Community Guidelines
1. Gezginsel’s Purpose and Community Approach
Gezginsel is a social community platform created for adult Members who want to meet new people, make trip plans, join Events, and share camping and travel experiences. The core purpose of the Platform is to enable Members to form connections that are safe, respectful, genuine, and based on mutual consent.
Communication established on Gezginsel is not limited to digital messaging. From time to time, Members may arrange coffee meetups, day trips, camping, city tours, festivals, sports Events, or joint holiday plans. For this reason, these Community Guidelines have been drafted so as to cover online conduct, in-Platform Content, and off-Platform meetings that take place through a Gezginsel connection.
These Guidelines are not merely advisory. Anyone who becomes a Member of Gezginsel, creates a Profile, sends a message, creates an Event, joins an Event, or shares any Content is deemed to have agreed to comply with these Guidelines.
Our Core Principles
The physical, digital, psychological, and financial safety of Members is our priority.
Every Member deserves respect, whatever their language, identity, lifestyle, beliefs, appearance, travel preferences, and boundaries may be.
Messaging, meeting up, sharing photographs, Event participation, and physical contact must take place only with explicit consent.
Members must present themselves accurately, must not create false identities, and must not mislead others.
Every Member is responsible for their own conduct and for contributing to the safety of the Platform.
2. Scope and Binding Force of the Guidelines
These Guidelines are not merely advisory. They are binding rules with which everyone in our community must comply, and there are no exceptions to them.
They cover the Profile information, photographs, descriptions, messages, comments, memory posts, Event listings, group chats, badge/point usage, notifications, and all interactions initiated through the Platform that are found within the Gezginsel App or website.
Conduct engaged in off the Platform by Members who meet through Gezginsel may also be assessed from a safety perspective. If harmful conduct occurring at an Event, on a journey, at a campsite, in accommodation, at a coffee meetup, or on another communication channel affects the Gezginsel community, it may be treated as an in-Platform violation.
Conduct contrary to these Guidelines is assessed according to the severity of the violation, whether it is repeated, whether it was intentional, whether it caused harm, and its effect on the safety of other Members.
Measures That May Be Applied
Removal of Content or restriction of its visibility
Sending a warning to the Member
Temporary restriction of messaging, Event creation, commenting, or matching features
Temporary suspension of the Account
Permanent closure of the Account
Cooperation with the competent authorities in the event of a serious safety risk or a legal obligation
3. Profile and Account Rules
3.1. Age Requirement
Gezginsel is open only to the use of persons aged 18 and over. It is prohibited for persons under the age of 18 to open an Account, to join Events, or to be represented on the Platform. Accounts that misstate their age, present themselves as being a minor, or attempt to bring minors onto the Platform are closed immediately upon detection.
Gezginsel reserves the right to request age and identity verification on safety grounds. Where verification is not completed or contradictory information is provided, the Account may be restricted.
3.2. Age Requirement
Profile photographs must represent the Member in a recognisable and realistic manner. The Member’s face must be clearly visible in at least one Profile photograph. Group photographs may be used as supporting photographs; however, the main Profile photograph must not leave it unclear who the person is.
The following photographs and images are not permitted:
Images that are so heavily filtered, extensively altered with artificial intelligence, or distorted that it cannot be made out who the person is,
Photographs belonging to someone else, images of celebrities, stock photographs, or fake Profile photographs,
Images containing only text, a logo, advertising, a QR code, a social media account, or contact information,
Photographs in which children appear alone,
Obscene images, images containing nudity or violence, or disturbing images,
Images containing weapons, narcotics, illegal substances, or hate symbols,
3.3. Username and Profile Description
The username and the Profile description must serve to present the Member honestly and respectfully. Using one’s full legal name is not mandatory; however, the name chosen must not be misleading, offensive, or one that impersonates someone else.
The following are not permitted in the username and Profile fields:
Words containing insults, hate speech, sexual expressions, or threats,
Names that impersonate another person, a brand, a public official, a celebrity, or a fictional character,
A telephone number, e-mail address, social media account, payment account, or redirection to an external platform,
Commercial advertising, campaigns, sales messages, or the promotion of off-Platform services,
Misleading statements of age, gender, location, occupation, relationship status, or travel purpose,
3.4. Single Account and Account Security
Each Member must use only a single Account belonging to themselves. Opening a new Account in place of a banned or restricted Account, or attempting to circumvent a sanction by means of a VPN or other methods, is treated as Platform manipulation.
The Member is responsible for the security of their Account. Sharing passwords, allowing another person to use the Account, and the sale or transfer of the Account are prohibited.
4. Content, Messaging, and Communication Standards
4.1. Respectful Communication
Communication on Gezginsel must be conducted in language that is courteous, clear, trust-building, and respectful of boundaries. Members must respect the other party’s right not to reply, to end a conversation, to remove a match (the ending of mutual following), or to decline a meeting.
The following conduct is prohibited:
Sending persistent messages, or contacting someone over and over again despite receiving no reply
Insults, degradation, humiliation, mockery, or threats
Degrading comments about a Member’s appearance, body, accent, clothing, economic situation, or travel style
Emotional pressure, manipulation, blackmail, or inducing feelings of guilt
Forcing a Member to move off the Platform, or pressuring them to share a telephone number
4.2. Sexual Content and Harassment
Gezginsel may be a community that is open to dating and friendship connections; however, any interaction of a sexual nature requires explicit consent. Unwanted sexual messages, photographs, comments, insinuations, or propositions are treated as sexual harassment.
The following are strictly not permitted:
Sending unwanted obscene photographs, videos, audio recordings, or messages
Sharing a person’s intimate images without their consent, or threatening to share them
The sale, facilitation, or advertising of sexual services, or an attempt to purchase them
Fetishising, persistent, or disturbing sexual comments
Unwanted physical contact, stalking, or harassment during a meeting
4.3. Memory, Destination, Blog, Comment, and Event Content
Travel memories, trip notes, photographs, Event descriptions, and comments shared on Gezginsel must reflect genuine experience; they must not mislead other Members or steer them towards risky behaviour.
In Event descriptions, the place, date, time, participation conditions, approximate budget, means of transport, and safety notes must be stated as clearly as possible. Events that are vague or misleading, or that could expose Members to financial or physical risk, may be removed.
5. Travel, Meeting, and Event Safety
5.1. First Meetings and Personal Safety
Members who meet through Gezginsel are advised to hold their first meetings, as far as possible, in public places that are easy to reach and safe. Controlled settings such as a coffee, a walk, a museum, a city tour, or a crowded Event are more suitable for a first meeting.
Members are advised not to share their accommodation address, home address, identity information, financial information, or sensitive personal data at an early stage. If a Member insists on requesting such information, they should be reported.
5.2. Group Trip, Camping, and Event Rules
Group Events, camping, and trip plans are areas that strengthen the spirit of the community. However, the Member who organises them or the group administrator must give clear information that does not mislead participants, and must take care to provide a safe environment.
Members who create an Event must take care to state the following information clearly:
The type of Event: day trip, camping, city tour, sea-sand-sun, festival, sports, food and drink, etc.
The start and end time, the meeting point, and the estimated route
The approximate cost and, if there is a participation fee, its scope and the payment method
The means of transport and, if there is car sharing, the responsibility and safety information
Conditions requiring a certain age, experience, equipment, health status, or physical capability
Information regarding risks such as cancellation, delay, or weather conditions
5.3. Money, Payment, and Accommodation Safety
Gezginsel is not directly responsible for private money transfers between Members, shared expenses, reservations, or agreements made off the Platform. Members must be particularly careful when making payments such as a deposit, tickets, accommodation, fuel, or a tour fee to people they do not know.
Accounts that give rise to a suspicion of fraud, misleading Events involving payment requests, fake reservations, and attempts to solicit financial support from Members are prohibited.
6. Prohibited Content and Conduct
6.1. Child Safety
Zero tolerance is applied on Gezginsel to the sexual exploitation or abuse of children and to any Content or conduct that endangers children. Content that sexualises persons under the age of 18, targets them, steers them towards meetings, or leaves them at risk is removed immediately and may, where necessary, be shared with the competent authorities.
6.2. Violence, Threats, and Dangerous Conduct
Physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, threats, Content encouraging harm to oneself or to others, the display of weapons, gory or disturbing images, and dangerous challenges are prohibited.
6.3. Hate Speech and Discrimination
Gezginsel aims to be an inclusive community. Content that degrades, excludes, dehumanises, or targets a person or a group on the basis of race, ethnic origin, nationality, language, religion, sect, gender, gender identity, disability, age, health status, or similar characteristics is not permitted.
6.4. Misinformation and Misdirection
Clearly false or misleading information that could cause serious harm is prohibited. Misdirection concerning travel safety, health, disasters, public order, transport, visas, official procedures, or emergencies that could put Members in danger may be removed.
6.5. Controlled Goods and Illegal Substances
It is prohibited to sell, supply, facilitate, or advertise narcotic substances, the misuse of prescription medicines, or tobacco and alcohol in a manner that is unlawful or that steers towards misuse. Weapons, explosives, contraband goods, forged documents, or illegal services may not be promoted.
6.6. Terrorism and Violent Extremism
Content and conduct that praises, supports, or encourages terrorist organisations, violent extremist groups, or the propaganda, symbols, actions, and ideologies of such groups, or that seeks to recruit members for them, are prohibited.
6.7. Self-Harm and the Encouragement of Suicide
Members may share their personal difficulties in a respectful and safe manner. However, Content that praises, instructs in, encourages, or facilitates suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, or dangerous behaviour is not permitted. Safety measures may be applied in the case of reports involving an urgent risk.
7. Commercial Activity, Spam, and Platform Manipulation
7.1. Commercial and Promotional Use
Gezginsel is not a marketplace, a tour sales channel, an advertising board, or a customer acquisition platform. Members are not permitted to sell tours, hotels, transfers, guiding, products, crypto, investments, training, consultancy, subscriptions, or similar services without authorisation.
Brand collaborations, advertising campaigns, prize draws, sponsorship announcements, and attempts to direct traffic to external platforms that have not been approved by Gezginsel may be removed.
7.2. Spam and Deceptive Links
Bulk messages, copy-and-paste invitations, irrelevant links, phishing links, fake campaigns, misleading files, and automated messages that direct Members to external platforms are treated as spam.
7.3. Bots, Automation, and Artificial Engagement
Gezginsel is built on natural human connections. Bot Accounts, automated messaging, fake likes/matches, the manipulation of points or badges, fake Event participation, and technical conduct aimed at circumventing security systems are prohibited.
8. Reports, Safety Review, and the Sanction Process
8.1. Making a Report
Members may report an Account, message, photograph, memory, comment, or Event that disturbs them or that they consider to be in violation of these Guidelines by using the “Report” and “Block” options. A report assists the Gezginsel safety team in its assessment.
Merely disliking a Member, thinking differently, or having a personal disagreement is not a ground for a report. Deliberately false reports, targeting, and coordinated mass-reporting attempts based on protected characteristics may also be regarded as violations.
8.2. Review Method
Gezginsel may make use of human review, user reports, automated risk signals, and technical security controls in order to ensure community safety. In the review process, the context, whether the conduct is repeated, the severity of the violation, the harm suffered, and the effect on community safety are taken into account.
8.3. Sanction Philosophy
The purpose of sanctions is, before punishment, to protect the community, to stop harm, and to maintain a safe environment. While a warning or the removal of Content may be applied for minor violations, permanent closure of the Account may be applied for serious violations such as harassment, threats, fraud, child safety, violence, hate speech, or circumventing a sanction.
8.4. Sample Sanction Table
Type of violation
Example conduct
Possible measure
Minor Profile violation
Unclear Profile photograph, incomplete information
Correction request or visibility restriction
Spam
Bulk messages, external links, advertising
Content removal, messaging restriction
Harassment
Persistent messages, sexual comments
Temporary suspension or permanent closure
Fraud
Requesting a deposit, fake Event
Permanent closure and the necessary investigation
Child safety/violence
Targeting minors, threats
Immediate removal, permanent closure, cooperation with the competent authorities
9. Safe Use Recommendations for Members
The following recommendations help Members have a safer experience, even where there is no violation of the Community Guidelines:
Plan your first meeting during daylight hours and in a public place.
Tell someone close to you who you are meeting, where, and when.
Do not send money to people you do not know, do not pay deposits, and do not share identity documents.
For car sharing, camping, accommodation, or out-of-town trip plans, clarify the route and the costs in advance.
The moment you feel uncomfortable, end the conversation, remove the match, block, or report.
In the event of immediate physical danger, contact the official emergency services and law enforcement authorities directly.
10. Final Provisions
Gezginsel may update these Guidelines from time to time in order to protect community safety. Updates may take effect from the moment they are published on the Platform. Members are expected to check the Guidelines regularly.
This document has been prepared in order to explain the operational and community standards for the Gezginsel community. Documents that have the character of legal texts, such as the Terms of Use, the Privacy Policy, the KVKK Privacy Notice (Personal Data Protection Law No. 6698), and the Cookie Policy, must additionally be read carefully by the Member.
Every Member who joins Gezginsel agrees to be part of a safe, respectful, genuine, and enjoyable social travel community. The quality of the community is formed together with the conduct of each Member.