Velvet Safety & Community Guidelines

Last updated: March 10, 2025

Introduction

Our intention at Velvet is to create safer & more inclusive spaces for our Members that evolve alongside our community.

Core Values

Inclusive

Velvet is a place for all people to feel safe exploring their desires. In this space, we approach each other with openness, curiosity, tolerance, and respect—regardless of differences. Feeling seen and respected is a fundamental human need. As we pursue it for ourselves, we extend the same grace to others.

Active Consent

Both online and offline, active consent is a cornerstone of Velvet. Consent is an unambiguous "yes": freely given, without coercion, without manipulation, not in a state of incapacitation. It is a "yes," made intentionally, by a person who is informed about what will and will not happen in an exchange. It's a "yes" that can be retracted at any time.

Private

Revealing ourselves to others is deeply personal. Sometimes we feel comfortable sharing, and sometimes we don't. On Velvet, each of us gets to decide how, when, and with whom we share ourselves through privacy features. Privacy doesn't contradict authenticity. It lives alongside it and enables it as we pursue honest, meaningful connections.

Authentic

We are who we say we are. Fake Member profiles, catfishing, impersonations, or other intentional misrepresentations of identity are not allowed. In this space, we're real people bringing as much of ourselves as we wish to each interaction. Doing so allows us to form more meaningful connections—not only with others, but with ourselves.

Safer

If someone makes you feel unsafe on Velvet, we want to know and take appropriate action. Please report any harassment, abuse, threats, discriminatory behavior, or misconduct that you witness or experience. To protect your identity, your report will remain anonymous. We will either warn or remove people who violate our community guidelines. Your reports are an essential part of creating a safer community together.

Evolving

As our community grows and evolves, our safety practices will too. If you feel unsafe and need to report a specific case of misconduct or a safety issue, please email support@thevelvetapp.com.

Personal Information

Gathering Information

We do not allow anyone to gather the data of our community for reasons beyond forming meaningful connections.

Sharing Information

We strongly advise our community to use caution when sharing their personal information (phone numbers, social media handles, etc.), their photos, their videos, as well as engaging in intimate video calls with other people. Staying safer means building trust with another before sharing personal details.

Solicitation

Sexual Solicitation

While everyone is welcome to use Velvet in a personal capacity, we cannot allow erotic and sexual solicitation on our platform.

Financial Domination (FinDom)

While we recognize the expression of this kink, we cannot provide space for financial domination on Velvet. FinDom is an activity in which a submissive is required to give gifts or money to a dominant.

Selling Goods and Services

We do not allow people to sell goods or services, including advertising events with tickets, on Velvet.

Identity and Authenticity

Catfishing and Fake Images

We don't allow Members to use other peoples' photos without their consent, as this is inauthentic and sets the stage for misrepresentation within the community. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of internet images and images of public figures.

Identity Theft and Compromised Accounts

We do not allow identity theft, or the impersonation of private or public individuals on Velvet. Velvet is a community of real people, here to explore their authentic selves.

AI Generated Images

Malicious use of AI generated images are prohibited on our platform.

Harassment and Harmful Behavior

Harassment and Hate Speech

We do not accept harassment and hostile speech that creates an unsafe space for the Velvet community or our staff. This includes messages that make people feel unsafe—including bullying, non-consensual images or messages, hate speech, or behaviors not in keeping with our community guidelines, such as malicious reporting.

Sextortion

We have a zero-tolerance policy for sextortion, which we define as any request for financial compensation in exchange for not releasing intimate or sensitive images or videos.

Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery

We have a zero-tolerance policy for non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), also known as revenge porn, which is any non-consensual sharing of intimate or locally sensitive imagery.

Physical and Sexual Abuse

We have a zero-tolerance policy regarding physical and sexual abuse. When such abuse is reported, incited, or verbally threatened, the person responsible will be removed from our platform.

Prohibited Content

Nudity

Due to our partner regulations, we cannot allow close ups of genitalia or bulges, buttocks where they are the focus of the image, and female-presenting breasts with nipples exposed on the profile. Velvet profiles with any of the above will be asked to change or remove these images. In chat conversations however, we do not have any restrictions on, except for mutual consent.

Restricted Goods

Due to our partner regulations, and legal or regulatory considerations, we cannot allow photos of restricted goods—such as drugs or gun paraphernalia—to remain on Velvet.

Minors

Even if they are in the background, we are unable to allow any images of children under the age of 18 on Velvet. This is because we are an adults-only dating app. Velvet profiles containing any images of children will be asked to change or remove them.

Child Sexual Abuse Materials

We have a zero-tolerance policy for any child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), which includes any pornographic or sexually suggestive photos of persons under the age of 18. If found, these cases may be escalated to law enforcement in appropriate jurisdictions.

Bestiality

We cannot allow any images or other depictions of bestiality, defined as sexual acts between a human and an animal due to legal restrictions in countries where we operate.

Age Requirement

Velvet is a strictly adults-only dating app (18+). We do not allow any underage people to be present on Velvet. Profiles will be reviewed, and if underage, they will be removed.

Criminal Activity

Crime

We don't allow the coordination or perpetration of any kind of criminal activity on Velvet. This includes robbery, stalking, or any other crimes not listed here. We endeavor to assist law enforcement where possible to effectively protect our community in every global region where our app is supported.

Fraud

Fraud is any strategy that attempts to dishonestly and intentionally extract money or information from people on Velvet. Acts of deception or misrepresentation are not tolerated within the Velvet community.

Contact Us

If you have thoughts or feedback on our safety principles, please let us know by emailing support@thevelvetapp.com.

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