Anonymous chat only works when people feel safe using it. We would rather be open about how moderation works than leave it as a mystery. This page explains the main parts of the system, so you know what to expect as a user and what happens when a rule is broken.
The full rules are in our Community Guidelines, and details about data are in our Privacy page. This guide is the plain-language overview.
BUbble is made for college and university students and is only for people who are 18 or older. To chat or to post in the forum, you sign in with a Google account, choose a nickname and enter your age. Signing in helps keep spam, bots and harassment out, because it takes more effort to cause trouble when each person has to have an account. If someone enters an age under 18, the account cannot be used.
Other users do not see your Google account or your email address. Your match only sees the details you choose to share, such as your campus, year level and interests. Chats are held in server memory only while the room is active and are gone when it ends. Forum posts are deleted automatically about 24 hours after they are posted.
If someone makes you uncomfortable, you can end the chat at any time and report them. The report sends a snapshot of the conversation to our moderators, so you do not have to screenshot anything or explain everything from memory. Forum posts can be reported too.
Every report is reviewed by a real person. Please do not file false reports to get someone in trouble. Misusing the report system is itself something we can act on.
Moderators do not read chats for entertainment. They look at a conversation to keep people safe, usually because a report came in. Chats that nobody reports are not reviewed, and they are not kept after the room ends.
What happens after a report depends on what was said and how serious it was:
Moderation is not perfect, and people make mistakes. If you believe a ban was unfair, use the contact option on your ban screen and explain what happened with as much context as you can. Appeals are looked at by a person, not an automatic system.
The best moderation is a community that looks out for itself. Report behavior that breaks the rules, block people you do not want to hear from, and be the kind of person you would want to meet. If you have suggestions for improving safety on BUbble, contact us. We read every message.
Practical safety habits for anonymous chat: what to share, what to keep private, red flags to watch for, and what to do when a conversation goes wrong.
How to Start a Conversation With Someone New (Without It Being Awkward)Simple, low-pressure ways to open a chat, keep it going, handle silence and end a conversation kindly, whether you are online or on campus.
Making Friends in College: A Practical Guide for FreshmenA realistic guide to building friendships in your first year of college: where to meet people, how to turn acquaintances into friends and why patience matters.