Community guidelines

How to be a good stranger.

TextStrangers works because millions of small conversations go well. These guidelines apply everywhere on the site: random chats, public rooms, DMs, group chats, names and profile pictures.

Be kind

Talk to strangers the way you'd want to be talked to. Disagreeing is fine; being cruel isn't.

Stay private

Keep your personal details to yourself, and never share anyone else's.

Respect a no

If someone isn't interested in a topic, drop it. If they leave, let them go.

Report, don't retaliate

If someone breaks the rules, report them and move on. Moderators handle the rest.

Welcome here

Small talk, deep talk, jokes, debates and swapping recommendations.
Swearing and dark humour, as long as it isn't aimed at hurting someone.
Flirting between adults who are both into it. Explicit talk only in the 18+ room, or in a private chat where both of you clearly want it.
Talking about hard topics like mental health, politics or religion, respectfully.

Never allowed

Anyone under 18. TextStrangers is for adults only. If someone seems to be under 18, end the chat and report them.
Sexual content involving minors, in any form. This is reported to the authorities and gets an immediate permanent ban.
Hate and slurs. No attacks on anyone for their race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, disability or nationality.
Harassment and threats. No bullying, stalking, threats of violence, or telling anyone to hurt or kill themselves.
Unwanted sexual messages. No sexual messages, requests for nudes or explicit pictures to people who haven't agreed.
Doxxing. Never post someone's real name, address, phone number, school, workplace or social accounts.
Spam and scams. No ads, selling, “free” currency, money requests, phishing or pushing people to other apps.
Pretending to be staff. Names and pictures that look official (“Admin”, “Support”, “Verified”) aren't allowed. Real staff have an Owner, Admin or Mod badge next to their name.
Anything illegal, or encouraging others to do it.

Names and profile pictures

Your username, display name and picture are seen by others, so the same rules apply. New pictures are checked by a moderator before anyone else sees them. No nudity, gore, hate symbols or pictures of other people without their permission.

Public rooms

Everything you post in a public room can be seen by everyone in it for up to 24 hours. Stay on the room's topic, don't flood it, and treat it like a public place.

What happens when someone breaks the rules

Messages with blocked words never get delivered.
Moderators can warn, mute, suspend or permanently ban, depending on how serious it is and whether it's happened before.
Serious cases (anything involving minors, credible threats) lead to an immediate permanent ban.
Trying to get around a ban with a new account leads to a ban on that one too.

Think a decision was wrong? Contact us through Support. For how reporting and moderation work, see Safety.

Welcome here

Small talk, deep talk, jokes, debates and swapping recommendations.

Swearing and dark humour, as long as it isn't aimed at hurting someone.

Flirting between adults who are both into it. Explicit talk only in the 18+ room, or in a private chat where both of you clearly want it.

Talking about hard topics like mental health, politics or religion, respectfully.

Never allowed

Anyone under 18. TextStrangers is for adults only. If someone seems to be under 18, end the chat and report them.

Sexual content involving minors, in any form. This is reported to the authorities and gets an immediate permanent ban.

Hate and slurs. No attacks on anyone for their race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, disability or nationality.

Harassment and threats. No bullying, stalking, threats of violence, or telling anyone to hurt or kill themselves.

Unwanted sexual messages. No sexual messages, requests for nudes or explicit pictures to people who haven't agreed.

Doxxing. Never post someone's real name, address, phone number, school, workplace or social accounts.

Spam and scams. No ads, selling, “free” currency, money requests, phishing or pushing people to other apps.

Pretending to be staff. Names and pictures that look official (“Admin”, “Support”, “Verified”) aren't allowed. Real staff have an Owner, Admin or Mod badge next to their name.

Anything illegal, or encouraging others to do it.

What happens when someone breaks the rules

Messages with blocked words never get delivered.

Moderators can warn, mute, suspend or permanently ban, depending on how serious it is and whether it's happened before.

Serious cases (anything involving minors, credible threats) lead to an immediate permanent ban.

Trying to get around a ban with a new account leads to a ban on that one too.

Think a decision was wrong? Contact us through Support. For how reporting and moderation work, see Safety.