Safety basics
Hedonist lists independent organizations. We don't run their events or screen the people who attend, and we don't run criminal background checks on members. Here's how to look after yourself.
Meeting someone new
- Meet in public first. A munch is ideal.
- Tell a friend where you're going, who you're meeting and when you'll check in.
- Arrange your own transport there and back.
- Ask around. Established communities know who has a good reputation.
- Anyone who resists any of the above has told you what you need to know.
Scams and sextortion
- Never send money, gift cards or crypto to someone you haven't met.
- Be wary of anyone who quickly moves the conversation to another app.
- Don't send images you wouldn't want shared. If someone threatens to share yours, stop replying, keep the evidence, and report it to us and at report.cybertip.org or ic3.gov.
Your privacy
- Use a nickname and a separate email address.
- Keep your employer, street and family details out of profiles.
- Turn off location tagging on photos.
- On Hedonist your location is only ever stored as a rough area, never an exact point.
Know the law where you live
In many US states, consent isn't a complete legal defense if someone is seriously hurt. Learn from experienced teachers, and don't assume that agreeing to something makes it legal.
If something goes wrong
In an emergency call 911. Report problems at an event to its host or monitor. Report anything that happened through Hedonist using the report link on any page. The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (ncsfreedom.org) has resources for people who've experienced a consent violation.