Inside CMB’s approach to safe, authentic dating

Our goal here at CMB isn’t just to help you find love — although that’s pretty high up there! It’s also making sure you feel safe, respected, and confident while looking for your person. 

Here’s how we maintain a safe and trusted dating app, from policies to practical tools, so that you can focus on real connections.

Real, trustworthy profiles

Dating is a vulnerable thing, and we know that building a real, long-term relationship starts with authenticity. That’s why we take care to make sure the people you meet on CMB are real, serious about dating, and presenting themselves honestly.

First things first, we have strict rules for profile photos. When someone signs up for CMB, they’re required to upload at least one photo that clearly shows their face. No face? No approval! On top of that, all photos must follow our Community Guidelines — that means no nudity, violence, or misleading pictures.

Coffee Meets Bagel also has verified profiles*, so you can feel confident that who you’re talking to is the real deal.

Using a quick video selfie, Profile Verification confirms that your main profile photo really is you. Goodbye catfishing, impersonations, and weird surprises! And it’s not the safety aspect that’s great. A verified profile badge signals to other daters that you’re serious about dating and actually on CMB for something real.

By fostering real, trustworthy profiles, we make it easier for you to form meaningful connections, have honest conversations, and enjoy dating without worrying about scams or fake accounts.

Privacy, moderation, and enforcement

Remember that photo approval we mentioned earlier? That’s just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to vetting daters who join CMB. We have an entire team dedicated to reviewing new profiles, checking details, and rooting out suspicious characters.

And while our team works around the clock, we know that we’re all only human, and things can slip through the cracks. That’s why we don’t just rely on an approval team — we use advanced AI programs dedicated to spotting scammers.

And if all of that still doesn’t work? We’ve made it easy for you to report anyone acting shady or inappropriate. By reporting a potential scammer, you’re preventing them from taking advantage of someone else in the future. And don’t worry, reporting is totally anonymous.

Once a report comes through, our team reviews it carefully and takes action when needed. Depending on the situation, a member may receive a warning, a temporary suspension, or a permanent ban. Violations like harassment, scams, or inappropriate content are taken very seriously.

Another thing we don’t mess around about? Protecting your privacy. On CMB, profiles don’t share your name until you’ve actually matched, so you have control over who knows you.

We also know that data leaks are on the mind when signing up for just about anything these days. But rest assured, CMB never sells your data, and we don’t store any of your personal information, either. That includes passwords, financial information, or any biometric data used for verification.

This approach, combining easy reporting, active moderation, and consistent enforcement, helps keep CMB a safe and trustworthy place to meet people.

A respectful, empowered community

At CMB, we believe that dating works best when everyone feels comfortable enough to open up and truly be themselves. So we’ve built Community Guidelines that emphasize kindness, honesty, and being present. That means treating everyone — regardless of background, beliefs, or identity — with respect, and showing up authentically.

And here’s the thing: We know it’s easier to behave differently than you typically would behind a screen. But we have a zero-tolerance policy for any abusive behavior, like bullying, harassment, and sending unsolicited sexual content. So if you ever encounter something like this, be sure to use our Hide & Report feature.

Aside from being on your best behavior, we also strongly encourage all of our daters to leave any mindless dating at the door — we’re all about the intentional dating at CMB. 

This might mean taking a little extra time to read someone’s profile before sending a message, or thinking of a thoughtful way to start a conversation. Small gestures like these make connections feel more genuine and enjoyable.

And we don’t just leave you to figure it out on your own. We regularly provide dating tips and education, both on the app and off, that teach daters to slow down, be thoughtful, and practice open communication. 

We also focus on features that foster this intentional dating mentality: Our daily suggestions let you focus on just a few potential matches each day; profiles are built to showcase the things that matter most, like values and relationship goals; and bagel notes** and icebreakers give you the opportunity to start conversations in a meaningful way (No “Sup?” here!) 

Because after all, we don’t just want to keep you safe — we want to protect your mental well-being, too. And bonus: A community of emotionally-intelligent daters leads to high-quality matches for everyone!

Protecting you every step of the way

At Coffee Meets Bagel, meaningful connections start with trust, respect, and authenticity. By building a respectful community, verifying profiles, and enforcing clear rules, we make dating less stressful and more enjoyable.

Your safety isn’t just a feature, it’s part of the CMB experience. We want you to feel confident, supported, and excited every time you open the app, because dating should be fun — not scary. Happy matching!

*Profile Verification is currently only available on the US/CA version of CMB. 
** Bagel notes are currently only available on the Worldwide version of CMB.