Effective: April 9, 2026 · Applies to: All users and listeners · Enforced by: HearMeOut team
HearMeOut works because people are honest, respectful, and genuinely present with one another. This Code of Conduct exists to protect that. It applies to everyone on the platform — every person talking, every person listening, and every person working behind the scenes.
Short version: Be human. Be kind. Be present. Do not harm. If something feels wrong, report it — we will take it seriously.
Every person on this platform is going through something real. You may not agree with someone's choices or feelings. You do not need to. What is required is that you treat them with basic human dignity. Condescension, contempt, and cruelty have no place here.
What is shared in a session stays in a session. You may not screenshot, record, share, post, or discuss session content with anyone outside the platform. This applies even after the session ends, even if the content was shared freely, even if you no longer use the platform. Breach of confidentiality is the most serious violation on HearMeOut.
Harassment includes: repeated unwanted contact, sexual messages or requests, threats (direct or implied), deliberate humiliation, and targeting someone because of their identity, background, or what they shared with you. Any of this results in immediate, permanent removal from the platform.
Attempting to identify, locate, or contact another user or listener outside of HearMeOut is prohibited. This includes searching for them on social media, asking for personal contact details, or sharing your own. The anonymity of this platform protects everyone — respect it.
Do not use the platform to share content or solicit actions that are illegal under Indian law. This includes obscene content, content inciting violence, threats, impersonation, and financial fraud. We will cooperate with law enforcement if required.
Sessions are for genuine emotional support. Joining a session to test a listener, conduct undisclosed research, or engage out of curiosity without genuine need is unfair to listeners who are reserving their time and emotional energy for people who need it.
Listeners are trained peers — not lawyers, financial advisors, medical professionals, or therapists. Do not ask for professional advice and do not rely on anything they say as such. If your situation requires professional help, our listeners are trained to recognise that and will tell you kindly. Please listen when they do.
Listeners care about the people they talk to. Sending abusive messages, making extreme emotional demands, or deliberately attempting to harm a listener's mental health is a violation. Listeners have the right to end any session they find harmful to their own wellbeing, with no obligation to explain.
Ratings help maintain quality. Do not give a negative rating as retaliation for a listener professionally ending a session. Do not give a false positive to protect a listener who behaved inappropriately — that harms future users.
This is the central rule of being a HearMeOut listener. Active listening means being present, validating, and reflecting — not solving, diagnosing, or directing someone's life choices. No matter how obvious the answer seems to you, your role is to help the user feel heard. The moment you begin giving direct advice, you are outside your role.
If a user asks whether you are a therapist or licensed professional, you must clearly say no. You are a trained peer listener. Do not allow anyone to believe otherwise — even by omission.
If a user expresses thoughts of suicide, self-harm, harm to others, or describes an immediate safety emergency, you must:
There is no scenario in which the crisis protocol is optional. Failure to follow it results in immediate removal from the platform.
Listening to others in pain is emotionally demanding. You are expected to take care of yourself. If a session is affecting you beyond what you can handle, you may end it professionally. You are not required to absorb unlimited distress. Participate in the mandatory peer supervision sessions HearMeOut provides.
Only set yourself as available when you are genuinely available — private space, stable internet, adequate emotional capacity. Do not accept sessions from locations where privacy cannot be guaranteed.
You may not ask users for tips, additional payments, gifts, or any compensation outside of HearMeOut's billing system.
[ Results in Immediate Permanent Ban ]
Report through the in-app reporting button (available in every session) or by emailing safety@joinhearmeout.com. Include your session ID, approximate date and time, and a brief description. All reports are reviewed within 48 hours. Urgent safety concerns are addressed within 4 hours. False or malicious reports are themselves a violation.
Depending on severity and history, violations may result in: a formal warning, temporary suspension (3–30 days), permanent account ban, withholding of listener earnings for sessions conducted in violation, or referral to law enforcement where required. We do not issue warnings before permanent bans for zero-tolerance violations listed above.