are not shown as normal profile photos. They must be a real, good-faith selfie of you completing the liveness flow.
Verification: not allowed
- trying to spoof verification with photos, videos, screens, masks, or another person;
- submitting content that is not you;
- attempting to sell or “rent” verified accounts;
- any attempt to circumvent verification controls.
Universal prohibitions
The following are prohibited everywhere on Vetted, regardless of where they appear (profile, private photos, chat, etc.):
- CSAM (child sexual abuse material) and any sexual content involving minors: zero tolerance; may be reported to NCMEC and law enforcement.
- Non-consensual sexual content and threats to distribute it.
- Sexual exploitation, trafficking, coercion, and facilitation of exploitation.
- Credible threats or incitement of violence.
- Content that encourages real-world harm (including instructions or encouragement to harm someone).
- Severe harassment or stalking, including repeated non-consensual contact and monitoring behavior.
Prohibited Activities
The list below describes behaviors that are not allowed on Vetted. Some are content-based; others are behavior-based. This list is comprehensive but not exhaustive—if your behavior undermines safety, consent, or trust, we may take action even if it isn’t listed word-for-word.
Harassment, bullying, intimidation, or stalking
- Repeated unwanted messages after someone says no or doesn’t respond.
- Threats, insults, humiliation, or “punishing” language.
- Monitoring someone’s activity or pressuring them to respond immediately.
- Tracking or attempting to track someone’s location or routines.
Threats (direct or implied)
- Threats of violence, self-harm threats used as manipulation, or threats to damage someone’s job or relationships.
- Outing threats (“I’ll tell your family/coworkers”).
- Threats to share messages or images.
Hate speech and discrimination
- Slurs, dehumanizing statements, or exclusionary policies that target protected groups (including “no [race]”).
- Harassment based on HIV status or health conditions.
- Body-shaming (including fatphobia), femme-shaming, masc-policing.
Outing and privacy violations
- Threatening to out someone or actually outing them.
- Sharing someone’s profile, photos, or messages outside the app without consent.
- Doxxing (sharing private identifying info such as address, workplace, last name, or phone number).
Impersonation, catfishing, and fake profiles
- Using someone else’s photos or creating a misleading identity.
- AI-generated faces, deepfakes, or face swaps intended to deceive.
- Claiming you are a staff member, authority figure, or someone else.
Scams, fraud, and financial exploitation
- Asking for money, gift cards, crypto, “help with travel,” or financial account access.
- Trying to move users off-platform to evade safety tools or to scam.
- Phishing, fake investment schemes, or “business opportunities.”
Sextortion and blackmail
- Demanding explicit photos and then threatening to share them.
- Threatening to out someone unless they comply.
- Using shame or fear to coerce money, sex, or content.
Solicitation and advertising
- Escort ads, “hosting for $$,” or commercial sexual services.
- OnlyFans promotion, porn marketing, event marketing primarily for profit.
- Posting payment handles or QR codes to request money.
Spam, bots, automation, and manipulation
- Automated swiping, scripted messaging, or bot-like behavior.
- Mass messaging or “copy/paste” solicitation.
- Attempts to manipulate visibility systems (including Boost misuse) to spam users.
Illegal activity
- Drug dealing or solicitation for illegal goods or services.
- Facilitating exploitation, trafficking, or coercion.
- Using the app to plan or promote violence or other serious crimes.
Bypassing safety tools or protections
- Attempting to circumvent blocks (inside the app or via repeated re-registration).
- Using new accounts, devices, or numbers to evade enforcement.
- Using location spoofing to mislead users or bypass location filters.
Ban evasion and multiple accounts
- Creating new accounts after suspension or ban.
- Maintaining multiple accounts for any reason without written permission.
Scraping, reverse engineering, and interference
- Scraping profiles, photos, or user data.
- Reverse engineering or attempting to access source code.
- Probing for security weaknesses or interfering with service operation.
Underage use or engagement with minors
- Using the app under 18.
- Seeking or sharing any content involving minors.
- Attempting to move conversations involving minors off-platform.
False or malicious reports
Reporting is for safety, not retaliation. Submitting knowingly false reports or coordinating malicious reporting campaigns is a violation and may lead to enforcement.
Recording or sharing private conversations without consent
Do not record calls or meetings without consent where consent is required. Do not share private messages or images outside the app without permission. Even if your local law allows certain recordings, Vetted may still treat non-consensual recording as a safety violation.
Profile Integrity
Why honesty matters
Vetted is built around trust and accountability. Honest profiles lead to better dates and better ratings. Misrepresenting who you are undermines trust and can put people at risk (for example, by misleading someone about your intentions or availability).
Keep your profile accurate
You are responsible for keeping your profile information accurate and up to date. This includes your photos, bio, dating intent, and any other details visible to other users.
Location verification and anti-spoofing
We may use signals to detect and prevent location spoofing. Using tools to falsify your location or mislead others about where you are is a violation and may result in reduced visibility or removal.
Examples of profile integrity violations
- Using location spoofing to appear in a location you are not in.
- Misrepresenting your intentions or availability to pressure meetups.
- Using deceptive profile information to manipulate other users.
Consequences
Profile deception may lead to enforcement actions, including feature restrictions, account visibility limits, suspension, or permanent ban, depending on intent and pattern.
Safety and Reporting
Safety tools are only effective when people use them. If something feels unsafe, trust yourself. Use the tools early rather than waiting for things to escalate. For general safety guidance (especially before meeting in person), read our Safety Notice.
Block: when to use it
Block is for stopping contact immediately. Use Block if someone:
- harasses you or ignores your boundaries;
- pressures you for explicit content or money;
- threatens you or threatens to out you;
- seems like a scammer or bot;
- makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
How to block someone
- Open the user’s Profile or the Chat with them.
- Tap the menu (often “⋯” or a safety/shield icon).
- Select Block and confirm.
What happens when you block
- Blocking is designed to be immediate, bidirectional, and silent.
- Your match connection (if any) ends and messaging stops.
- You generally stop appearing to each other in discovery and chat contexts.
- Blocking does not stop off-platform contact if you shared your phone number or socials. If that happens, document it and consider additional steps (including contacting authorities if needed).
Report: when to use it
Report is for behavior that violates rules and could harm others. Report if you see:
- harassment, hate speech, or threatening behavior;
- scams, money requests, gift card/crypto pressure, or suspicious “emergency” stories;
- impersonation or catfishing;
- nudity or explicit content in public profile photos;
- non-consensual content or threats to share content;
- underage users or any content involving minors;
- stalking, doxxing, or outing threats;
- coercion, sextortion, or blackmail.
How to report someone
- Open the user’s Profile or Chat.
- Tap Report.
- Select a category that matches what happened.
- Add details in the free-text box (what happened, when, and why it concerns you). Specifics help us act.
- Submit. If you also want to stop contact, block as well.
What happens after you report
Reports are reviewed using a combination of automated signals and human review. Actions may include:
- content removal;
- feature restrictions;
- visibility limits (shadow ban);
- temporary suspension; or
- permanent ban.
We may not be able to share the specific outcome due to privacy and safety considerations, but your report contributes to protecting the community—especially when patterns emerge across multiple reports.
Confidentiality and retaliation
Reporting is confidential in the sense that we do not tell the other user “Hamid reported you.” However, the reported user may guess based on timing if they were interacting with you. If you fear retaliation, block first, preserve evidence, and prioritize your safety.
False or malicious reports are violations
Do not file false reports as a weapon. We treat malicious reporting as abuse of safety systems and may take action against those who do it.
Emergencies: call 911 first
Vetted is not emergency services. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Use in-app tools when it is safe to do so, but do not delay emergency response to submit a report.
How moderation works (and the limits)
We use automated scanning to detect certain safety risks and policy violations (especially in media uploads), and we rely on user reports for context that automation can’t see. We do not read all chats in real time, and we cannot see off-platform behavior unless you report it and provide details.
How to report off-platform connected harm
If someone uses information from Vetted to harm you off-platform (for example, stalking you on Instagram, threatening to out you, contacting your workplace), report them in-app and include:
- what happened and where (platform name, time);
- screenshots of threats or harassment;
- the Vetted profile name and any identifying details visible in-app.
We may take action based on off-platform harm when there is a clear connection to Vetted and the behavior threatens safety or violates these Guidelines.
Enforcement
Enforcement philosophy
We enforce these Guidelines to protect users and to keep Vetted usable and trustworthy. We focus on harm prevention, not punishment for its own sake. That said, some violations are so serious that we act immediately.
How enforcement decisions are made
We consider factors such as:
- Severity (threats and exploitation are treated more urgently than minor rudeness);
- Pattern (repeated boundary pushing is treated more seriously than a single awkward message);
- Impact (did it cause fear, harm, or invasion of privacy?);
- Intent and context (accidental vs intentional);
- Cooperation (do you acknowledge and stop behavior, or escalate/retaliate?).
Enforcement actions
Warning
For minor, first-time issues, we may issue a warning. Warnings may include education on consent, discrimination, or content standards and may require acknowledgment before continuing to use the app.
Content removal
We may remove photos, bio text, prompts, Private Photos, or chat media that violate rules. In some cases, we may require you to replace content before you can continue using profile features.
Feature restrictions
We may restrict features to reduce risk, which can include:
- messaging restrictions;
- limits on swipes or likes;
- disabling Private Photos sharing;
- disabling media uploads;
- limiting access to premium features if they’re being misused (for example, Boost used for spam).
Shadow ban (visibility limits)
In some cases, we may reduce an account’s visibility to protect others and limit harm (for example, suspected bots, repeated spam, or patterns that suggest abuse). Shadow bans may be applied with or without notice. They are used to reduce harm while we investigate or to deter behaviors that degrade the community.
Temporary suspension
Suspensions temporarily lock an account and may be used when:
- we need time to investigate a serious report;
- there is a pattern of harmful behavior;
- we suspect ban evasion, fraud, or location spoofing;
- content appears to involve minors or exploitation (we act quickly in these cases).
Suspension length depends on severity and investigation needs. Some suspensions result in permanent bans.
Permanent ban
Permanent bans remove the account from Vetted. We may also take steps to prevent re-registration (for example, blocking certain identifiers). If you are permanently banned, you may not create a new account.
Zero tolerance / immediate bans
The following typically result in immediate permanent ban (and may be reported to authorities where required):
- CSAM or any sexual content involving minors, or solicitation involving minors;
- credible threats of violence or incitement of violence;
- sexual exploitation, trafficking, or coercion;
- non-consensual intimate imagery or threats to distribute it;
- sextortion or blackmail;
- stalking behaviors that create fear or threaten physical safety;
- credible outing threats used to coerce or harm someone.
Law enforcement cooperation and evidence preservation
We may preserve evidence when necessary for safety, legal compliance, or investigations. We may cooperate with law enforcement where legally required or in situations involving serious harm or credible threats. Content involving minors may be reported as required, including reports to NCMEC where applicable.
Appeals process
If you believe we made a mistake, you may appeal by emailing vetted@rezschaefer.com with the subject line “Community Guidelines Appeal.” Include:
- the phone number or email associated with your account;
- a clear explanation of what you believe happened;
- any relevant context (for example, if your account was compromised);
- screenshots or evidence if available.
We aim to review appeals within a reasonable time, but timelines vary depending on volume and severity. We are not obligated to restore accounts or content, and repeat or bad-faith appeals may be ignored.
A Note on Community
Community matters
Social circles overlap more than you think. Some users are out everywhere; others are out nowhere; many are in between. That means privacy and discretion are not “nice to have”—they’re essential.
Outing is serious
Do not out people. Do not threaten to out people. Do not hint about outing (“I know your cousin,” “I’ll tell your boss”). This is one of the quickest ways to get banned, because it’s one of the fastest ways to cause real harm.
The coffee shop test
Imagine you’re talking face-to-face at a busy coffee shop. If you wouldn’t say it there—because it’s cruel, dehumanizing, racist, or threatening—don’t say it here.
Lead with respect (and boundaries)
Respect doesn’t mean you have to say yes. It means you treat people like human beings even when you say no. You’re allowed to have preferences. You’re not allowed to dehumanize people.
You shape the community
Every swipe, message, boundary, block, and report shapes what Vetted becomes. If you want a community that feels safe, respectful, and real, act like it—and report behavior that threatens it.
Changes to These Guidelines
We may update these Guidelines to respond to emerging safety risks, platform changes, legal requirements, and community needs. When we update the Guidelines, we will update the effective date and may notify you in-app, by email, and/or by posting the updated Guidelines on our website.
Continued use of Vetted after an update becomes effective means you agree to the updated Guidelines. If you do not agree, you must stop using the Service and may delete your account.
Contact
If you have questions about these Guidelines, need help, want to appeal an enforcement decision, or want to report a safety issue, contact us at vetted@rezschaefer.com.
How to report
Report in-app from a user’s Profile or Chat whenever possible. In-app reports help us locate accounts and content quickly. You can also email us with screenshots and details.
Emergencies
If you are in immediate danger, call 911 first. Vetted is not emergency services. For safety planning and resources, see our Safety Notice.
Related documents
For more detail on legal terms, data practices, and safety guidance, read: Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Safety Notice.
Feedback
We welcome feedback about how to make Vetted safer and more respectful. If you have suggestions for improving safety tools, reporting categories, or community standards, email us at vetted@rezschaefer.com.