SAFETY ACROSS THE BOARD

In this industry, whether you are doing virtual work or attending parties, SAFETY should be your ultimate priority. We are all responsible for ourselves and want to try to do our absolute best in keeping ourselves safe. If you are a content creator that wants to remain safe online, here are a few safety tips (some that have already been highlighted in other courses of this academy):

1. Utilize alternative phone number apps. These apps will assign you a phone number that can be used for your protection if you don't want to give out your real phone number. You can get a Google Voice number, Text Free number, etc. Apps like these just aren't used in this industry; vanilla people also use these in everyday life for safety purposes. If you're ever asked to FaceTime with someone and you're not comfortable, suggest a Skype option.

2. Use encrypted email servers or messaging apps. Protonmail is highly recommended for booking sessions. You can also use messaging apps such as Discord, Telegram, Geneva, Premium Chat, etc

3. Conceal your identity if you don't want to be public. This can be by blurring your face with photo apps, taking pictures from the neck down, concealing identifiable tattoos, wearing creative masks in your content, etc.

4. Never give out your bank account info. This should be an obvious rule, but it is definitely an important one. There are too many alternative apps to be giving out your bank account info to anyone wanting to send you a gift. 

If attending events in person:

1. Always send your location to someone you trust. This is so at least one person knows of your whereabouts just in case any concerns come up.

2. Make sure that you've vetted the event. Are they confirming age with ID? Who's the person throwing the event? Do you have any associates of friends that have attended these events before? All important questions to ask yourself.

3. Never leave a drink unattended

4. If you feel uncomfortable at any time of the event, LEAVE. Always go with your gut instinct.

5. If you want to take pictures during the event and post your location, always do so AFTER you have already left the event. Never do "real time" posting if your location is easy to identify. 

6. It's okay to observe your first go around. Don't assume that you have to jump right into it or feel pressured to do things you don't want to do.