If you’re evaluating a voice chat site for safety, here are five concrete things to look at. None require reading the whole terms of service, and all of them are quick.
Search the TOS for the word “monitor” or “listen.” Most platforms have a clause about reviewing content for safety. The question is whether the language is “in response to reports” or “at our discretion.” The second is broader than it sounds. AirTalk’s version is “at our discretion.” XES doesn’t have one because the audio doesn’t pass through us in the first place.
Search for “recording.” Some platforms record calls in case of disputes. Some have indefinite retention. If there’s a clause that says recordings are kept beyond the dispute lifecycle, you’re on a platform that holds your conversations.
Look for an age gate that’s more than a checkbox. Most sites have a self-attestation (“I am 18 or older” checkbox). That’s the bare minimum. Sites with a meaningful age gate either ask for an ID, link to a third-party verifier, or have a moderation flow specifically for under-age suspects. The middle option is best because it doesn’t hand your ID to the chat platform itself.
See if the report button is visible during a call. If you have to leave a call to find the report button, the platform doesn’t want you reporting. XES’s report flow runs from the post-call rate strip and from the call history drawer; both take two taps.
Check whether blocks actually work. The way to test this is on the platform itself: block someone, queue up again, and notice if you ever match with them. Some sites have a block button that’s purely cosmetic.
None of these tell you the whole story. But if a site fails three of the five, the marketing copy on the homepage is lying to you, and you shouldn’t trust the site with what you say on it.
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