Safety Tips

1. Protect your personal information

Your identity on Slowletter is anonymous until you choose otherwise. Keep it that way for as long as feels right.

• Do not share your full name, home address, phone number, workplace, or school in early letters.
• Avoid details that could let someone locate you in person, neighbourhood landmarks, daily routines, the gym you go to.
• Use a pen name or first name only until you genuinely trust the person you are writing to.
• Be cautious about sharing links to your social media profiles. They often contain far more information than you realise.

2. Trust your instincts

If something feels off about a conversation, it probably is.

• You are never obligated to reply to anyone. Ignoring or blocking a pen pal is always the right call if you feel uncomfortable.
• Be wary of anyone who pushes to move the conversation off Slowletter very quickly, to WhatsApp, email, or another platform, before a real connection has formed.
• Watch out for people who are vague about who they are but ask many specific questions about you.
• Flattery that feels excessive or rushed can be a sign of manipulation. Real pen pal relationships develop gradually.

3. Never send money

No legitimate pen pal will ask you for money.

• If someone claims to be in an emergency and needs financial help, this is a common scam pattern. End the conversation and report the account.
• Requests for gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency are almost always fraudulent regardless of the story attached.
• Romance scams often involve months of building trust before the request comes. Be sceptical of any financial request, no matter how well you feel you know someone.

4. If you decide to meet in person

Slowletter is a pen pal app, and many connections will never move beyond letters. If you do choose to meet someone in person, take precautions.

• Meet for the first time in a public place, a café, a park, a busy street.
• Tell a friend or family member where you are going, who you are meeting, and when you expect to be back.
• Arrange your own transport there and back. Do not accept a ride from someone you are meeting for the first time.
• Keep your phone charged and with you. Have a plan for leaving if you feel unsafe.
• Consider a video call before meeting, it helps confirm the person is who they say they are.

5. Guidance for younger users

If you are under 18, extra care is warranted.

• Do not share your school, grade, or any information that makes it easy to identify where you spend time.
• If an adult pen pal starts asking personal questions that feel uncomfortable or inappropriate, stop the conversation immediately and tell a trusted adult.
• You can report any user to our moderation team at any time, you do not need to explain why.
• Talking to a parent, guardian, or trusted adult about your pen pals is always a good idea.

6. Use report and block freely

Reporting is not a drastic measure. It is a normal, expected part of how the app stays safe.

• Report accounts that send sexual content without consent, ask for money, or seem to be pretending to be someone else.
• Block anyone who makes you feel pressured, uncomfortable, or unsafe, no explanation needed.
• Your report is confidential. The reported user will not be told who reported them.
• If you receive content that you believe depicts a minor being harmed, report it immediately. We are legally required to investigate and may involve authorities.

7. Keep your account secure

• Use a strong, unique password for your Slowletter account, one you do not use elsewhere.
• Do not share your login credentials with anyone, including people you consider close pen pals.
• If you think your account has been accessed by someone else, change your password immediately and contact us.
• Log out of shared or public devices after using the app.

Need help?

If something has happened that makes you feel unsafe, on or off the app, please reach out. You can contact us at support@slowletter.app. For urgent safety concerns, contact your local emergency services.