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Trust & Safety Guidelines

The standards we uphold to keep Edsteps a secure, respectful, and constructive environment for all users.

Effective: 1 May 2026
Last Updated: 1 May 2026
Version 1.0
Contents

Edsteps is designed to be a safe space for educational exploration. Because our platform connects students directly with mentors and AI tools, we enforce strict Trust & Safety guidelines to protect our community.

Zero Tolerance Policy

Edsteps maintains a zero-tolerance approach to the following behaviours:

  • Harassment, bullying, or intimidation of any kind
  • Hate speech, discrimination, or derogatory remarks based on race, gender, religion, nationality, or sexual orientation
  • Solicitation of personal relationships or inappropriate communication during mentor sessions
  • Attempting to exploit students financially outside the platform
  • Sharing illicit, explicit, or unlawful material

Violations of the zero-tolerance policy will result in immediate, permanent account suspension pending investigation, and potential referral to relevant authorities.

🆔Identity & Credential Verification

To ensure the integrity of the guidance provided on Edsteps, we implement strict verification measures:

  • Mentors must verify their professional and academic credentials before they can offer sessions
  • Institutional partners undergo a due diligence process before listing courses or services
  • Users attempting to create fraudulent profiles or impersonate others will be removed
  • We do not permit anonymous mentor accounts

📹Session Safety

Mentor sessions are the core of the Edsteps experience. We secure these interactions through several layers:

  • All sessions must be conducted through the official Edsteps video platform — not third-party tools like Skype or WhatsApp
  • Platform communications are logged and can be reviewed in the event of a dispute
  • Users may immediately terminate a session if they feel uncomfortable
  • Sharing personal contact details (phone numbers, personal emails) during a session is discouraged

🧹Content Moderation

User-generated content, including forum posts, reviews, and mentor profiles, is subject to moderation:

  • Automated filters flag potentially inappropriate language or policy violations
  • A human moderation team reviews flagged content within 24 hours
  • Users can flag content they believe violates community standards
  • Misleading claims about university admissions or guaranteed employment outcomes will be removed

Feedback Integrity

Reviews and ratings on Edsteps guide future students. We actively police the integrity of this system:

  • Reviews can only be left by students who have completed a verified session
  • Mentors may not offer incentives (e.g., refunds, free sessions) in exchange for positive reviews
  • Fake, coordinated, or retaliatory reviews will be removed
  • Mentors can appeal reviews they believe violate platform guidelines

🚩Reporting Misconduct

If you experience or witness behaviour that violates these guidelines, report it immediately:

  • In-session: Use the "End Session & Report" button directly in the video interface
  • Post-session: Use the "Report User" feature on the user's profile or via the session history page
  • Direct Email: Contact the Trust & Safety team confidentially at safety@edsteps.com

All reports are handled with discretion. We do not disclose the identity of the reporter unless required by law.

⚖️Platform Actions

Upon receiving a report or identifying a violation, Edsteps may take the following actions:

  • Issue a formal warning and require re-acknowledgment of platform rules
  • Temporarily suspend the account pending investigation
  • Remove specific content or reviews
  • Permanently ban the user from the platform (with forfeit of any pending funds)
  • Cooperate with law enforcement if the behaviour violates legal statutes

Need to report a concern?

Don't hesitate. Our dedicated Trust & Safety team is available 24/7 to review and respond to community reports.

File a Safety Report →