Privacy Safety Reminder

OshiSocial Privacy Safety Reminder

The Fediverse Isn’t Private, and That’s OK!

Welcome to OshiSocial! We’re thrilled to have you join our community where you can share art, posts, ideas, and connect with others. However, it’s crucial to understand that this is a public social platform, not a place meant for private or secure conversations.

Everything you post on the Fediverse should be considered public by default. Treat your interactions here as if you were speaking in a public square – visible to anyone who wants to listen.

Note

Remember: Your safety and privacy are important. Always err on the side of caution when sharing information online.

Direct Messages Are Not Secure

Note

While OshiSocial doesn’t monitor your Direct Messages (DMs), the federated nature of our platform means other servers could technically see or store messages that pass through them.

For truly private conversations, we strongly recommend using encrypted messaging platforms:

• Telegram (Secret Chats feature)
• Discord (Private servers or DMs)
• Signal or other encrypted messengers
• Encrypted email services

These platforms are specifically designed with privacy and security in mind, unlike the inherently public nature of federated social networks.

File Upload Caution

Caution

EXIF DATA WARNING: Certain devices such as smartphones, drones, action cameras and more with built-in GPS modules may embed this information on your images. We recommend you compress images before uploading them to ensure any sensitive metadata (like location data) is removed.

When you upload files to OshiSocial, they become accessible via a public URL. This means:

• Photos and videos can be viewed by anyone who has the link
• Documents and other files are similarly accessible
• There’s no way to fully restrict access once a file is uploaded

Secure File Sharing Alternatives

For private file sharing, consider using:

• Google Drive (with proper permission settings)
• Proton Drive (end-to-end encrypted)
• Dropbox (with adjusted privacy settings)
• Discord DMs (for smaller files)

Key Takeaways

The Fediverse is public by design. This makes it excellent for:

• Community interaction
• Sharing creative work
• Public discussions
• Building connections

But remember to:

• Treat it like a public space
• Use privacy-focused apps for sensitive content
• Never share personal information publicly
• Be mindful of metadata in your uploads

Note

Think before you post: Would you be comfortable with this information being permanently public?

Additional Resources

Terms of Service

Review our complete terms of service

Privacy Policy

Learn about how we handle your data

Need Help?

If you have any questions or concerns about privacy and safety on OshiSocial, please don’t hesitate to contact us:

📧 Email: help@oshi.social