Safety Standards

Escondido Development LLC ("Melly," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to creating a safe environment for all users. As a dating platform restricted to adults aged 18 and older, we have zero tolerance for child sexual abuse and exploitation ("CSAE") in any form. This page describes the standards, policies, and practices we maintain to prevent, detect, and respond to CSAE on our platform.

1. Zero Tolerance Policy

Melly maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy toward any form of child sexual abuse and exploitation. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including images, videos, or any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor.
• Solicitation, grooming, or enticement of minors for sexual purposes.
• Sex trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation of children.
• Any content or behavior that sexualizes, exploits, or endangers minors.

Any user found to be engaging in or promoting CSAE will be immediately and permanently banned from the platform, their content will be removed, and the incident will be reported to the appropriate authorities.

2. Age Verification & Enforcement

Melly is exclusively available to users aged 18 and older. We enforce this through the following measures:

• Age gate at registration — All users must provide their date of birth during account creation. Users under 18 are blocked from creating an account.
• Authentication provider verification — We use Apple Sign-In and Google Sign-In, which require users to have accounts that meet each provider's age requirements.
• Ongoing monitoring — If at any point we discover or reasonably suspect that a user is under 18, we will immediately suspend the account, remove associated content, and delete personal data in accordance with applicable law.

3. Detection & Prevention

We employ a combination of technology and human oversight to detect and prevent CSAE on our platform:

• Content moderation — User-uploaded photos and media are subject to review. We use a combination of automated systems and human moderators to identify and remove prohibited content, including CSAM.
• Behavioral signals — We monitor for patterns of behavior that may indicate grooming, solicitation, or other exploitation attempts.
• Profile review — Profiles that exhibit suspicious characteristics are flagged for manual review by our trust and safety team.
• Keyword and pattern detection — Our systems scan for language and behavioral patterns commonly associated with CSAE.

4. In-App Reporting

Melly provides accessible tools for users to report CSAE and other safety concerns directly within the app:

• Report button — Every user profile and conversation includes a clearly visible "Report" button that allows users to flag concerning content or behavior.
• Dedicated reporting categories — Our reporting flow includes specific categories for underage users, CSAM, and exploitation, ensuring that these reports are prioritized and escalated immediately.
• Anonymous reporting — Users can submit reports without the reported party being notified of the reporter's identity.
• Rapid response — Reports related to child safety are treated as highest priority and are reviewed by our trust and safety team promptly.

Users can also report concerns via email at hello@meetmelly.com.

5. Reporting to Authorities

Melly complies with all applicable laws regarding the reporting of CSAE. Our reporting practices include:

• NCMEC reporting — We report all identified or suspected instances of CSAM to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) via the CyberTipline, as required by U.S. federal law (18 U.S.C. § 2258A).
• Law enforcement cooperation — We cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies investigating CSAE. We respond to valid legal process and may proactively refer cases involving imminent threats to child safety.
• International authorities — Where applicable, we report to relevant regional and national authorities in accordance with local laws and regulations.
• Evidence preservation — When CSAE is identified or reported, we preserve relevant evidence and account data as required by law and to support investigations by authorities.

6. Staff Training & Accountability

All team members involved in content moderation, trust and safety, and user support receive training on:

• Identifying CSAE and CSAM.
• Proper handling and escalation of CSAE reports.
• Legal obligations related to mandatory reporting and evidence preservation.
• Trauma-informed approaches to handling sensitive content and interacting with affected users.

7. Policy Updates

We regularly review and update our safety standards to reflect evolving best practices, emerging threats, and changes in applicable law. Material updates to this page will be reflected in the "Last updated" date above. We are committed to continuous improvement in our efforts to protect children and maintain a safe platform.

8. Contact Us

If you have questions about our safety standards, wish to report a concern related to child safety, or need to reach our designated point of contact for CSAM prevention and compliance, please contact us: