Stay Connected by Phone or Message
A nearby BlackBuddy can stay on the phone, send messages, check in, or help the member stay calm while they move toward a safer place.
Community & Trust
Trust isn't assumed.
It's built.
Every person in this network will be verified. Every protocol will be tested. Every guideline will be written for the community it protects.
Member Privacy
Community & Privacy
Your safety starts with your privacy. Black Buddy is built on a Privacy by Design foundation — meaning your personal data is protected by default, not as an afterthought.
Data Minimization
We only collect what is strictly necessary to operate the network. No unnecessary data is gathered, stored, or retained beyond its purpose.
End-to-End Confidentiality
Member identities, locations, and communications are never exposed to non-members. Vetted members are only visible to one another within the defined support radius when assistance is needed. NO VETTED MEMBER CAN ACCESS THE IDENTITIES OF OTHER VETTED MEMBERS. MEMBERS ARE ONLY VISIBLE WITHIN THE DEFINED SUPPORT RADIUS. Your information stays within the vetted network.
No Data Selling
Your personal data is never sold, rented, or shared with advertisers or third-party brokers — period.
Consent First
Every data use requires your informed consent. You control what you share, who sees it, and when it is removed.
Transparent Practices
We publish clear, plain-language policies so you always know exactly how your information is handled inside the platform.
Right to Deletion
You can request full deletion of your account and all associated data at any time. No questions asked.
Our Commitment
Privacy by Design
Member Directory
There is no public or member-browsable directory of vetted BlackBuddy members. Members cannot enter the app and browse or search for other members.
Limited Visibility
Vetted members are only visible to one another within the defined support radius when assistance is needed. This keeps the network private and ensures connections are limited to verified BlackBuddy members, not unknown or unvetted users.
Private Community Safety Forum (updates about safe/unsafe towns/cities)
Within the private "Community Safety Forum," members can choose an alias/display name and avatar instead of showing their legal name and photo.
Community support
How Vetted Members Can Help Each Other
BlackBuddy is not about forcing anyone into danger. Members choose how to support based on the situation, their comfort level, and their safety.
Monitor Shared Location
A Buddy can watch the member’s shared location during the situation and remain aware if they move, stop, or need additional help.
Help Identify a Safer Place
A nearby member may help identify a public location, business, gas station, police or fire station, hospital, hotel, campus building, or other safer place nearby.
Contact Emergency Services if Needed
If the situation escalates, a Buddy can help contact 911, emergency services, campus security, roadside assistance, or another appropriate resource.
Contact Someone the Member Trusts
A Buddy may help notify a family member, friend, emergency contact, organization leader, or other trusted person if the member wants that support.
Offer Local Awareness
A local BlackBuddy may know the area and can share practical information such as which roads, exits, towns, businesses, or neighborhoods may be safer to avoid or move toward.
Respond in Person Only If Safe
In some situations, a vetted member may choose to respond in person, but only if they feel safe and able to do so. BlackBuddy members can also bring additional non-members with the Buddy’s approval. BlackBuddy members are responsible and will be held accountable if they or non-members endanger or hurt the Buddy.
Witness, Document, or Observe From a Safe Distance
If appropriate and safe, a Buddy may observe, document basic details, or remain nearby so the member is not completely alone.
Support After the Incident
A Buddy may help the member reconnect with family, report what happened, document the situation, or share safety information in the private Community Safety Forum to help protect others.
BlackBuddy members are community responders, not required first responders. BlackBuddy members are never required to place themselves in danger. The goal is community awareness, connection, and support - Not Heroics
The Vetting Process
How we know who you are.
Most platforms let anyone in. We won't. Our vetting process exists because the safety of every member depends on the integrity of every other member. This is not bureaucracy — it's protection.
01
Application or referral
You either apply directly or are referred by an existing vetted member. Referrals carry weight — the person who vouches for you is accountable for your conduct in the network.
02
Identity verification
We verify your identity through a combination of government ID, phone verification, and cross-referencing publicly available information. In most cases, video interviews will be required. No anonymity — accountability requires identity.
03
Community standing check
We check for any history of harm within communities we're connected to. This includes reaching out to referrers and, where applicable, community organizations.
04
Application review
Every application is reviewed. We read what you write. We look at what you submit. We make a judgment call.
05
Onboarding & agreement
Approved members complete a mandatory onboarding that covers community guidelines, SOS protocols, and the mutual obligations of network membership.
Community Guidelines
The rules we live by.
These aren't terms of service written by lawyers. They were written on purpose to address specific situations this app is designed for.
Show up when called
If someone in your circle activates SOS, you respond by accepting the request. Once you accept, that means you are on "standby." You need to be ready to jump in your car and help them. If you need to bring others to ensure the safety of a BlackBuddy in distress - THEN DO SO!
Vouch only for people you trust
When you refer someone, your reputation is attached to theirs. This isn't a fraternity or sorority - it's protecting the lives of another Black person (someone you don't know) because right now the system is not protecting us, and all we have is each other.
Report harm immediately
If you witness or experience harmful behavior within the network, report it. Silence protects abusers, not victims.
No screenshots, no sharing
What happens in the network stays in the network. Member information, conversations, and locations are never to be shared outside the platform.
Respect boundaries
Consent is non-negotiable. Location sharing, check-ins, and circle membership are always opt-in. No means no.
Zero tolerance for bad actors
Harassment, manipulation, or misuse of safety features results in immediate and permanent removal. No appeals. No second chances.
Early Members
Pending feedback from the Beta Testers.
Pending feedback
Pending feedback
Pending feedback
I used the traffic stop protocol for the first time last month. My circle knew where I was before I even finished pulling over. That's the app working exactly as it should.
Accountability
What happens when things go wrong.
No system is perfect. When violations occur, we act fast and we act transparently — to the extent we can without compromising member privacy.
Immediate suspension
Reported members are suspended pending review. They lose network access the moment a report is filed.
Human review within 24 hours
Every report is reviewed by a person, not an algorithm, within 24 hours of filing.
Permanent removal for serious violations
Members found to have violated community guidelines are permanently removed and barred from re-entry.
Ready to join a network you can trust?
BlackBuddy is a closed-beta development; features, availability, and pricing are subject to change as we refine the platform. When you join the waitlist, you'll be updated on its progress and program availability.