Meeting new people safely: a checklist

Meeting new people is one of the best things you can do for your week. It also asks for a little care, the same care you would take going anywhere new. None of this is meant to make you nervous. Most of it takes seconds, and after a few plans it becomes habit.

Before you go

• Read the whole plan. The time, the area, the level, what to bring and the host’s notes. If something is unclear, ask in the plan chat before you commit.
• Look at the host. Their Kept rate, how many plans they have run, and their host level are on the plan. New hosts are welcome, and their first plans are always in public places.
• Check it is a public place. Parks, courts, cafes, restaurants, venues. If a plan is at someone’s home, it will say so clearly, and only verified hosts can run those.
• Tell someone. Let a friend know where you are going and when you expect to be done. Sharing the plan link is the easiest way.
• Plan your way home. Know how you are getting back before you leave, especially for evening plans.
• Bring ID for 21+ plans. Venues will check it at the door.
• Charge your phone. You will want it for check-in, the map and the safety button.

When you arrive

• Meet where the plan says. The exact spot is in the plan once you join. Meet in the open, not in a car or a side street.
• Check in. Tap “You’re here” or scan the host’s code. It releases your hold and lets the host know you arrived.
• Find the host. They should be easy to spot and should say hello. If the plan looks nothing like its description, you can leave.
• Trust your gut. If something feels off, it is okay to leave, even right away. You do not owe anyone an explanation. Leaving for a safety reason never counts against you.

During the plan

• Know where the safety button is. It is in every plan on Kept Plans. One tap offers your local emergency number and alerts our team with the plan details.
• Keep your details to yourself. There is no need to share your address, workplace or phone number with people you just met. You can keep in touch through Kept Plans if you want to.
• Watch your drink. At plans with alcohol, keep your drink with you, pace yourself, and never feel pressured to drink. Nobody should push you, and if they do, tell the host or tell us.
• Say no freely. No to a drink, a photo, a hug, a ride, a second plan. No needs no reason. Pressuring someone after a no breaks our guidelines.
• Look out for others. If someone seems unwell or uncomfortable, check on them. Sometimes the safest thing in a group is one person noticing.

Getting home

• Use your own way home. You do not need to accept a ride from someone you just met, however nice they seem.
• Leave with the group if it is late. Walk to transport together, or wait inside while your ride arrives.
• Let your friend know you are home. Close the loop you opened before you left.

Afterwards

• Report anything that was not okay. From the person’s name in the plan, or from the plan itself. A person on our team reads every report.
• Block if you need to. Blocking means you will not see each other’s plans. It is private; they are not told.
• Leave honest feedback. It is private to us and the host, and it helps the next person.

If you are hosting

• Your first three plans are in public places, with 12 people or fewer.
• Arrive early so nobody waits alone.
• Do introductions, and keep an eye on the edges of the group.
• Know that you can end a plan early if something is wrong. The safety button works for hosts too.

In an emergency

If you or anyone else is in danger, call your local emergency number first. Then use the safety button, or email support@keptplans.com with “Urgent” in the subject.

Most plans are simply fun: a game, a meal, a walk and a few new names. These habits are how they stay that way. For everything we do on our side, see trust and safety.