Community Guidelines

Last updated: 2 June 2026

Vela exists for real people looking for real connection — for love and for friendship. These guidelines keep Vela calm, kind, and safe. They're part of our Terms of Service, and they apply to everything you do here: your profile, your voice, your messages, and how you treat people both on and off the app. Break them and we may remove content, limit features, or close your account. Serious or illegal behaviour is reported to the authorities.

Be real

Vela is built on authenticity. Use your real photos, your real age, and present yourself honestly. One genuine account per person. Don't impersonate anyone, use someone else's pictures, or run a fake or misleading profile. Verifying your identity helps everyone trust that the person on the other side is real.

Be kind and respectful

Treat people the way you'd want to be treated. No harassment, bullying, intimidation, or repeated unwanted contact. No hate speech, slurs, misgendering, body‑shaming, or demeaning comments about someone's appearance, background, beliefs, or identity. Disagreement is fine; cruelty is not. If someone isn't interested, accept it gracefully and move on.

Consent matters

Ask, listen, and respect boundaries — in conversation and in person. Do not send unsolicited sexually explicit images or messages. In the UK, sending unsolicited nude or sexual images ("cyber‑flashing") is a criminal offence. Move at a pace both people are comfortable with, and never pressure anyone.

Zero tolerance: minors

Vela is strictly for adults 18 and over. There is no place for anyone under 18, and absolutely no content that sexualises minors, in any form. We report child sexual abuse material and related conduct to law enforcement and the relevant authorities. If you suspect someone is under 18, report it immediately.

No harm, no illegal activity

No threats, incitement, or content that promotes violence, self‑harm, or suicide. No selling weapons, drugs, or other illegal goods or services. No terrorist content, no content that breaks the law. We remove illegal content and act on it.

No scams, no solicitation

Vela is not a marketplace or a lead list. Don't ask other members for money, gifts, or financial help; don't pitch investments, crypto, "opportunities," or commercial products and services; and don't try to pull people onto other platforms to defraud them. Romance scams are taken extremely seriously and reported.

Protect privacy — others' and your own

Don't share other people's private information, photos, voice notes, or screenshots of conversations without consent. Treat what others share with you as private. And think before you share your own sensitive details (home address, workplace, financial information) — give trust time to build.

Keep it on Vela until you trust someone

Mutual interest is required before open messaging — it's a safety feature, not a hurdle. Keep early conversations in the app, where our safety tools can help, until you genuinely trust the person.

Staying safe when you meet

Meet in public the first few times — a café, a bar, a busy place. Never at a home or an isolated spot.
Tell a friend where you're going and who with, and use Vela's safety check‑in.
Let our Concierge suggest safe, public venues.
Arrange your own transport, watch your drink, and trust your instincts — if something feels off, leave. You never owe anyone your time.

Reporting and how moderation works

If someone breaks these guidelines, report them or block them — it takes seconds and you can do it from any profile or chat. Reports are confidential. We combine automated screening with human review to act on harassment, scams, fake profiles, explicit content, and illegal material. Reporting helps protect the whole community, so please do it.

What happens if you break the rules

Depending on severity, we may issue a warning, remove content, limit or pause features, suspend your account, or permanently ban you. Serious cases — including anything involving minors, threats, or illegal content — can lead to an immediate ban and a report to the authorities. We don't always share the details of an investigation, to protect the people who reported.

Thank you

Most people here are kind, genuine, and hoping for the same thing you are. Looking out for each other is what keeps Vela a place worth being. Questions or concerns? Email hello@vela.dating.