This article introduces the fundamental rules of online and offline safety. It is a short overview of the basics, especially if you live in a non–gay-friendly environment. For more information about Safety, please refer to the articles in the Health, Safety, and Privacy section of the Hornet FAQ.
Online Safety
Having a profile on any social or dating platform may make you a target for fraudsters and criminals. Therefore, we recommend never sharing personal or financial information with people you don’t fully trust.
This is especially important if you live in a country or region where LGBTQ people are persecuted or where crime rates are high. If this applies to you, we advise you to keep your profile as discreet as possible and share your photos (especially private ones) and personal details only with people you trust.
Offline Safety
If you plan to meet someone in person, make sure you get to know the person first and verify that they are a real person. You can use Hornet Live or 1:1 video to help you make sure the person in the profile photos is the person behind the profile.
For your first meeting, we recommend:
- Meeting during the daytime
- Choosing a busy, public location
- Avoiding carrying valuables with you
- Having an exit 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 specific time. Set up a secret signal or word that can help your friend understand if something is going wrong. You may also want to share your live 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 password 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 of blind meetups, 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 just the basics. Have a video call with this person to ensure the person is real. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the area where you will meet 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 too good to be true, it probably is, 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.
For more guidance, we recommend reading the Spam and Scam Awareness Guide.
Our goal is not to scare you, but to help you stay aware. Although meeting a criminal or fraudster online is relatively rare, we recommend that you always be on your guard.
Still need help? Email us at feedback@hornet.com. Please include your username so we can find your account faster. It appears on your profile page, at the top center of the screen, and begins with the “@” symbol.
