Is MeetNow safe?

Short answer: MeetNow is built to make meeting new people safer: every plan happens at a real public place, the host chooses who joins (and can limit who can join, for example by gender or age range), anyone can block a user, and “we met” confirmations build a track record that shows who actually turns up. No app can guarantee your safety on its own, though, so the common-sense steps on this page matter just as much: meet in public, tell a friend, arrange your own way home and leave if you feel uncomfortable.

This page explains what MeetNow does to keep plans safe, what it does not do, and what you should do yourself. For a general introduction, see what MeetNow is and how it works.

What MeetNow does

MeetNow’s safety comes from how plans are designed, not from promises the app cannot keep. These are the features that matter:

1. Plans happen at public places. Every plan is set at a real public place, such as a café, a restaurant, a bar, a sports club or a promenade. Everyone knows where they are going before they agree to go.
2. The host chooses who joins. Nobody is added to a plan automatically. People ask to join with a short note, and the host sees their profile before accepting or declining.
3. The host can limit who can join. When posting a plan, the host can limit who can join, for example by gender or age range.
4. Guests know who else is coming. Accepted guests get a group chat with the host, so the whole group can say hello and agree on the meeting point before the plan.
5. You can block users. If someone makes you uncomfortable, you can block them.
6. Track record from “we met”. After a plan, both sides confirm “we met”. These confirmations build each person’s track record, which shows that they turn up to the plans they join or host.

Because MeetNow is plans, not profiles, the focus is on a shared activity in a public place rather than one-to-one messaging with strangers. You can read more about how hosts set this up in how to host a plan on MeetNow.

What MeetNow does not do

It is just as important to be clear about what the app does not do, so that nobody relies on protections that are not there. MeetNow does not run ID or background checks on people, and a track record is not a guarantee of how someone will behave. MeetNow also does not handle payments: who pays is agreed on the plan and settled in person.

That is why your own judgement, and the steps below, always come first.

What you should do

Whenever you meet someone new, through MeetNow or anywhere else, follow these steps:

1. Meet at a public place, and stay there. Keep the plan at the place on the plan. If someone suggests moving somewhere private, say no.
2. Tell a friend. Share where you are going, who with and when you expect to be back. A quick message is enough.
3. Arrange your own way home. Know how you will get back before you go, whether by bus, taxi or your own transport, so you never depend on someone you have just met.
4. Read the plan and the group chat. Check the place, time and who pays, and say hello in the group chat before the plan.
5. Keep personal details for later. There is no need to share your home address or other private details with people you have only just met.
6. Leave if you feel uncomfortable. You can leave at any point, without explaining. Your safety matters more than being polite.

If you are the host

Hosts have extra control: you choose the place and the people. Use it well. Pick a public place you know, read each short note and profile before accepting, use the who-can-join options if they help you feel comfortable, and decline any request that does not feel right. You never need to give a reason.

If you are a guest

Read the plan carefully before asking to join, and make sure the place, time and who pays suit you. Once you are accepted, use the group chat to say hello and confirm the meeting point. If anything changes in a way you are not comfortable with, you do not have to go.

How to block someone

MeetNow lets you block users. If someone in a plan or a chat makes you uncomfortable, block them. Blocking is there so you never have to deal with someone again once you have decided they are not for you.

If you have a question about safety on MeetNow that this page does not answer, you can contact the MeetNow team.

In an emergency in Malta

If you or someone else is in danger, call 112. It is the European emergency number, it works across the EU including Malta, and it is free to call. Do not use the group chat or the app to ask for emergency help.

Safety on drinks and nights out

Plans involving drinks need a little extra care: watch your drink, do not leave it unattended, and plan your way home before you go. Our page on meeting new people for drinks in Malta covers this in more detail, and how MeetNow works in Malta has plan ideas that suit the island.

Related questions

• What is the MeetNow app and how does it work?
• How do I host a plan on MeetNow?
• How do I ask to join a plan on MeetNow?
• Who pays on a MeetNow plan?

Frequently asked questions

Does MeetNow check people’s identity?

No. MeetNow does not run ID or background checks. Safety on MeetNow comes from public places, hosts choosing who joins, blocking, and the track record built from “we met” confirmations, plus your own common-sense steps.

Can I block someone on MeetNow?

Yes. You can block any user who makes you uncomfortable, so you do not have to deal with them again.

What is the MeetNow track record?

After a plan, both sides confirm “we met”. Those confirmations build each person’s track record, which shows that they turn up to the plans they join or host.

Can a host limit who joins a plan?

Yes. A host can limit who can join a plan, for example by gender or age range, and always accepts or declines each request.

What should I do in an emergency?

Call 112, the European emergency number, which works in Malta. Then leave the situation if you can and tell someone you trust.