Building a Safe & Respectful Space Together
Our community guidelines ensure everyone feels welcome, safe, and respected. These rules help us maintain the positive, inclusive environment that makes HEY YO! special.
Trusted by over 50 million users worldwide
Creating a space where authentic connections flourish
At HEY YO!, we believe that "every conversation has the power to brighten someone's day". Our community rules aren't just guidelines ā they're the foundation of trust, respect, and genuine human connection that makes our platform special.
These rules have been crafted with input from millions of users worldwide, refined through years of community feedback, and designed to protect what matters most: your safety, your privacy, and your right to authentic expression.
Whether you're sharing a laugh with friends, meeting someone new, or building lasting relationships, these guidelines ensure that HEY YO! remains a place where "everyone belongs, everyone matters, and everyone is heard".
12 essential guidelines that keep our community thriving
Every person on HEY YO! deserves to be treated with dignity and kindness, regardless of their background, beliefs, or identity. Harassment, bullying, discrimination, or hate speech of any kind is strictly prohibited.
Never share personal information like your full name, address, phone number, school, or workplace. Don't ask others for their personal details. If someone makes you uncomfortable, use our blocking and reporting features immediately.
HEY YO! is a space for all ages. Sexual content, graphic violence, excessive profanity, or disturbing material is not allowed. This includes profile pictures, usernames, status messages, and all shared content.
Don't send repetitive messages, promote external services, ask for money, or attempt to scam other users. This includes cryptocurrency schemes, "get rich quick" offers, and any form of commercial advertising without permission.
Never share screenshots, recordings, or private information about other users without their explicit consent. What happens in private conversations should stay private. Respect others' boundaries and privacy settings.
Use your real age and be honest about who you are. Don't impersonate others, create fake profiles, or misrepresent yourself. Authenticity builds trust and creates meaningful connections that last.
If you see someone breaking these rules or making you uncomfortable, report it immediately. Our moderation team reviews every report within 2 hours. You're not just protecting yourself ā you're helping protect the entire community.
Don't use HEY YO! for any illegal activities, including but not limited to: drug sales, sharing pirated content, planning illegal activities, or anything that violates local, national, or international laws.
If someone says "no," "stop," or asks you to leave them alone, respect that immediately. Don't persist in unwanted contact, romantic advances, or conversations that make others uncomfortable. Everyone has the right to set boundaries.
Don't abuse platform features like mass messaging, creating multiple accounts, or using bots. Don't try to hack, exploit, or circumvent our safety systems. Use HEY YO! as it was intended ā for genuine human connection.
Adults should maintain appropriate boundaries when interacting with minors. Romantic or sexual conversations between adults and minors are strictly prohibited. When in doubt about appropriate interaction, err on the side of caution.
Be welcoming to new users, help create a positive atmosphere, and contribute to making HEY YO! a place where everyone feels valued. Small acts of kindness ā like welcoming someone new or offering support ā make our community special.
Understanding the deeper meaning behind our community standards
Your privacy is sacred. At HEY YO!, we've built multiple layers of protection to ensure your personal information stays personal. Here's what you need to know about protecting yourself and respecting others' privacy:
Remember: True friends respect your boundaries. Anyone who pressures you to share more than you're comfortable with is not acting in your best interest.
Before sharing anything, ask yourself: "Would I be comfortable if my family, friends, and coworkers saw this content?" If the answer is yes, you're probably good to go. If you hesitate, it might be better to keep it private.
Powerful features designed to keep you safe and in control
Block any user instantly. They won't be able to message you, see your profile, or interact with you in any way. Blocking is immediate and permanent unless you choose to unblock.
Report inappropriate behavior with one tap. Our moderation team reviews every report within 2 hours, 24/7. Your reports help keep the entire community safe.
Control who can message you, see your profile, and find you in search. Set your account to private, limit messages to friends only, or customize your visibility settings.
Enable Safe Mode to automatically filter potentially inappropriate content, limit interactions with new accounts, and add extra verification steps for sensitive actions.
Access immediate help for serious situations. Our emergency support team is available 24/7 for urgent safety concerns, with direct connections to local authorities when needed.
Our AI system monitors for suspicious patterns, automatically detects potential threats, and can intervene before harmful content reaches you. It learns and adapts to new threats constantly.
Fair, transparent, and consistent rule enforcement
For minor rule violations, users receive a friendly warning explaining what went wrong and how to avoid it in the future. We believe in education over punishment and give everyone a chance to learn and grow.
Examples: Using inappropriate language, sharing content that's borderline inappropriate, or minor spam behavior.
Users who continue to violate rules after warnings may face temporary restrictions like limited messaging, reduced visibility, or temporary suspension from certain features. Duration depends on the severity and frequency of violations.
Duration: Typically 24 hours to 7 days, depending on the violation severity and user history.
Serious rule violations result in temporary account suspension. During suspension, users cannot access their account but can appeal the decision. We review each case individually and consider the user's history and intent.
Triggers: Harassment, sharing inappropriate content, privacy violations, or repeated rule breaking after warnings.
The most serious violations result in permanent account termination. This is reserved for illegal activities, severe harassment, threats of violence, or behavior that poses a significant risk to community safety.
Zero Tolerance: Illegal content, threats of violence, exploitation of minors, or doxxing result in immediate permanent bans.
Your voice matters - here's how to make it heard
Take a moment to identify what rule was broken or what made you uncomfortable. This helps us respond more effectively.
Click the report button (šØ) next to any message, profile, or content. It's available everywhere for quick access.
Choose the most appropriate category: harassment, inappropriate content, spam, privacy violation, or other.
Add any additional context that might help our team understand the situation better. Screenshots are helpful but not required.
Submit your report and you'll receive a confirmation. Our team reviews every report within 2 hours, 24/7.
You'll receive an instant confirmation that your report was received. For urgent safety issues, our AI system may take immediate protective actions.
A trained moderator reviews your report within 2 hours. They examine the context, user history, and community impact before making a decision.
If a violation is confirmed, appropriate action is taken immediately. You'll be notified of the outcome while respecting the reported user's privacy.
For serious cases, our team may follow up with additional questions or to ensure your safety. Your wellbeing is our top priority.
If you're in immediate danger or witnessing illegal activity, don't wait for our reporting system. Contact local emergency services first, then report to us.
See how our rules create positive experiences
"Two users from different countries had opposing political views but followed our respect guidelines. Instead of arguing, they shared their perspectives thoughtfully and ended up learning from each other. Now they're friends who regularly discuss world events with mutual respect."
"A user reported someone asking for personal information inappropriately. Our team responded within 30 minutes, the violating user was educated about privacy rules, and the reporter felt safe to continue using the platform. Both users learned valuable lessons about online safety."
"A new user felt nervous about joining because of their identity. The community immediately welcomed them with kindness, shared similar experiences, and created a support group. They now help welcome other new users and have found their chosen family on HEY YO!"
Be part of a platform where respect, safety, and authentic connection come first
Join 50+ million users who trust HEY YO! for safe, respectful conversations