Safety guide
Talking with a stranger in another country can be one of the best parts of learning a language. It also needs a little care. This guide explains what Shake & Talk does automatically, what you can do in any chat, and a few habits that keep every conversation safe.
Who can use it
Shake & Talk is for adults only: you must be 18 or older. By continuing past the first card you confirm this and agree to be kind - no insults, no sexual talk, and no pressure to meet in person.
What is blocked automatically
Contact details are hidden. Phone numbers, email addresses, links and social media IDs are replaced with dots before the message reaches the other person, so neither of you can pass them on by accident.
Some messages are not sent at all. Messages with abusive language, sexual content or advertising are stopped on the server and never delivered.
Asking for contact details has a limit. If someone keeps asking for your number or account, the third attempt in one chat ends the chat automatically and counts as a report against them.
The Report button
Report is always on the chat screen. Tap it, choose what happened (rude or abusive language, sexual content, or asked for personal info), and the chat ends at once. You will never be matched with that person again.
Reports have consequences. After three reports, a person cannot search for 24 hours. The last 20 messages of a reported chat are kept for up to 90 days so a person on our team can review what happened; then they are deleted. Blocks between two people are kept for up to a year.
What we keep and what we do not
Normal chats are not saved anywhere. To translate and check messages, the text is sent to Zhipu AI in China, without your name, email, account or location. Even so, treat every message as something a stranger could read: do not write your full name, address, workplace, school or ID numbers.
Habits that keep you safe
Stay inside Shake & Talk. Anyone who asks you to move to another app within minutes of meeting is a warning sign.
Never send money, gift cards or crypto, and never click payment links - no matter how sad or urgent the story sounds. Investment tips, customs fees and "I need help with a transfer" are classic scams.
Do not share photos of yourself, your home or your documents.
Keep your location general: a city or region is plenty.
You do not owe anyone a reply. If a chat feels wrong, tap End or Report - you do not need to explain.
If something goes wrong
Report the chat first; it ends the conversation and protects the next person. For anything else - a problem, a question, or a request to delete your records - write to us with the contact form. If you are ever in danger, contact your local emergency number.
Good chats, too
Most people on Shake & Talk just want to practise a language and hear about daily life somewhere else. Start with an easy question, keep sentences short so the translation stays accurate, and say thank you at the end. Our conversation starter lists have 50 friendly openers in each of the six languages.
Questions
Will the other person see my name or location?
No. They see only your approximate city (from your internet address) and your local time.
What happens after I report someone?
The chat ends at once, you are never matched with them again, and the last 20 messages are kept up to 90 days for review.
Can I get my records deleted?
Yes. Use the contact form and tell us; add an email address if you want an answer.
Next: How it works · 50 conversation starters in six languages · Contact us
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