Children's safety comes first.

Last updated: 20 October 2026

Who can use the service

You must be 18 or over to create an account, post, message, apply, join a project or use member features. We do not knowingly create accounts for children. If we learn that an account belongs to somebody under 18, we will restrict it while we take proportionate steps to protect the person, remove data that should not be held and preserve information only where safety or law requires it.

An 18+ label is not treated as the only safeguard. We review whether children are likely to access the public service and reassess this when the audience, features or risks change.

What is never allowed

• Sexual content involving a child, grooming, sexual exploitation or attempts to arrange sexual contact.
• Trafficking, forced labour, coercion, abuse or arranging unsafe or unlawful work involving a child.
• Sharing a child's private information, location, images or messages without a lawful reason and appropriate permission.
• Threats, blackmail, harassment or content that encourages a child to harm themselves or somebody else.
• Using In The Loop to evade safeguarding checks or recruit children into activities presented as work, volunteering or collaboration.

If you are worried about a child

Use the Report link beside the relevant content or contact us. Give us the page link, username and time, but do not download, copy or send illegal imagery. We may remove content, restrict accounts, preserve relevant records and report information to the appropriate authority where required.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999. For concerns about online sexual abuse or grooming, you can also report directly to CEOP's Safety Centre.

Gatherings and future activities

Member gatherings are currently for adults. Any future activity open to under-18s must be clearly identified before booking and have a separate, suitable safeguarding plan, responsible adults and consent arrangements. It must not rely on this general policy alone.

Privacy

We minimise the personal information we collect, keep exact addresses out of public profiles and do not use behavioural advertising. Read the privacy policy for how information is used and deleted.

Reviewing this policy

We review safeguards when features change, after a serious incident or report, and as relevant guidance changes. Our internal risk assessments and operational records are not replaced by this public page.