Trust and safety
Meeting new people should feel safe.
Here is how KnownList is designed to protect you, and what we cannot do for you, so you know exactly what to expect.
Your location stays approximate
Other people never see your exact location. They see a circle that covers an area, and a rounded distance such as "Less than 1 mi" or "About 3 mi".
You choose how big that circle is: about 3 miles (city level), about 1 mile (district level) or about half a mile (nearby level), measured as a radius.
We design the app so that it keeps only the approximate area, not a precise point that could be used to find your home or workplace.
Your answers are private
The questionnaire helps us work out compatibility, but nobody can read your individual answers. Other people only ever see a compatibility score.
That means you can answer honestly without worrying about who reads them.
You decide who can talk to you
People you are connected to can message you freely. Anyone else can send you one message request. You choose whether to accept it, ignore it or decline it, and you can switch message requests off completely.
If you decline, the sender is not told. Their request simply goes unanswered.
Messages are text only. If you turn on translation, it happens on your own phone using Apple’s on-device translation, so the text is not sent to a translation service.
Challenges are written, not recorded
The friendly challenges in the app are answered in writing. The app does not collect or store photos, videos or voice recordings from them.
Block and report, in two taps
You can block anyone from their profile. A blocked person disappears for both of you: you will not see them, and they will not see you or be able to contact you.
You can report someone for inappropriate content, harassment, a fake profile or another reason. Your report is private: the person you report cannot see it, and only our team can read it.
Adults only
KnownList is for people aged 18 and over. We do not want anyone under 18 on the platform, and the app is not designed for them.
What "verified" means
A verified badge means the person has confirmed their email address. It does not mean we have checked who they are, so please do not treat it as proof of identity.
What we cannot do
No app can make meeting a stranger risk-free. We cannot verify anyone's identity, we cannot be with you when you meet, and we cannot promise that everyone will behave well. That is why the tools above exist, and why we encourage the habits below.
Habits that keep you safer on any platform
- Chat for a while first, and consider a short video call before you meet.
- Meet in a busy public place, in daylight, for the first time.
- Tell a friend where you are going, who you are meeting and when you will be home.
- Arrange your own transport, and keep your address private.
- Never send money or share financial details, whatever the story.
- Trust your instincts. You can leave without an explanation.
Our full guide: Meeting someone from the internet safely: 9 rules. And on location: why friend apps shouldn't show your exact location.
If you are in danger
Contact local emergency services right away (911 in the United States). Do not wait for an app to respond.
Report a concern
In the app you will be able to report a person directly from their profile. A safety contact address will be published here before launch.