tellastranger.com
Terms of Service
Last updated: 5 May 2026
This is a small site run by one person. It works like this: you pay $3, you read one anonymous message that someone else wrote, and you leave one for the next person. That is the entire product. By using tellastranger.com you agree to these terms.
What you can write
Confessions, secrets, regrets, embarrassing admissions, dark thoughts, mundane thoughts, jokes, observations, things you have never said out loud. Profanity is fine. Sexual content between adults is fine. Mentions of mental health, drugs, infidelity, family conflict are all fine. The site exists for unburdening, and unburdening is rarely tidy.
What you cannot write
Submissions in any of the following categories are removed and never shown to another user:
- Content that names or otherwise identifies a specific real person and accuses them of a crime or serious wrongdoing.
- Content that includes real-world identifiers of someone other than yourself: full names paired with locations, addresses, phone numbers, social media handles, employer plus role, anything that could be used to identify or contact a specific person.
- Content targeted at a specific identifiable person with intent to harm, harass, or humiliate them.
- Any sexual content involving anyone under 18, in any form, real or fictional.
- Detailed instructions for self-harm or suicide.
- Detailed plans to harm specific other people.
- Content that exists primarily to advertise something, recruit, or scam.
If you submit one of these, your $3 is not refunded. The site received the message. The message just does not get passed on.
How moderation works
Every submission is checked automatically by two layers: OpenAI's moderation API and a custom classifier. The site does not review submissions manually unless one is reported. There is no appeals process for automated removals because the site does not retain a record of who submitted what.
Reporting a submission
If you receive a message that you believe violates these rules, especially one that names a real person or contains personal information, email abuse@tellastranger.com with the message text. The site responds to legitimate reports within 48 hours and removes confirmed violations from the queue.
If a message about you appears on the site and you want it removed, the same email handles those requests. The site honors removal requests for content that identifies a real person, even if the message itself does not technically violate the rules above.
Refunds
You can request a full refund within 24 hours of payment for any reason by emailing hello@tellastranger.com with your Stripe receipt. After 24 hours, refunds are at the operator's discretion. Refunds for technical failures (you paid but the site did not show you a message) are always granted regardless of timing.
What this site is not
This site is not a therapist, a crisis line, a legal advisor, a place to report a crime, or a substitute for talking to someone you trust. If you are in crisis, please use a real resource: findahelpline.com lists hotlines in over 130 countries.
Disclaimers
The messages shown on this site were written by other anonymous users. They have not been verified for truthfulness. Some are real confessions. Some may be fiction. Some were written by the site operator at launch as seed content. You should treat every message as the words of one anonymous stranger, with no guarantees about their accuracy, sincerity, or origin.
The site is provided as-is. The operator makes no warranty that the service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or always available.
Limits of liability
To the extent permitted by law, the operator's total liability to any user for any claim arising from use of this site is limited to the amount that user paid in the 30 days preceding the claim. The operator is not responsible for the content of user-submitted messages, the emotional impact of reading them, or any decision a user makes after reading one.
Changes to these terms
These terms may be updated. The "last updated" date at the top reflects the current version. Continued use of the site after changes means you accept the updated terms.
Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of Greece. Any dispute that cannot be resolved by emailing the operator will be handled in the courts of Athens, Greece.
Contact
General questions: hello@tellastranger.com
Abuse reports and removal requests: abuse@tellastranger.com