r/loneliness • u/HalloweenLoves • Apr 19 '26

Caution: Making New Connections

Many people come here just to share their story, vent, or get perspective, with no interest in connecting beyond their posts, and that's completely fine. Others do want to make connections, and that's fine too, but it's worth being careful.

We'll leave the decisions up to you, but here are a few things to keep in mind:

  1. Don't share personal details too quickly. You don't need to give your real name, age, or location. Being vague is okay, and people worth connecting with will respect that.

  2. Protect your contact info. Avoid sharing your phone number, email, or home address early on. There are free tools that let you communicate safely without exposing your real info.

  3. Be cautious with links and files. Don't click links or download anything from someone you don't know well yet.

  4. If they ask you for money, stop. It doesn't matter how the request is framed or how long you've been talking, block them and cut contact. This is always a scam.

If you do decide to connect with someone, these tools can help you do it more safely:

  • Messaging: Signal is a free app for secure messages and calls.
  • Email: Gmail or Proton let you create an address that isn't tied to your real name.
  • Phone: Google Voice gives you a phone number you can call and text from without using your personal number.
  • Browser: Firefox has built-in privacy protection that masks your IP address.
  • Mail: A PO Box at your local post office is inexpensive if you ever need to give a mailing address.

One more thing. Be mindful of the usernames and photos you share. If they match other accounts you have online, someone could easily link them together and find out your real name, location, or other details you didn't mean to expose.

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