Legal

Safety Information

Last Updated: April 24, 2026 · Effective Date: April 24, 2026

At Whim, your safety is our top priority. Whim is a platform that connects university students with spontaneous real-world events. Unlike purely online services, Whim is designed to bring people together in person — which makes safety information particularly important, not just for your digital experience, but for your physical safety in the real world.

In an Emergency

If you are in danger or witness a crime, call 911 immediately. Whim cannot contact emergency services on your behalf.

Whim's Approach to Safety

Whim connects real people at real locations. We have built the platform with several safety features, but technology cannot replace personal judgment and caution. We encourage every user to:

→ Trust your instincts. If something feels off about an event or a person, leave.
→ Prioritize your safety over your check-in status.
→ Use Whim's safety tools. Block and report features exist for a reason.
→ Know that you are never alone. Our moderation team and law enforcement are resources available to you.

Platform-Level Safety Features

✓Email verification for all accounts — reducing anonymity and fake accounts
✓GPS-based attendance verification that processes location at check-in without continuously tracking you
✓User blocking to prevent unwanted contact
✓In-app user reporting for policy violations
✓Account deletion with full data removal
✓A moderation team that reviews reported content and accounts

Before You Attend an Event

2.1Evaluate the Event

Check the host's profile

Does the host have a complete profile with a real photo, name, and university affiliation? How many events have they previously hosted?

Look at attendees

Are there other people attending whom you recognize or who have mutual connections with you?

Read the full description

Does the event listing seem specific and genuine? Vague or overly enticing descriptions with no real details can be a red flag.

Verify the location makes sense

Is the listed location a real, publicly accessible place? Be cautious of events at private residences you have never been to.

Check for red flags

Events with exaggerated promises, pressure to attend quickly, or unusual requests should be approached with caution.

2.2Let Someone Know Where You Are Going

Whenever you attend an event through Whim — especially one where you do not know any of the other attendees — we strongly recommend telling a trusted friend, roommate, or family member where you are going, when you expect to return, and who the host is. Arrange a check-in system with a friend (e.g., "Text me when you get there and when you leave").

2.3Plan Your Transportation

Arrange reliable transportation to and from the event before you go. Do not rely on a stranger for a ride home. Have a rideshare app ready as a backup.

2.4Charge Your Phone

Ensure your phone is charged before attending an event. A dead phone can leave you unable to call for help, navigate home, or access Whim's features.

At the Event

3.1Trust Your Instincts

If you arrive at an event and something feels wrong, leave immediately. Do not feel obligated to stay because you RSVP'd or joined the chat. Your safety is more important than any social awkwardness.

3.2Staying Aware

Stay alert and aware of your surroundings at all times
Avoid being isolated with people you do not know or trust
Keep an eye on your belongings
Know the exits and how to leave quickly if needed

3.3Your Check-In Is Optional

Verifying your attendance via GPS check-in is a voluntary feature. You should never feel pressured to remain at an unsafe event to complete a check-in. You can leave at any point — your safety is the priority. Partial check-in data will not negatively affect your account.

3.4Leaving Early

If you leave an event early because you feel unsafe: (1) Get to a safe location first; (2) Then report the event or the host via the app if appropriate; (3) Contact emergency services if you experienced or witnessed a crime.

3.5Alcohol and Substances

Never accept drinks from people you do not know and trust
Never leave your drink unattended at events
Know your limits and make decisions about alcohol or substances soberly and intentionally
If a friend appears to be in distress or impaired without their consent, seek help immediately

Blocking and Reporting

4.1How to Block a User

Steps to block

Navigate to the user's profile
Select the block option from their profile menu
Confirm the block

When you block someone

✓ They cannot see your profile or events
✓ Their messages in shared chats will be hidden from you
✓ They will not appear in your event discovery feed
✓ The block is private — the blocked user is not notified

4.2How to Report a User

Navigate to the user's profile, select the report option, choose a reason (Spam, Harassment, Inappropriate Content, Fake Profile, or Other), and submit. Reports are reviewed by our moderation team. High-priority safety reports (harassment, threats) are escalated for faster review.

4.3How to Report an Event

Open the event listing, select the report option from the event menu, describe the concern, and submit.

4.4After You Report

We take all reports seriously. Our moderation team will review the report, may reach out for additional information, and will take appropriate action based on our findings. Due to privacy considerations, we generally cannot disclose the specific outcome of reports.

4.5False Reports

Reporting someone in bad faith or as a form of harassment is itself a violation of our Community Guidelines and may result in action against your account.

Your Location Data and Privacy

5.1What Whim Sees

Whim collects your precise GPS location only in specific, limited circumstances: (a) when you create an event and choose to use your current location; and (b) when you use the GPS check-in feature to verify event attendance. We do NOT continuously monitor your location or build a record of your physical movements.

5.2What Other Users See

CAN see

That you have joined or attended an event
Your verified attendance at events on your public profile

CANNOT see

Your real-time GPS location
Your home address or any private address
Your movement patterns or routes

5.4Do NOT Use Personal Addresses as Event Locations

We strongly advise against listing your home address, dorm room, or any private residence as an event location — especially for events open to strangers. Consider using a nearby public location (campus quad, dining hall, public park) as the meeting point instead.

5.5Location Data Security

All location data transmitted to Whim is encrypted in transit. Our servers use Row-Level Security to ensure that your location information is only accessible to authorized systems and personnel.

Account Security

6.1Use a Strong Password

Your Whim password must be at least 8 characters. We recommend using a strong, unique password that you do not use for other accounts. Consider using a password manager.

6.2Do Not Share Your Login Credentials

Never share your email address and password with anyone else. Whim staff will never ask for your password. If someone claiming to be from Whim asks for your password, it is a scam — report it to support@joinwhim.net.

6.3Log Out on Shared Devices

If you access your Whim account on a shared device, be sure to log out when you are done to prevent unauthorized access to your account.

6.4Suspicious Activity

If you notice unusual activity on your account — messages you did not send, events you did not create, or profile changes you did not make — contact support@joinwhim.net immediately and change your password.

Emergency Situations

In an Emergency, Call 911

Whim cannot contact emergency services on your behalf. If you are in a dangerous situation or witness a crime, call 911 (or your local emergency services number) immediately. Do not wait to report something within the app first — your safety comes first.

7.2When to Call 911

You are physically threatened or assaulted
You witness a crime
Someone is experiencing a medical emergency
You feel your safety or the safety of others is at immediate risk

7.3After an Emergency

After ensuring your immediate safety, you can report what happened to Whim at safety@joinwhim.net. Provide as much detail as possible, including the event ID, the relevant user profiles, and a description of what occurred.

7.4Campus Safety Resources

We strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with your university's campus safety resources:

Your campus public safety or police department
Your university's student affairs or dean of students office
On-campus crisis support lines and counseling centers
Your university's Title IX coordinator

Online Safety

8.1Protect Your Personal Information

Be thoughtful about what personal information you share with other users on Whim. Avoid sharing your home or dorm address, phone number, class schedule or daily routine, or financial information of any kind.

8.2Scams

Be alert to potential scams, including events asking for payment or personal financial information, users offering prizes or money in exchange for personal information, and requests to move conversations off-platform quickly before you have a chance to evaluate the person.

8.3Phishing

Whim will only communicate with you via your registered university email address or through in-app notifications. Be cautious of emails that claim to be from Whim but arrive from non-Whim email addresses. Legitimate Whim communications come from @joinwhim.net email addresses.

Contact Whim Safety Team

For non-emergency safety concerns related to Whim:

Safety Team:safety@joinwhim.net

General Support:support@joinwhim.net

Website:joinwhim.net

For immediate physical emergencies, always contact local emergency services (911) first.