eSAFETY GUIDE

Sniffies

18+
Minimum age according to Sniffies
18+ Minimum age according to Sniffies

What is Sniffies?

Sniffies is a location-based online meeting and hookup website designed primarily for LGBTIQ+ men. It lets you find and connect with other users who are nearby. You can sort users by things like age, sexuality and sexual preferences.

You can either use Sniffies with an account or use it anonymously. You can add information about yourself such as photos, your age, body type and more. Photos shared on Sniffies often contain explicit content.

Sniffies is similar to other online meeting apps used by the queer community, such as Grindr, Scruff and Jack’d. However, it differs from these apps as you are not required to create an account or provide an email address to use the service.

Sniffies has a number of different features:

  • Map – shows other users near you and their approximate location on a map.
  • Chats – allows you to send direct messages to other users.
  • ‘Cruising update’ – this feature acts as a sort of public messaging board where users can post updates about where they are or where they want to meet. Posts also show approximately how far away the person who posted is.

Sniffies is only available through its website and is not available on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

You can use Sniffies for free or with a paid subscription, ‘Sniffies Plus’, which has added features. These include ‘vanilla mode’ which hides ‘not safe for work’ (NSFW) media unless you choose to view it, and the ability to host a group or a place.

The minimum age to use Sniffies is 18. When you enter the website, you are asked to provide your birth year and agree that you are at least 18. In Australia, you must also complete an age check using a selfie to view NSFW content.

Sniffies also sells products and resources, such as apparel and HIV self-test kits.

Website: sniffies.com

How do people use Sniffies?

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

Sniffies is used for: anonymous communication, encrypted, location sharing, messaging/online chat, online dating, photo/video sharing and screen capture.

How can you ask for content to be removed?

This link is provided by Sniffies:

  • Content removal policy
    How Sniffies deals with complaints about content found on the service and how to make a complaint.

How can you protect your personal information?

This link is provided by Sniffies:

  • Privacy policy
    The types of information gathered by Sniffies, how it is used and the third parties that have access to it.  

Key safety links

These links are provided by Sniffies:

Related eSafety links

Find other resources to help keep you safe online:

Other eSafety Guides:

About this Guide

This guide is provided by the eSafety Commissioner to help people stay safe online and better understand digital platforms.

Social media changes

From 10 December 2025, certain social media platforms are not allowed to let Australian children under 16 create or keep an account.

Find out more at eSafety’s social media age restrictions hub.

About The eSafety Guide

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, endorsements or assessments against any legislative definition 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.