Your Safety
Safety Tips
Ethos is built for people who are intentional about finding their person. Your safety is important to us — here are some practical steps to help you stay safe while getting to know someone new.
Meeting in Person
Meet in a public place
For your first few dates, always choose a public venue — a café, restaurant, or bar where other people are around. Avoid meeting at someone's home, in a secluded area, or anywhere you'd feel uncomfortable leaving quickly.
Tell someone your plans
Let a friend or family member know where you're going, who you're meeting, and when you expect to be back. Share your live location with a trusted contact if you can. Having someone who knows your plans is one of the simplest and most effective safety measures.
Arrange your own transport
Drive yourself, take public transport, or use a rideshare. Don't rely on your date for a lift, especially on the first meeting. Having your own way home means you can leave whenever you choose.
Stay sober and alert
Keep a clear head, especially on early dates. If you choose to drink, keep it moderate and always watch your drink. Never leave your drink unattended or accept a drink from someone you don't know well.
Trust your instincts
If something feels off — during messaging or in person — trust that feeling. You are never obligated to stay, to be polite at the expense of your comfort, or to give someone a second chance. Your safety and wellbeing always come first.
Online Safety
Protect your personal information
Don't share your home address, workplace address, financial details, or other sensitive information with someone you haven't met in person. Be cautious about sharing your social media handles or phone number before you've built some trust.
Never send money
Do not send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or financial information to anyone you've met on the Platform, regardless of the reason they give. Requests for money are one of the most common signs of a scam. If someone asks you for money, report them immediately.
Watch for red flags
Be alert to warning signs: someone who avoids answering questions about themselves, pushes to move off the Platform very quickly, sends inconsistent or copied-sounding messages, makes you feel guilty for setting boundaries, or whose profile seems too good to be true. Trust your judgement.
Using Ethos Safely
Report and block
If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, harasses you, or behaves inappropriately, use the report feature in the app. You can also block users — blocking is mutual and permanent, and the other person will not be notified. We review all reports and take action to keep the community safe.
Keep conversations on the Platform
Ethos is designed to help you get to know someone before you meet. Use the in-app messaging until you feel comfortable sharing other contact details. Conversations on the Platform give you the ability to report and block if needed — once you move to another channel, we can't help as easily.
Need to report something?
If you've experienced something concerning on or off the Platform, or if you're worried about another user's safety, please reach out. We take every report seriously.