This article introduces you to the fundamental rules about your online and offline safety. This is just a quick read explaining the very basics of keeping yourself safe, especially if you reside in a non-gay-friendly environment. For more information about Safety please refer to the respective articles in the Health, Safety and Privacy section of Hornet FAQ.
Online Safety
It should be remembered that having a profile on any of the social and dating online platforms may make you a target for fraudsters and criminals. Therefore we recommend never sharing your personal or financial information with people you can’t fully trust. This is especially relevant if you are living in a country or region where LGBTQ people are being persecuted or with a generally high crime rate. If this applies to you, we advise you to keep your profile as discreet as possible and share your photos (especially private) and personal information only with people you trust.
Offline Safety
If you are going on an offline date make sure you get to know the person first, verify that it is a real person you are talking to. You can do it by using Hornet Live or 1:1 video, this will help you to make sure the person in the profile photos is the person behind the profile. We recommend that your first date happens in the daytime, in a busy, public place. We also recommend that you do not take any valuables with you and have an escape plan in case something goes wrong. It is a good idea to let your friends know where you are going and ask them to check with you at a specified time (set up a secret signal or word that can help your friend understand if something is going wrong). Don’t neglect sharing your location with a friend so that they always know where you are.
Account Safety
Do not underestimate how important it is to keep your personal account with your personal information and photos, safe. Therefore make sure to choose an extremely strong password and never use publicly known information in your password (name, surname, date of birth, home address, etc.), set a strong one using a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Strengthen your safety by setting a PIN code or enabling Face ID for accessing Hornet on your phone. Alternatively, you may consider logging out of the app whenever you’re not using it to secure your personal data and conversations.
Sex Dates
Sexuality is a significant part of Gay Culture, but you should understand all the risks associated with blind sex dating, especially in countries or regions where gay people are persecuted. We strongly recommend that you talk to the person you are going to meet first, so you know more than the bare minimum about them. Have a video call with this person to make certain they are real. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the area you are going to, and make sure it is safe enough. Be extremely cautious about accepting food, drinks, or any substances from someone you don’t know well.
Scams
Online scams can be called the piracy of the 21st century. In recent years fraudsters have become extremely active in the online space. The golden rule is as simple as this: if something seems suspiciously good and attractive, it is definitely a scam and you should not fall for it.
Remember:
- Nobody gives away big prizes online, especially if it hasn’t been widely announced in the media;
- Never transfer money or disclose your personal or financial information to strangers, no matter what sob stories they tell you;
- If you are going to exchange sexual content with someone or go on a date with them, make sure they are of legal age to do so, in most countries, it is 18;
- If a model-like guy writes to you, take the time to verify that this is a real person, at least search for their photos on Google;
- If you’ve been asked to switch to another messenger in the very first message – this is a scam;
- Don’t buy sex content online as it can get you into trouble with the law. There are social platforms where you can do it legally but remember it may still be illegal in your country.
We recommend you to read the Hornet Spam and Scam Awareness Guide.
Our goal is not to scare you, but rather appeal to your sense of self-preservation. Although meeting a criminal or fraudster online is very rare, we recommend that you always be on your guard.
If you want to know more about this, please write to us at feedback@hornet.com. It is important that you include your Account ID so that we can trace your account. Your Account ID is located on your profile, on the top center of the screen, and begins with the “@” symbol.
