eSAFETY GUIDE
Scruff logo

Scruff

18+
Minimum age according to Scruff
18+ Minimum age according to Scruff

Chat content is adult and often sexual in nature.

What is Scruff?

Scruff is a dating and meeting app predominantly used by gay and bisexual men and the trans and queer community. You can create a profile and upload images, including to a private album. Scruff displays both world-wide and nearby user profiles. These profiles are sorted in a grid based on their location.

Once you open a profile you can initiate a chat, send a ‘woof’ or share a private album. Images included in a private album or chat are not actively moderated. The ‘disappearing’ images feature sets an image to only display once, but it could be screenshotted before it disappears. Scruff also displays a list of users who have viewed your profile or woofed at you. The ‘Venture’ section lists events searchable by location and the ability to view profiles in locations across the world. Additional functionality such as unlimited album views is available via a subscription. 

Website: www.scruff.com

Apps: Android app, Apple iOS

How do people use Scruff?

Learn more about the benefits and risks associated with how people use online relationship services like Scruff.

Scruff is used for: in-app purchasing, location sharing, messaging/online chat, online dating, online relationships, photo/video sharing and screen capture.

How can you block someone or report online abuse?

These links are provided by Scruff:

How can you protect your personal information?

These links are provided by Scruff:

Key safety links

These links are provided by Scruff:

  • Community conduct
    Outlines guidelines around the behaviour that is expected on Scruff.
  • Scruff support
    Offers a range of general help, safety, sexual health and gender identity information. 
  • Safety centre
    The guidelines and policies to help keep you safe on Scruff.
  • Terms of service 
    The conditions you agree to when you use Scruff.

Last updated: 04/06/2024

The eSafety Guide helps you find out how to protect your personal information and report harmful content on common social media, games, apps and sites. Entries are for information only and are not reviews or endorsements by eSafety. Before choosing to use any online service or platform it’s best to:

  • do your own research to understand the risks and benefits
  • check the age rating and requirements
  • consider privacy
  • check the permissions and other settings
  • check the in-app reporting options.

If you are a parent or carer who is deciding whether a child should be allowed to use an online service or platform, you can also:

  • consider your child's readiness for the types of content and experiences they might encounter
  • help them understand what to do if they need help
  • provide ongoing support and monitoring, for example through regular check-ins with your child
  • agree to some rules about use of each service or platform.

To find out more, you can read the App checklist for parents, as well as information about parental controls in social media, games and apps and mental wellbeing resources for families.