Making chat safe and fun for GLBT youth on Gay.com
Gay.com seeks to create the safest, most enjoyable chat experience available for young people in our Youth Chat rooms. Here are some rules and tips that will help you keep your area of Gay.com the way you like it.
AGE GUIDELINES:
Adults (age 18 and older) are prohibited from interacting in designated Youth Chat rooms and on message boards designated for youth. Likewise, youths (age 13 to 17) are prohibited from interacting in Chat rooms and message boards designated for adults. If a member has been misdirected to a prohibited area, please report the member to abuse@gay.com to ensure age-appropriate participation.
PHOTO GUIDELINES:
Youth members (age 13 to 17) may submit photos to their Personals profile; however, photos showing images of adult-related content may not be submitted.
Photos that contain any of the following images or themes are considered "adult-related content" and prohibited on Personals profiles designated for youth:
- Showing the naked body, including genitalia
- Sexual activities or intercourse, and sexual or arousing postures
- Illegal images such as child pornography, incest, bestiality or other objectionable images
- Shirtless photos or photos of youth in briefs or speedos
If you are uncertain whether your image is acceptable, please contact us at abuse@gay.com. Gay.com reserves the right to remove any submission we feel is objectionable or obscene, or which may create a liability.
CHAT:
Chat room conversations and bio lines regarding solicitations for sexual encounters, intimate relationships or offline meetings are prohibited in areas designated for youth.
IGNORE:
Use the "Ignore" function against online harassment from anyone you do not wish to chat with. "Ignore" is a community-empowerment tool found inside the chat rooms. To engage the "Ignore" function, highlight the offensive person's name (using your mouse) and choose "Ignore" from the "People" pull-down menu.
WARNING:
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: "Adults, some of whom may actually pose as teenagers, may want -- through online contact -- to discuss topics of a sexual nature or meet you for sexual purposes." If you are approached by a chatter who requests to chat about sexual topics, please do not respond. Instead, report that member to abuse@gay.com.
Incidents of child pornography, luring, child sex tourism or child prostitution should be reported to the authorities at http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/ceos/report.htm.
RESOURCES:
If you are propositioned by an adult, tell your parents and report it to your local FBI office and/or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Please note that Gay.com is not responsible for the actions of individual members or guests. Violations of the above rules and guidelines may result in the immediate termination of membership.
We encourage you to review these additional resources for Gay.com Chat:
