Stay safe.
You’re meeting people you don’t know yet. Here is how Spontanoo is built for that, and what to look out for yourself.
How Spontanoo is built.
Every number is verified.
Tap “Sign in”, enter your phone number and confirm the 6-digit SMS code. You get in with an invite code from someone who’s already in.
Your location is never public.
Only the members of an activity you are currently in see it live; two strangers never see each other. Under “Live position” you choose for yourself: “Always”, “Only during activities” or “Never”.
You meet in person, not in the DMs.
Chat and live location are only visible to people in the same activity. Once you’ve signed up, you get access to the event chat.
Drop out after the join deadline and your reliability drops.
Until a room stops accepting new members (“Join until”, at the latest its start time), you can leave it without consequences. Our recommendation: cancel as early as you can, ideally at least 2 hours ahead.1
Verified profiles carry a checkmark.
You can verify your profile by taking a selfie that we compare to your profile photo. In settings you can limit your suggestions to rooms where everyone is verified (“Verified members only”).
Blocked means you no longer see each other.
Anyone you block disappears from your suggestions and rooms. You won’t be able to see each other anymore. Under “Blocked users” in settings you can undo it.
Reports get reviewed.
We review every report within 24 hours. There is no end-to-end encryption: messages are stored on our servers so we can review reports and protect rooms.
SOS alerts the team and your trusted contact.
One tap on the SOS button raises the alarm; after that you have 5 seconds to cancel. The Spontanoo team and your trusted contact are alerted, with your location. Your trusted contact is a person you trust: in an SOS they get a notification right away and see your live location. Spontanoo does not replace emergency services: if you are in danger, always call 112 first.
What to look out for yourself.
Ten short rules for the first meetup, for online and for events.
First meetup
- Meet in public placesPick a busy public spot like a café or park for the first meetup. Avoid private homes or remote places until you know the person better.
- Arrange your own transportDrive yourself, take public transport or a cab. That way you stay independent and can leave whenever you feel uncomfortable.
- Tell friendsLet someone you trust know where you're going, who you're meeting and when you'll be back. Sharing your live location is even better.
- Trust your gutIf something feels off, it usually is. You don't owe anyone your discomfort. Leave if you don't feel safe.
Online safety
- Protect your personal dataDon't share your address, employer or daily routine too early. That info can be misused.
- Mind your photo privacyAvoid photos that show your address, workplace or license plate.
- Careful with social media linksDon't link your Spontanoo profile directly to Instagram or Facebook. That protects your privacy until you know someone better.
Event safety
- Prefer group eventsGroup events are a great way to meet new people, and a lot safer than one-on-one meetups with strangers.
- Check the venueLook up where the event takes place. Check reviews, the area, and whether you'd feel safe there.
- Have an emergency planSave important numbers, know the nearest exit and have a plan B in case you need to leave fast.
Spotting red flags
Four signs that tell you to step back and report.
Pushing for a quick meetup
If someone is pushing hard to meet privately right away, that's a red flag. Trustworthy people respect your pace.
Money requests
If someone asks for money, whatever the story, it's almost always a scam. Never send money to people you met online.
Contradicting stories
Watch out for stories that don't add up. Frequent contradictions can be a sign of a fake profile.
Controlling behaviour
If someone wants to dictate who you meet, where you go or what you post, those are serious warning signs.
Something’s off?
Report it right where it happens. We review every report.
Report a person
For harassment, spam or fake profiles, tap the profile > three dots > “Report”. Serious violations lead to immediate suspension.
Report content
For inappropriate content (photos, texts, event descriptions) tap the three dots on the content > “Report”. We review every report within 24 hours.
Block a person
Open the person’s profile, tap the three dots at the top right and then “Block”. Once you confirm, they disappear from your suggestions and rooms, and you won’t be able to see each other anymore. You can undo it in settings under “Blocked users”.
Prefer to write?
If you’d rather explain what happened in your own time: support@spontanoo.app. We review every report and act quickly.
A bug, or trouble with push or the map? To the help center
In an emergency: 112.
If life is at risk, always call 112, even if you're unsure.