HelloAcross helps people around the world find pen pals and write to each other. By creating an account or using HelloAcross, you agree to these Terms and to the Community Guidelines below.
Who can use HelloAcross
- You must be at least 13 years old to use HelloAcross. If you are under the age of digital consent where you live, you need a parent or guardian's permission.
- Your date of birth determines your age group. Members under 18 can connect only with other members under 18; members aged 18 or older can connect only with other adults.
- Profiles, Discover, scrapbook pages and forum discussions are separated into ages 13–17 and 18+. Members cannot view or contact members of the other group through ordinary social features. Staff accounts follow the same social contact rules.
- Authorized moderators can inspect information needed for safety and support. Opening account details, report evidence or forum and scrapbook content outside a moderator's own age group requires a recorded reason. Reviews of their own account/content or their own age group open directly. Cross-age staff photo views are logged. Staff logins have no public pen-pal profile and cannot use social contact features. Personal pen-palling requires a separate ordinary member account under the same age and contact rules. Official moderation notices come from HelloAcross.
- Suspected false ages can be reported. Staff assess reports before taking action and may suspend an account during a credible investigation. Members cannot change a saved birth date themselves; reviewed corrections are recorded and revoke existing sign-in sessions.
- You must give accurate information about yourself, including your date of birth, and keep your password to yourself.
- One person, one account. Don't create accounts for someone else or to get around a suspension or ban.
Your content
- You're responsible for what you post: your profile, photos, request notes, and messages.
- Only share photos you took or have the right to share, and never photos of other people without their permission.
- Messages are private between you and your Pen Pal, but may be reviewed by moderators if someone reports them.
Community Guidelines
- Be kind and respectful. Treat people the way you'd want to be treated, whatever their country, language, beliefs, or background.
- No harassment. No threats, bullying, hate speech, or unwanted sexual content. If someone declines, removes, or blocks you, respect it and don't contact them another way.
- No spam or scams. No advertising, chain messages, asking for money or gifts, or trying to move people to other sites to take advantage of them.
- Protect privacy. Don't share anyone else's personal information, and think carefully before sharing your own (address, phone number, finances).
- Be yourself. Don't pretend to be someone else.
- Nothing illegal. Don't use HelloAcross for anything against the law.
Report grooming or child exploitation, threats, scams, harassment or suspected false ages through Report. Track your submitted reports under Account → Your reports. Do not use reports as an emergency service; contact your local emergency services if someone is in immediate danger.
If something feels wrong, use Report or Block on the person's profile. Blocking stops all contact between you straight away.
Moderation
Moderators review reports and may remove content, suspend, or ban accounts that break these Terms or the Community Guidelines. Reports and moderation records are kept even if an account is deleted.
Leaving HelloAcross
You can delete your account at any time from Account Settings. See the Privacy Policy for what happens to your information.
Changes
If these Terms change in an important way, we'll ask you to agree to the new version the next time you sign in.
Contact us
Questions about these pages, your data, or someone's behaviour on HelloAcross? Email safety@helloacross.com. To report a member or a letter, the Report button on it is fastest.