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Part 0 - Archive Part 1 - Safety Team Part 2 - Introductions, Questions/Answers, and General Conversations Part 3 - Information, Resouces + Updates Station Part 4 - Anti-Bullying Part 5 - Teen Safety Part 6 - Safety Activities: Discussions, Events, and Games Part 7 - Community Feedback
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Heather225 profile picture
Listener and Member Usernames Confidentiality (Guidelines)
by Heather225
Last post
 November 8th
...See more Safety and confidentiality go hand-in-hand on 7 Cups. Confidentiality refers to the state of information being kept secret or private. Examples of this are chat details, your personal information, and—yes!—your Cups identities. If you have a member and a listener account, you have two identities. This may not even have occurred to you, and when you made your second account you named it similarly to your own. Imagine if you had an account named CarebearListens7 and you named your member account CareBear7. It would not take much to connect the two. Another concern is the revealing of your names to others. It may not seem like a big deal to you. Maybe these people are your friends, but you can’t always be sure, so you need to prioritize your safety. Here's why keeping usernames different and private is crucial: * Privacy Power! 7 Cups doesn't show your real name, but if your username and listener's username are too close, someone might guess who you are. This is especially important if you're talking about something personal. * Safety First! If you ever need to report someone, it's important to stay anonymous. Similar usernames could make it easier for someone to figure out who you are. * Blurred boundaries: People who know you from the other account PMing you. It may seem fine at first but this can create big challenges with holding boundaries later on down the road. Switching between your listener (L) and member (M) accounts can blur the lines of what's expected in each role. When you’re under your listener account, you are to maintain professionalism. This can slip if you’re treating your L account like your M. Personal connections under your M can get mixed up if you’re using the accounts interchangeably. We have outlined the following guidelines to help you secure your confidentiality: * Usernames must not have any links or references to each other. You will be asked to change your username by an Admin. * Do not disclose your other account under any circumstances. This includes, but is not limited to casual mentions in rooms and PMing someone (yes, even a friend) under your other name. * Profile photos: these too much be separate. We also strongly recommend not using pictures that can be connected to you in any way by image searching. * Bios cannot look the same or point to the other account. (e.g. L referencing M or vice versa) * Do not share through imgbb, imgur, etc. pictures (like drawings or photos) that have also been posted in other places online. I hope these guidelines give you insight into the importance of safeguarding your online experience, especially here on 7 Cups! - If you’d like to learn more about our safety best practices: The Community Guidelines Series: Masterpost [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/VISafetyMadeFunActivitiesandGamesSeries_2648/TheCommunityGuidelineSeriesMasterpost_327875/] (written by @AnnaSilverberg) My Experiences with Offsite Contact [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/MyExperienceswithOffsiteContact_317308/] (Written by Safety Ambassador @Rebekah) Please also add what you've learned to spread awareness in our interactive post: Safety is an Ongoing Conversation [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/SafetyForumDiscussions_2662/Safetyisanongoingconversation_331502/]
tommy profile picture
How do I report an inappropriate profile?
by tommy
Last post
 October 31st
...See more How do I report an inappropriate profile? Please note: this is only when you notice a profile with an inappropriate username, profile picture or bio. For reports or sharing concerns on a users conduct or behaviour in PMs, chatrooms or forums, please utilise the help desk [https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us/requests/new].  When would I need to report an inappropriate profile? • All profiles must abide by the community guidelines [https://www.7cups.com/community-guidelines/]. The safety patrol team are on hand to deal with any profiles which need to be rectified. • If you notice a profile picture is inappropriate (e.g. shirtless/sexual/graphic/triggering). • If you notice a profile's username is graphic, sexual, offensive or otherwise inappropriate. • If you notice a profile's bio is unprofessional, graphic/triggering, sharing personal information or otherwise inappropriate.  If you are unsure about whether or not a profile is inappropriate, it is best to pass it over to a Safety Patrol member for them to review and check its appropriateness. Please note: the safety patrol team member will make an independent judgement and take appropriate action. If you feel the profile has not been effectively handled, you are free to reach out to a team leader (@tommy [http://www.7cups.com/@tommy] or @Rebekah [http://www.7cups.com/@tommy]).  How do I report an inappropriate profile? • Visit the Teen Listeners [https://www.7cups.com/chat/?c=k2VowHPgmMxSy5k%21](Teens) or Listener Support Room [https://www.7cups.com/chat/?c=k2dmeXmbkuJO42uXh1iY] (Adults) and ask for a member of Safety Patrol (commonly referred to as SP). Members, you may request support from someone within the Teen Community Room [https://www.7cups.com/chat/?c=lWpldX2VmJydlLBuV1fGxg%21%21] (Teens) or Member Community Room [https://www.7cups.com/chat/?c=mGNkenecl-JO45ebV1nF] (Adults). Please do not share the username you are concerned about in the group chat room, instead PM the safety patroller once they have identified themselves to you.  • Find an active safety patroller by visiting this link [https://www.7cups.com/BrowseListeners/?badge=405] (please note that this is only a list of listener trained safety patrollers and does not include member SPs), you can then directly PM them and make them aware of the profile.  • Contact an online ambassador [https://www.7cups.com/BrowseListeners/?badge=70] or the on duty community moderator (the community moderator can be found in the group chat rooms or find their schedule here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/groupmod/CommunityModeratorsLounge_2143/CommunityModSchedule_318786/]) • Complete the non-safety patrol report form [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGECC4E9NeQzQp2Skspwu6VQBJfMYB2Ag-Btm93DN5w0vh8A/viewform] (this takes a little longer for us to action so preference goes to one of the above options if possible).  I received a message or email from 7 Cups telling me my profile is inappropriate. Can you help? We can definitely support you with correcting your profile so that it abides by the community guidelines! Please reach out to @tommy [http://www.7cups.com/@tommy] or @Rebekah [http://www.7cups.com/@tommy] for assistance.  Additional Resources • Safety at 7 Cups [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/Safetyat7Cupsinformationprotocolandresources_202422/] • 7 Cups Safety Leaders [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/General_2450/SafetyLeadersAcross7Cups_309284/]
Rebekah profile picture
Have you taken our new Safety Quiz? Tell us here!
by Rebekah
Last post
 October 20th
...See more Hi everyone! 🌞 Have you taken the new 2024 Safety Quiz? Let us know by commenting! Please feel free to offer any feedback/ask questions either here or in PMs with me 🌟 If you've not yet taken the quiz and would like to do so, no worries. See the quiz here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmyFM8M8rvxeFjXIpfO76i1fKMnLweWPwfG-I1Fq-WTks8Kw/viewform]! If clicking the link doesn't work, here is the URL: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmyFM8M8rvxeFjXIpfO76i1fKMnLweWPwfG-I1Fq-WTks8Kw/viewform [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmyFM8M8rvxeFjXIpfO76i1fKMnLweWPwfG-I1Fq-WTks8Kw/viewform] The quiz itself has some issues with point assignment that I cannot fix. I've tried many ways to combat it but to no avail 🫠 If you feel comfortable, share your score and what you learned/found unexpected! Try not to focus too much on the outcome of the quiz; it's meant to be fun and a way of learning more about site safety! As mentioned, always feel free to ask any questions or offer feedback, in PMs or in the comments 🌟 I hope you had fun!
Heather225 profile picture
"Safety is an ongoing conversation"
by Heather225
Last post
 November 6th
...See more I was having a chat with @PetiteSouris about the power of education in online safety and it got me thinking about how I view safety as an ongoing conversation. I think one of the most effective methods we have for keeping ourselves safe online is to be talking to each other, sharing experiences, lessons learned, and wisdom from our own research and experiences with safety. Some of have extensive experience, and others are still figuring out how to navigate the wide world of the internet, including 7 Cups. We prioritize safety, given the nature of our platform, and we want to empower everyone to take control of theirs. We can do this by sharing what we know! Here's where you come in: Please share some tips you've picked up on keeping yourself safe, especially as it relates to our community. There's no overcommunicating when it comes to upholding safety so let's keep talking!
Rebekah profile picture
Have you taken our new Safety Quiz? Tell us here!
by Rebekah
Last post
 October 20th
...See more Hi everyone! 🌞 Have you taken the new 2024 Safety Quiz? Let us know by commenting! Please feel free to offer any feedback/ask questions either here or in PMs with me 🌟 If you've not yet taken the quiz and would like to do so, no worries. See the quiz here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmyFM8M8rvxeFjXIpfO76i1fKMnLweWPwfG-I1Fq-WTks8Kw/viewform]! If clicking the link doesn't work, here is the URL: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmyFM8M8rvxeFjXIpfO76i1fKMnLweWPwfG-I1Fq-WTks8Kw/viewform [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmyFM8M8rvxeFjXIpfO76i1fKMnLweWPwfG-I1Fq-WTks8Kw/viewform] The quiz itself has some issues with point assignment that I cannot fix. I've tried many ways to combat it but to no avail 🫠 If you feel comfortable, share your score and what you learned/found unexpected! Try not to focus too much on the outcome of the quiz; it's meant to be fun and a way of learning more about site safety! As mentioned, always feel free to ask any questions or offer feedback, in PMs or in the comments 🌟 I hope you had fun!
AnnaSilverberg profile picture
The Community Guideline Series - Masterpost
by AnnaSilverberg
Last post
 May 20th
...See more Hay everyone✨! This post contains all the forum posts that are a part of The Community Guideline Series Feel free to explore them all, I hope you enjoy reading them😊 Part 1 - Our profiles [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/VISafetyMadeFunActivitiesandGamesSeries_2648/TheCommunityGuidelineSeries_318371/] Part 2 - Behavior on Cups [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/VISafetyMadeFunActivitiesandGamesSeries_2648/TheCommunityGuidelineSeriesPart2_318995/] Part 3 - Safety of our members [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/VISafetyMadeFunActivitiesandGamesSeries_2648/TheCommunityGuidelineSeriespart3_319688/] Part 4 - Boundaries and behavior [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/VISafetyMadeFunActivitiesandGamesSeries_2648/TheCommunityGuidelineSeriespart4_321224/] Part 5 - Safety for everyone [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/VISafetyMadeFunActivitiesandGamesSeries_2648/TheCommunityGuidelineSeriespart5_322104/] ✨Happy reading and a wonderful day to you all✨
tommy profile picture
Safety Discussions Automated Taglist
by tommy
Last post
 April 19th
...See more Welcome to the Safety Discussions Taglist This thread is an auto-updating list. The list is regularly updated by forum leaders and can be found below. Having issues? Reply to this thread and someone will help you! Why should I join the taglist? ✔ Never miss out on future safety discussions led by the safety team ✔ Learn and discuss about keeping yourself and others safe on 7 Cups ✔ Become a more active member of the community. What do I need to do? ✅ To add yourself to this taglist, press the Post to Thread button below and write the exact words Please add me. ❌ To remove yourself from this taglist, press the Post to Thread button below and write the exact words Please remove me. ------------------------- Current taglist @lovingRainbows2088 @CalmRosebud @MydogLiz8 @iloveyouxx @amiableBunny4016 @daydreammemories
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Upcoming Safety Discussions for March 2024
by
Last post
 March 24th
...See more Hey everyone! 💙 I’m happy to share that February was full of engaging and wonderful discussions on various aspects of safety! We also got some members and listeners sharing topics for future discussions. So, I want to inform you that we’re now open to suggestions for new topics for room and forum discussions! If you have a safety-related topic which you want to see in a discussion, feel free to share here in this thread, or in my PMs 😊 That said, the Safety Discussions schedule for March 2024 is out here:  * Room Discussions * March 3, 2024 - Online Privacy (Adults) - in Safety & Knowledge Room (adult side) * March 10, 2024 - Listener Ethics (Adults) - in Listener Discussion Room (adult side) * March 17, 2024 - Online Privacy (Teens) - in Safety & Knowledge Room (teen side) * March 24, 2024 - Listener Ethics (Teens) - in Listener Discussion Room (teen side)    [Cancelled] * March 30, 2024 - Member Safety on 7 Cups (Adults) - in Safety & Knowledge Room (adult side)   [Cancelled] * March 31, 2024 - Member Safety on 7 Cups (Teens) - in Safety & Knowledge Room (teen side)  [Cancelled] All the scheduled discussions will be held in the respective rooms at 11:30 am EDT and will last for an hour. You’re welcome to attend and share your insights! * Forum Discussions For forums, each discussion will be posted on the scheduled dates, in the early morning EDT time: * March 2, 2024 - Handling Unsafe Situations as a Listener * March 9, 2024 - Boundaries during member-listener chats * March 16, 2024 - Using your photo as profile picture * March 23, 2024 - Clicking on links shared in rooms * March 30, 2024 - Forum Safety     [Cancelled] These forum discussions will be posted in Safety and Knowledge at 7 Cups community, and are open to all members and listeners (whether teens or adults) to share their thoughts! Full Schedule: Room Discussions Date Topic Time Where? March 3, 2024 Online Privacy 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Safety & Knowledge Room (adults) March 10, 2024 Listener Ethics 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Listener Discussion Room (adults) March 17, 2024 Online Privacy 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Safety & Knowledge Room (teens) March 24, 2024 Listener Ethics 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Listener Discussion Room (teens) March 30, 2024 Member Safety on 7 Cups 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Safety & Knowledge Room (adults) March 31, 2024 Member Safety on 7 Cups 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Safety & Knowledge Room (teens) Forum Discussions Date Topic March 2, 2024 Handling Unsafe Situations as a Listener Safety & Knowledge at 7 cups community March 9, 2024 Boundaries during member-listener chats March 16, 2024 Using your photo as profile picture March 23, 2024 Clicking on links shared in rooms March 30, 2024 Forum Safety You can use the time zone converter here [https://rarelycharlie.github.io/7cupstime] to see what time the discussion will take place in your time zone!  All the times in this schedule are in EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) or UTC -4 Psst, here’s some news for you all: we finally have an automated taglist for Safety Discussions so that you never miss out on future safety discussions and announcements! Here's the automated taglist post: Safety Discusssions - Automated Taglist [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/VSafetyPatrol_1685/SafetyDiscussionsAutomatedTaglist_324820/] For any queries on Safety, you can message @Rebekah [http://7cups.com/@Rebekah] or @tommy [http://7cups.com/@tommy] Updated by AuRewolf on March 10, 2024 - the schedule has been updated to reflect daylight saving time
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Safety Discussion - Clicking on Links Shared in Rooms
by
Last post
 March 24th
...See more Hi everyone! 😊 Did you notice that whenever you’re in group chat rooms (whether on member or listener side), that there are different types of links being shared everyday? Sometimes, the link might be useful resources for navigating the platform, or self-help guides, or forum post links to save you from getting lost. Sometimes, it might be a link to some external website you’ve never heard of before. Which types of links are shared in group chat rooms? * 7 Cups links These links can include helpdesk link (https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us/requests/new/), Browse Listeners (https://www.7cups.com/BrowseListeners/), or forum posts (https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/7CupsSafetyDiscussionsMasterpost_324821/) * Mental health resources These can include links to organizations which support certain issues, as well as hotlines * Google form links It is seen on application forms for various leader roles, as well as quizzes (like the one I’ll be sharing at the end of this discussion), or related to projects (Peer Appreciation Project: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScsCXyPYjQ4dsfLMh2ZzXC4of1lEutJsSasbkzc6JLDq7b8ow/viewform) * YouTube links It is okay to share YouTube links in rooms, as long as they respect the community guidelines and don’t lead to offsite contact. More about it here: Safety Discussion - YouTube Links [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/SafetyDiscussionYouTubeLinks_323427/] * Image links We can use some image sharing platforms like Imgur (https://imgur.com/), Imgbb (https://imgbb.com/) to share photos or images we found from search engines, as long as they do not break community guidelines or give away our identities or lead to offsite contact * Shortened links Sometimes, the link may be too long, which can lead to text walls when we send them in a room. Thankfully, we have sites which can shorten links for us. Tinyurl (https://tinyurl.com/app), bitly (https://bitly.com/) and shorturl (https://www.shorturl.at/) are great for this, but that leaves us with no idea about what really is inside those links. What are the dangers of clicking on a suspicious link? * IP grabber It is a software that can generate a link, which one can send to others. The moment the unsuspecting person clicks on the generated link, the software automatically gets, or “grabs”, the person’s IP address. So, what are the dangers of someone else having your IP address? They can use it to track your online activities, find out your exact location, send you unwanted advertisements, or even commit cyber crimes on your behalf. * Malware and viruses Sometimes, cyber attackers hide computer viruses, malware, or malicious software, in download links, which they send to you under some pretense. The moment the link is clicked, the malware is automatically downloaded onto your device. Those viruses and malware can wreak havoc on your device in many ways - causing your device to malfunction, destroying the data stored on the device, or worse, sending data back to the attacker. What precautions can I take before I click on a link shared in a room? * Use ‘is this link safe’ sites Just search up these words “is this link safe” on your favorite search engine. The search engine will return some sites which can be used to check a link for any malware, botnet, IP grabber, phishing etc. * Be wary of shortened links Don’t click on shortened links like ones from tinyurl or bitly. Just copy the link and paste it into one of the ‘is this link safe’ sites.  Here’s a short quiz to test your understanding! Take the quiz here: Quiz on Clicking Links in Rooms [https://forms.gle/XWNT7tL8gsBDUHWT8]  Tag a few of your 7 Cups friends and ask them to take the quiz to spread safety knowledge! If you have spotted a profile that needs to be flagged, feel free to report them here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/VSafetyPatrol_1685/HowdoIreportaninappropriateprofile_324281/] Join our Safety Discussions taglist here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/VSafetyPatrol_1685/SafetyDiscussionsAutomatedTaglist_324820/] to receive notifications whenever a new discussion is posted!
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Safety Discussion - Soliciting Money
by
Last post
 March 20th
...See more Hi everyone! 😊 As we all know, 7 Cups is a wonderful platform where members can seek support for their issues with mental health, or pressures of life. 7 Cups is committed to free emotional support for people coming to it, as well as affordable therapy. Sometimes, there has been a bit of confusion about the areas where money is accepted on 7 Cups, and which positions are paid. On 7 Cups, the paid positions are community moderators, admins, and 7 Cups therapists. All other listeners are volunteers, meaning that they are not paid for listening or supporting members. That said, there are a few things to note about monetary transactions on 7 Cups: * Listeners must not charge money/fees for listening           Listeners must not ask for money from members, through any payment platforms. This applies to 1-1 chats, bios, forum posts etc. * Listeners must not send money to members for financial assistance If a member is in dire financial situation, as a listener, you might be feeling tempted to help the member out by sending money to them. Your concerns and noble intent are valid and appreciated, though it’s sadly not permitted, as this breaks the site guidelines for offsite contact. * By the same token, members must not use this site to request money from listeners. * Similarly listener-listener monetary transactions are also not allowed on 7 Cups. The following are okay for monetary transactions on 7 Cups: * 7 Cups has online therapy [https://www.7cups.com/online-therapy/] which costs money     7 Cups has offered online therapy with licensed therapists, including options for message or audio/video therapy, with costs included. More about it here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/therapy/General_2432/WeveLaunchedTalkTherapyon7Cups_319430/] * Back 7 Cups     If you wish to make a donation to help 7 Cups grow, you can do so through Back 7 Cups option here [https://www.7cups.com/backus/] Here’s a short quiz to refresh your understanding of the guidelines on monetary transactions. Take the quiz here: Monetary Transactions Quiz [https://forms.gle/68bXvxmoBYghZ2H56] Any thoughts about this forum discussion? Share them in the replies below! If you have spotted a profile that needs to be flagged, feel free to message one of the Safety Patrol members with the username here [https://www.7cups.com/BrowseListeners/?badge=405] For any queries on Safety (flagging/outreaching/discussions), you’re welcome to message tommy [http://7cups.com/@tommy] or Rebekah [http://7cups.com/@Rebekah]! Resources for further reading 👇:  (all text in blue are clickable) * Community guidelines for bios: Community Guidelines [https://www.7cups.com/community-guidelines/General-Guidelines-f9210097010243cba35a46e219dc2214] * Guidelines on Monetary Transactions on 7 Cups: Guidelines on soliciting monetary transactions [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IIInformationUpdatesStation_1371/GuidelinesonSolicitingMonetaryTransactions_317633/]
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Safety Discussion - Using Your Photo as Your Profile Picture
by
Last post
 March 18th
...See more Hi everyone! 😊 This week’s discussion is on one of the things which has come up a few times in previous room discussions, as well as in the forum discussion on profile pictures here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/SafetyDiscussionProfilePictures_320000/] - setting your photo as your profile picture on 7 Cups. There have been differing opinions on this - some users felt that it is perfectly okay to use your photo as your profile picture, as long as the same picture isn’t found on other sites online. Whereas, some felt that it should not be allowed on 7 Cups as it could violate confidentiality. Nevertheless, many agree that it’s a fine line, between being safe and being supportive on 7 Cups. So, let’s dive into this topic! Why is it okay to use your photo as your profile picture? * To appear more approachable and friendly * To show some of your personality to others Reverse Image Search - what is it? It is similar to a search engine, except that instead of typing in keywords, you simply upload a picture. The results are returned in the form of images which are similar-looking to the uploaded image. This can be unsafe, in case you decide to use a similar/same photo from your social media/external sites as your 7 Cups profile picture. Someone can just screenshot your profile picture, upload it to one of the many reverse image search sites, which will return links to your social media accounts. That way, they can find who you really are. Facial Recognition These days, facial recognition is useful for identifying peoples' faces in a large number of images from a single given photo. It does this by distinguishing facial features. So, what does this mean for profile pictures? It means that it is easy for someone to use a single photo of you, to identify you from a bunch of photos, even if they are different. So, using your photo as your profile picture on 7 Cups is not really protecting you from being identified online. Dangers of your photo being ‘stolen and reused’ There is also the danger of identity theft. What is identity theft? It is simply someone stealing your personal identifying information (can be your email ID, photo, or any sensitive information), and posing as yourself using that info. Identity theft is commonly used to deceive others. Using your profile picture is a good way to fool others into believing that they’re interacting with ‘you’, when it is really someone with malicious intent. How to protect yourself and your photos on 7 Cups? * Don’t use the same pictures you use for your social media accounts, as your 7 Cups profile picture * If you wish to use a photo of yourself as your profile picture, make sure that the picture is not out in the ‘digital’ wild, i.e. has never been used anywhere else on the Internet * Another way is to obscure your identity in your photo which is used as your profile picture. That way, facial recognition won't be able to identify you. * A good way to show your qualities in your profile picture, is to use symbols. Here’s a useful post on this: Profile Pictures on 7 Cups: Staying Safe Online [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/ProfilePicson7CupsStayingSafeOnline_192636/] If you have spotted a profile that needs to be flagged, feel free to report them here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/VSafetyPatrol_1685/HowdoIreportaninappropriateprofile_324281/] Join our Safety Discussions taglist here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/VSafetyPatrol_1685/SafetyDiscussionsAutomatedTaglist_324820/] to receive notifications whenever a new discussion is posted! Resources: * Profile Pictures - Staying Safe Online: https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/ProfilePicson7CupsStayingSafeOnline_192636/ 
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Safety Discussion - Boundaries during Member-Listener Chats
by
Last post
 March 11th
...See more Hi everyone! 😊 Last month, I hosted room discussions on both adult and teen sides on this topic - boundaries in member-listener chats.  As both those discussions each lasted an hour, and each was held only once in total last month, I know many of you might have missed those live discussions. No need to worry though 😀, as today, I am sharing a forum version of this discussion for those who could not join in the live discussions. Let us start with this question: Q.1) What is the meaning of “boundary”? As per Merriam-Webster dictionary, boundary means something that indicates or fixes a limit or extent. So, on 7 Cups, we can define boundary as personal limits each member or listener put in place on 7 Cups to protect themselves for the some of the following reasons: * Safety: It includes avoiding offsite contact, confidentiality and triangulation in 1-1 chats, group chats, forums, and in our profiles. * Busy schedule: Every listener or member is just a person on the other side of the screen, with a busy life. So, they cannot be available 24/7 on 7 Cups. * Burnout: Many listeners, wishing to help and support people on here, take on too many chat requests, or too many roles and responsibilities, which can lead to burnout. Q.2) What limitations/boundaries are there between a member and a listener? Below are a few examples of boundaries in a member-listener chat. This list is not exhaustive, and you can add your own boundaries in the replies below! * Time * Duration of chat * Times you’re available for listening * Confidentiality * Not sharing member details outside of 1-1 chat * Not mentioning usernames of other members and listeners * No offsite contact Not sharing full name, home address, email address, phone number, social media contacts etc. * Personal reasons * Triggers * Lack of experience with the chat topic Q.3) What are some red flags in member/listener chats that may suggest boundaries have been compromised? * Offsite contact Examples include asking for phone number, social media contacts, etc. * Inappropriate chat * Triggering conversation * Other party is not respecting your boundaries, even when you’ve clearly stated these boundaries repeatedly. Q.4) What are some ways we can reinforce boundaries? I will be leaving this question to you to share your ways of setting and reinforcing boundaries in 1-1 chats! If you have spotted a profile that needs to be flagged, feel free to report them here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/VSafetyPatrol_1685/HowdoIreportaninappropriateprofile_324281/] Join our Safety Discussions taglist here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/VSafetyPatrol_1685/SafetyDiscussionsAutomatedTaglist_324820/] to receive notifications whenever a new discussion is posted!
tommy profile picture
7 Cups Safety Discussions Masterpost
by tommy
Last post
 March 4th
...See more 7 Cups Safety Discussions We are devoted to supporting you on your 7 Cups journey and will continue to provide unique opportunities to equip you with the necessary skills to develop yourself as a user of our wonderful community.  Please know that we are here to support you. Alternatively, use the below links to learn more about a variety of 7 Cups safety topics: ➡ How do I report an inappropriate profile? [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/VSafetyPatrol_1685/HowdoIreportaninappropriateprofile_324281/] ➡ What makes a good profile picture? [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/SafetyDiscussionProfilePictures_320000/] ➡ What makes a good username? [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/SafetyDiscussionUsernames_320519/] ➡ What makes a good bio? [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/SafetyDiscussionBioBasics_321561/] ➡ What are the dangers of offsite contact? [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/SafetyDiscussionOffsiteContact_321057/] ➡ How do I ensure my bio does not indicate offsite contact? [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/SafetyDiscussionBiosOffsiteContact_322043/] ➡ When can I share YouTube links? [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/SafetyDiscussionYouTubeLinks_323427/] ➡ How can I handle unsafe situations as a listener? [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/SafetyDiscussionHandlingUnsafeSituationsasaListener_324801/] ➡ What is spam / advertising? [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/SafetyDiscussionSpamAdvertisinginBios_322477/] ➡ Why should we not solicit money? [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/SafetyDiscussionSolicitingMoney_322945/] ➡ How to support a member feeling unsafe? [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/SafetyDiscussionSupportingaMemberFeelingUnsafe_323883/] ➡ Boundaries during member-listener chats [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/SafetyDiscussionBoundariesduringMemberListenerChats_325218/] ➡ Using your photo as your profile picture [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/SafetyDiscussionUsingYourPhotoasYourProfilePicture_325667/] ➡  [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/SafetyDiscussionUsingYourPhotoasYourProfilePicture_325667/]Clicking on links shared in rooms [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/SafetyForumDiscussions_2662/SafetyDiscussionClickingonLinksSharedinRooms_326071/] [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/SafetyDiscussionBoundariesduringMemberListenerChats_325218/] [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/SafetyDiscussionSupportingaMemberFeelingUnsafe_323883/] ------------------------- Other Links • Click here to join our safety discussion taglist [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/VSafetyPatrol_1685/SafetyDiscussionsAutomatedTaglist_324820/] • 7 Cups Safety Leaders [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/General_2450/SafetyLeadersAcross7Cups_309284/]
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Safety Discussion - Handling Unsafe Situations as a Listener
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Last post
 March 3rd
...See more Hi everyone! 😊 A couple of weeks ago, I shared a discussion on supporting a member feeling unsafe (find the discussion here: Supporting A Member Feeling Unsafe [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IVSafetyResourcesEvents_1059/SafetyDiscussionSupportingaMemberFeelingUnsafe_323883/]) The unsafe situations discussed in that discussion are not limited to members only. Listeners are not free from unsafe situations on 7 Cups. We will be going through some examples of situations listeners encounter on 7 Cups that hamper their safety. * Inappropriate Chats This is one of the most common unsafe situations encountered by listeners, especially new listeners. Many people, misusing the site, sign up as members to seek sexual or inappropriate chats with listeners, who are just volunteers and trained to provide emotional support. This can be stressful and distressing to new listeners. * Offsite Contact This is where the member/listener asks the listener to connect outside of 7 Cups, usually on a social media platform or in person. Example: Sometimes, members will claim that they cannot utilize the voice/video chat feature or are uncomfortable using messaging to chat, and will request the listener to move to another platform so that the member can feel more comfortable chatting/can receive proper emotional support. That is NOT allowed, as it endangers your anonymity and safety. * Harassment Harassment, also known as cyberbullying, refers to using Internet and online platforms to threaten, embarrass or humiliate individuals, or spread rumors about them online. There have been a lot of times where listeners were harassed in 1-1 chats as well as in rooms and forums, based on various reasons like gender, country, listeners’ own listening styles etc. * Doxxing This is where another user publishes your private and identifying information on the Internet (usually on social media platforms and public forums) without your consent. It is a scary experience for the listener, as it can lead to unwanted messages, spam, and further harassment. Example: Sometimes the listener will get a message from a member/fellow listener that they’ve spotted the listener’s 7Cups information being shared on another platform, along with critical review about the listener. Whether the information being shared is true or not, it can lead to stress and panic for the listener. * Blackmailing Here, the other person can threaten you with publicizing information about you (whether true or false, and is usually damaging information), unless you meet their demands. It is usually done for personal gain or revenge. As a listener, what can you do to handle unsafe situations on 7 Cups? * Use warnings before ending the chat If someone is being inappropriate in your 1-1 chat, you can let them know about the site guidelines and tell them that this is not allowed on 7 Cups. If they persist after 3 warnings, it is totally okay to end the chat. If they continue to message you after you’ve ended the chat, you can report them * Report Screenshots and this helpdesk link [https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us/requests/new] are your best friend whenever you want to report the situation. * Utilize mute button in chat rooms If harassment or bullying is happening in a group chat room, you can call in a mod (or handle the situation, if you’re a moderator), or use your personal mute button to put some distance between yourself and the situation. * Seek peer support If an unsafe situation on 7 Cups has left you upset, it’s a good idea to request peer support. Peer Supporters are listeners who’re trained to support you after negative experiences on 7 Cups.  You can request peer support through Adult side’s Listener Support Room [https://www.7cups.com/chat/?c=k2dmeXmbkuJO42uXh1iY] or teen side’s Teen Listeners [https://www.7cups.com/chat/?c=k2VowHPgmMxSy5k%21] They are NOT here to help you with your personal issues. For personal issues, we recommend switching to your member account. * Change your username if necessary If you have a stalker, a username change, along with a change of profile picture and bio, is a good approach to lose the stalker. Here’s the username change policy (with the form inside): How do I change my username? [https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us/articles/360026080514-How-do-I-change-my-username] Questions for listeners: * Which kind of unsafe situations have you encountered on 7 Cups? * Any more tips to stay safe while on 7 Cups, in addition to the one shared above? If you have spotted a profile that needs to be flagged, feel free to report them here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/VSafetyPatrol_1685/HowdoIreportaninappropriateprofile_324281/] Join our Safety Discussions taglist here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/VSafetyPatrol_1685/SafetyDiscussionsAutomatedTaglist_324820/] to receive notification whenever a new discussion is posted! (all text in blue are clickable) Useful resources: * Username change policy (and username change form inside): How do I change my username? [https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us/articles/360026080514-How-do-I-change-my-username] * Report unsafe situation through helpdesk here [https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us/requests/new] * Listener Support Request form for requesting peer support after a bad experience: Listener Support Request form [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc2yFIiL6az6UEOc5LNqOOERpM7D0g8F49x0qjbIq7QwhJOBQ/viewform]
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Safety Discussion - Usernames
by
Last post
 March 3rd
...See more Hey everyone! 😊 When you join 7 Cups as a member or a listener, you get a username which is assigned by our system. You also have the option to create your own screen name while signing up. Here, your username is something which identifies you to other users. So, having a good username can leave a lasting impression on your 7 Cups peers. That said, there has been some confusion about what is considered an appropriate username on here. So, let’s check it out ✨ What is an appropriate username? An appropriate username IS the one that: * Can be computer-generated by 7 Cups or chosen by yourself * Is creative, and shows positive qualities * Can be in capital letters An appropriate username IS NOT the one that: * Contains sexualized, graphic, or curse words * Contains anything about suicide/drugs/alcohols * Have anything that is homophobic/racist towards any group Now for the questions part! 😄 * What do you consider to be a good username? * Is there any confusion you face while choosing your username while signing up, or deciding to change your username? * Finally, a mini-game for you 🥁: Tag 2-3 of your friends and mention a word which makes you think of them, specifically their usernames (it can be a positive quality, or a strength) Let’s keep the chain going! Sometimes a 7 Cups user may wish to change their username once they have signed up, for various reasons, including safety and privacy reasons. If you’re one of them, you’re welcome to check out the process for username change here [https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us/articles/360026080514-How-do-I-change-my-username-] If you have spotted a profile that needs to be flagged, feel free to message one of the Safety Patrol members with the username here [https://www.7cups.com/BrowseListeners/?badge=405] For any queries on Safety (profile flagging/outreaching/discussions), you’re welcome to message @tommy [http://7cups.com/@tommy] or @Rebekah [http://7cups.com/@Rebekah] or @AuRewolf [http://7cups.com/@AuRewolf]! Resource on usernames 👇: 1.  Username Change policy: [https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us/articles/360026080514-How-do-I-change-my-username-]Username Change [https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us/articles/360026080514-How-do-I-change-my-username-] 2. Community Guidelines about username: Community Guidelines [https://www.7cups.com/community-guidelines/General-Guidelines-f9210097010243cba35a46e219dc2214] Tagging the Safety team: @EvelyneRose @Rebekah @tommy @positivePumpkin22 @AuRewolf @KristenHR @KindnessMatters2020 @Lunaire00 @LightsFromDark @iPHOENIX @Comphi @EmotionsListener @Dystopiatae95 @blissart @LittleBirdie30 @SolaceCares @SirenOfSerenity @Lou73 @Jenna @MistyMagic @fruityPond7887 @Star001 @Hamstermum @MelodyoftheOcean @AffyAvo @Sunisshiningandsoareyou @kindheartedlily @richuyulin @florablossom3319 @blissfulSky8162 @sereneMirage8103 @courageousDreamer8927 @Jiminycricket91 @kyan1 @Raspberrycheesecake @MattForHelp @radiantLight33 @TabbyCat97 @LandOfHopesx3 @Daf8 @Optimisticempath @coco128 @jundaee @pandanfe @Artalistens @Bunnylovesyou @WatermelonLover22 @Suryansh @SparkyGizmo @rubyjane00 @niamh333 @lovelyApple6441 @LOOPHOLE @azuladragon34 @Rui00 @Ralien @fantasticJet1739 @Grace3012 @Mahad2804 @HachiBee @LoveMyMoonflowers @OllieRNLI999 @sweetmikayla @DanCat1128

🌟 Welcome! 🌟

Here at the Safety & Knowledge sub-community, our focus is on creating a culture of awareness and support. Please join us to learn how to keep yourself safe online!

See below some key aspects of our community;

Community Guidelines Series
Part 1 ---> Profiles
Part 2 ---> Behaviour
Part 3 ---> Account Safety
Part 4 ---> Boundaries and Behaviour
Part 5 ---> General Safety for Everyone


Quizzes
All Safety Quiz Events
Safety Quiz - 2024


Safety Team Information
Safety Outreach & Discussions
Safety Patrol


Team Leaders
Ambassador ---> Rebekah
Mentor Leader ---> tommy
Admin Oversight ---> EvelyneRose

Community Guidelines

🌟Welcome!🌟

As this is our Safety sub-community, these guidelines are extra extra important! 🌟 here they are below;

1. Please, be kind to all users. Forum posts/comments that attack or otherwise offend another user will be removed.
2. No offsite contact sharing. This is strictly against site rules.
3. Please, stay on topic to the best of your ability!
4. Please, keep confidential information to yourself. This means no sharing of usernames, messages in a 1-1 or a group setting, or any details about a member chat. Take any and all issues that you'd like to discuss in more depth to Rebekah or tommy.
5. Please, try to post threads within the relevant sub-forum! We understand that this might not be easy, but posting a thread such as "Hello, I'm new!" would clearly not be suited to Part 8 - Safety Activities: Discussions, Events, and Games 🌞

Read the 7 Cups Guidelines
Community Leaders
Community Mentor Leader
ASilentObserver profile picture
@ASilentObserver
Heather225 profile picture
@Heather225
Rebekah profile picture
@Rebekah
tommy profile picture
@tommy
Community Resources

Find any and all safety resources for 7 Cups here!