Safety boundaries
These are practical notes for using Signal well. Signal is intentionally small, and that is a safety choice as much as a product choice.
Visibility is intentional
Signal shows your intent only while your session is active. There is no profile, no handle, no avatar visible on the radar. Visibility starts when you tap "I’m here" and ends when the timer runs out or you stop the session.
Do not share sensitive information on the radar
The radar is a public surface for the duration of your session. Treat your intent the way you would treat any short message in a public place. Do not include your address, your workplace, your phone number, or anything you would not say to a stranger.
Use common sense when meeting people
Signal lets you find people who are open to meeting. It does not verify who they are. Meet in public, share as little identifying information as you are comfortable sharing, and leave whenever you want.
Signal is not an emergency service
Signal does not dispatch help, does not contact authorities, and does not store history. If you need urgent assistance, contact local emergency services directly.
Signal is not a personal safety guarantee
Signal does not promise that meeting someone you found there will be safe. The radar is a coarse city-block view of intent, not a verification system.