Community Guidelines

Welcome to the Closer community. Our mission is to help university students meet new people in person — genuinely, safely, and spontaneously. These guidelines exist to keep our community respectful and welcoming for everyone.

By using Closer, you agree to follow these guidelines, which form part of our Terms and Conditions. Violating these guidelines may result in content removal, warnings, temporary suspension, or permanent removal from Closer, depending on the severity and history of violations.

We take safety seriously. If you see something that doesn't look right, report it. Every report is reviewed by our team.

1. Community Norms

Closer Is for Friendship, Not Dating

Closer is designed for making friends — not for dating or romantic connections. Do not use Closer to pursue romantic or sexual interest in other users. This includes using the platform primarily to flirt, sending unwanted romantic advances, or any behavior that makes others uncomfortable. What happens naturally after a genuine friendship forms is between you and that person — but using Closer as a dating app undermines the experience for everyone.

Be Respectful

Treat every person you meet on Closer with kindness and respect. Everyone on the app is looking to make real connections — approach every interaction in good faith. Harassment, bullying, intimidation, stalking, threats, and defamation are strictly prohibited, both within the app and during in-person meetups.

No Hate Speech

We do not tolerate hate speech or dehumanizing content based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, or any other characteristic. This includes derogatory language, slurs, or actions that create a hostile environment.

Be Authentic

Be genuine. Your profile should accurately represent who you are. Do not create fake profiles, impersonate others, or misrepresent your age, identity, or university affiliation. Your profile photo must be of you — not someone else, not a celebrity, not a meme.

2. Prohibited Content

The following content is prohibited on Closer, whether in profile photos, gallery photos, bios, or messages:

• Nudity, sexually explicit material, or sexually provocative content
• Violence, graphic imagery, or content depicting blood, injury, or weapons
• Hate speech, discriminatory language, or content promoting bigotry
• Content that encourages self-harm, eating disorders, dangerous challenges, or violence
• Defamatory, libelous, or knowingly false content
• Spam, bulk messages, misleading links, or disruptive content
• Commercial content, advertising, solicitation, or recruitment
• Content that infringes on another person's intellectual property or privacy rights
• Photos of another person without their consent, or any content depicting a minor
• Content promoting illegal activities, including drug use or distribution
• Malware, viruses, or any harmful code

3. Prohibited Conduct

The following behavior is prohibited on Closer, whether within the app or during in-person meetups:

• Violence, threats, stalking, or any form of physical or sexual misconduct
• Harassment or intimidation — including repeated unwanted contact after someone has ended a session or pairing
• Soliciting money, gifts, donations, or other items of value from other users
• Fraud, scams, or deceptive behavior of any kind
• Using bots, scrapers, automated tools, or any technology to access, collect data from, or manipulate Closer
• Submitting false or malicious reports about other users
• Creating a new account after being banned, unless you have express permission from Closer
• Any illegal activity, whether on or off the platform

4. Profiles

• Your profile photo must be of you — clear, recognizable, and recent
• You must be at least 18 years old to use Closer
• Each person may have only one account — creating multiple accounts will result in all accounts being suspended
• The name on your profile must be your real first name — this is the name others will confirm when you meet in person
• Do not include personal contact information in your bio or messages (phone numbers, email addresses, social media handles, or financial information)
• Your profile content should be relevant to making friends — not promoting a business, product, or service

5. Meeting In Person

Closer is built around meeting people face-to-face. When you meet someone through the app:

• Meet in public spaces only — Closer is designed for campus environments like dining halls, libraries, student centers, and quads. Always meet in public, populated areas.
• Leave anytime, no reason needed — you can end any live session or pairing at any time. No explanation required. Pressuring someone to stay or continue an interaction is a violation of these guidelines.
• Trust your instincts — if something feels off, leave. Your safety comes first.
• Respect the name confirmation — when you meet someone, introduce yourself honestly with your real first name. Giving a fake name violates these guidelines and defeats the purpose of Closer's anti-catfishing system.
• Respect boundaries after meeting — becoming friends on Closer does not entitle you to someone's time or attention. If someone doesn't respond to messages or removes you as a friend, respect their decision.

For more tips, read our Safety Tips.

6. Messages

Messaging on Closer is only available between users who have met in person and confirmed each other's names. This is by design — it ensures every conversation starts from a real connection. When messaging:

• Keep conversations respectful and appropriate
• Do not send unsolicited explicit or inappropriate content
• Do not share or request sensitive personal information (addresses, financial details)
• Do not use messages to harass, spam, or pressure other users

7. Blocking & Reporting

If there is an emergency, please contact local emergency services (911) immediately.

Blocking: You can block any user at any time. Blocking removes them from your map, messages, and prevents all future contact. They will not be notified that you blocked them. You can manage your blocked users in Settings.

Reporting: If a user violates these guidelines, report them through the app. Reporting automatically blocks the user and sends the report to our moderation team for review. Please provide a clear description of what happened.

You can also contact us directly at support@closerapp.app.

Misuse of the reporting system — including submitting false or malicious reports — is itself a violation of these guidelines and may result in action against your account.

8. Respect Others' Privacy

Do not share other users' personal information, photos, real names, or conversations outside of Closer without their explicit consent. Someone's first name is shared with you in a moment of trust during an in-person meeting — do not share it publicly or use it to find them on other platforms without their permission.

9. Consequences

We reserve the right to take action against any account that violates these guidelines, including misconduct that occurs off-platform during in-person meetups arranged through Closer. Actions may include:

• Removal of violating content
• A warning about the violation
• Temporary suspension of your account
• Permanent removal from Closer

The severity of the action depends on the nature of the violation and your history on the platform. Severe violations — including violence, sexual misconduct, or harassment — may result in immediate permanent removal without prior warning.

10. Contact

If you have questions about these guidelines or want to report a concern, contact us at support@closerapp.app.