Guides · 6 min read · Published 29 October 2026
How to stay safe on random video chat
Practical safety habits for talking to strangers over live video: what to share, what to avoid and what to do when a call feels wrong.
Talking to someone new over live video can be fun, and it is a great way to practise a language, hear a different point of view or simply pass an evening. Because you are meeting a stranger, a few simple habits make the difference between a good experience and a bad one. None of them take long, and most become automatic after a few calls.
1. Keep personal details off the call
The person on the other side only knows what you tell them or show them. Before you start a call, decide what you are comfortable sharing and stick to it. A good rule: share interests, not identifiers.
- Fine to share: your first name or a nickname, your city or country in general terms, hobbies, music, films, what you study or the kind of work you do.
- Keep private: your full name, phone number, home or work address, your school or office name, your social media handles in the first conversation, and anything about your daily routine (when you leave home, where you go to the gym).
On MeAndYou, other people never see your phone number. Messages are only possible between people who follow each other, so you decide who can contact you after a call.
2. Check what your camera shows
Your background can say more than you do. Letters with your address, a uniform with a school or company logo, a window with a recognisable view or family photos can all give away who you are. Before a call, look at your own preview and move anything personal out of view. Sitting in front of a plain wall is the easiest fix.
3. Trust your instincts and use Next
You never owe a stranger a conversation. If a call makes you uncomfortable, if someone is rude, pushy or shows something you did not want to see, simply tap Next and you are talking to someone else. There is no need to explain or apologise.
4. Report and block when someone breaks the rules
Leaving a bad call protects you; reporting protects everyone else too. In MeAndYou you can report the person you are talking to from the flag in the top row of the call, or from their profile or your chat with them. Choose the reason that fits best, for example harassment, nudity or sexual content, hate speech, threats, spam or a scam, a fake profile, or someone who may be under 18. By default the report also blocks them, so you will not be matched or contacted again. The other person is never told who reported them.
5. Never move to another app because a stranger asks
A common pattern in scams is to move the conversation quickly to another messaging app, where there are no reports and no moderation. Someone you met a few minutes ago has no good reason to insist. If a friendship grows naturally over time, you can decide later, on your own terms.
6. Never send money or codes
No genuine new friend asks for money, gift cards, crypto, or a one-time code sent to your phone. Those requests are always a warning sign. Read our guide on how to spot and avoid online scams for the most common stories scammers use.
7. Remember that calls are live
MeAndYou does not record video calls, but the other person can always point another device at their screen. Assume that anything you show on camera could be captured, and do not show anything you would not want shared. If someone threatens to share an image of you, read what to do if someone threatens you.
A quick checklist before you start
- Background checked, nothing personal in view
- You know what you will and will not share
- You know where Next, Report and Block are
- Your phone has enough battery and a stable connection (see better video call quality)
Safe habits are not about being suspicious of everyone; most people you meet just want a friendly conversation. They simply mean you stay in control. For everything MeAndYou does to keep calls safe, visit our Safety Centre.