Profile Photo Guidelines
Your profile photos are your first impression — and often the reason someone swipes, scrolls, or reaches out. A great set of photos tells your story before you say a word.
What Makes a Great Profile Photo?
Show your face clearly Your first photo should be a clear, well-lit shot of your face. No sunglasses, hats pulled low, or heavy filters. People want to see you.
Be the main character Group shots are fine, but make sure it's obvious which person you are. Your first photo should be solo.
Let your life speak Some of the most compelling profiles mix a strong face photo with shots that show what you actually do — hiking, cooking, at a concert, with your dog, at your favorite coffee shop. Authenticity is magnetic.
Smile (or don't — just be genuine) Photos where you look relaxed and like yourself tend to perform better than posed or overly serious shots. Candids often work better than selfies.
Recent and recognizable Use photos from the last couple of years that reflect how you look today. People appreciate knowing what to expect when you meet.
Good light goes a long way Natural light is your friend. Avoid very dark photos, heavy shadows, or images where your face is hard to make out. You don't need a professional photographer — just a well-lit room or a window.
Mix it up If you have multiple photos, vary them. Different settings, different expressions, different contexts. Give people a fuller picture of who you are.
What's Allowed
- Photos of yourself, alone or with others (see note on third parties below)
- Casual, lifestyle, and hobby photos
- Group photos, as long as it's clear which person you are
- Tasteful photos that show your personality, physique, or lifestyle
What's Not Allowed
Explicit or sexual content Nudity, sexually explicit imagery, or photos intended to be sexually provocative are not permitted on profile photos.
Minors Photos must not include anyone under the age of 18 — including your own children, nieces, nephews, or other minors — even in innocent contexts. This is a strict safety requirement with no exceptions.
Third parties without implied consent You may include other adults in your photos, but avoid images where someone else is clearly the subject, or where another person's inclusion could be considered non-consensual.
Impersonation or misleading content Photos must be of you. Using someone else's photos, heavily filtered images that misrepresent your appearance, or AI-generated likenesses is not permitted.
Hateful, violent, or offensive imagery Photos containing weapons used in a threatening manner, symbols associated with hate groups, or imagery intended to intimidate or demean others will be removed.
Contact information or external links Photos containing visible phone numbers, email addresses, social handles, QR codes, or references to external platforms are not permitted.
Watermarked or branded content Images watermarked by photographers, taken from someone else's profile, or containing prominent commercial branding are not allowed.
Moderation
Photos are reviewed automatically and by our moderation team. Images that don't meet these guidelines may be removed without notice. Repeated violations may result in account suspension.
If you believe a photo was removed in error, you can appeal through Settings → Support → Photo Appeal.