Safeguarding Policy

Third is committed to promoting the safety and wellbeing of women using our platform. This policy outlines our safeguarding approach, including how we handle disclosures of abuse and how safety is embedded into the design and operation of the product.
This policy is informed by UK safeguarding guidance and is interpreted in line with applicable UK law.

Third app is a digital tool that enables women to privately record and document experiences of abuse and harassment.

We:

• Provide a secure, end-to-end encrypted space for personal record keeping

• Enable users to document experiences on their own terms

We do not: 

• Provide crisis or emergency support

• Monitor or review the content users record within the platform, and we do not receive real-time alerts

• Investigate, verify, or intervene in incidents of abuse

As a result, we are not able to respond to situations as they occur. 

We recognise that: 

• The core function of Third app is to enable users to record experiences of abuse

• Disclosures of harm, including serious or ongoing abuse, are an inherent and expected use of the platform

• Users may be in distress or at risk at the point of using the app

Our safeguarding approach is therefore focused on harm minimisation, transparency, and user control, rather than direct intervention.

Third app is intended only for adults aged 18 and over.

The platform is designed as a private encrypted documentation tool for adults recording experiences including abuse, harassment and coercive behaviour. 

Because the app does not provide live monitoring, crisis intervention, or child safeguarding assessment, it is not designed for use by children or young people under 18. 

If we become aware that a child or young person is using the platform, we may take steps to restrict or remove access in line with out safeguarding and legal responsibilities. 

Where appropriate, we encourage children and young people to seek support through age-appropriate safeguarding and support services. 

Safety is embedded into Third app through product design decisions, informed by trauma-informed principles and engagement with organisations working in violence against women and girls.

This includes: 

• Use of clear, non-judgemental, trauma-informed language

• Allowing users to control how and when they disclose information

• Avoiding prompts that require unnecessary or distressing detail

• Pixelating uploaded images in timelines and previews to reduce the risk of retraumatisation 

• Providing privacy features such as PIN protection and discreet modes

We provide clear guidance to users about how Third app works and its limitations.

Users are informed that: 

• Third app is a personal record-keeping tool, not a crisis service

• We do not monitor or have visibility of what they record 

• We are not able to intervene in real time

Users remain in control of: 

• What they record

• What they keep, delete, or share

• How and when they use the platform

We encourage users to consider their personal safety when using the app, including device access and usage context.

Due to the end-to-end encrypted nature of the platform: 

• Third app cannot access, monitor, or review the content of individual user reports

• We do not routinely assess or moderate disclosures made within the platform

• We are not able to identify or respond to safeguarding risks within user submissions. 
  
  We do not: 

• Report incidents to police, or social services on behalf of users

• Intervene in individual cases of abuse

Where safeguarding concerns are raised directly outside of encrypted channels: 

• Concerns will be taken seriously

• We will respond with care and respect

• We will provide signposting to appropriate support services

• We will escalate to relevant authorities where required by law (for example, in response to a valid legal request or court order)

Where appropriate, we may keep a limited record of safeguarding concerns raised directly to us, in line with data protection requirements.

Users are encouraged to seek support directly from appropriate services, including: 

• Emergency services

• National Domestic Abuse Helpline

• Samaritans

Where concerns relate to individuals under 18, we encourage contact with appropriate safeguarding services.

• All user reports, including text and uploads, are protected via end-to-end encryption

• We prioritise user privacy and confidentiality at all times

• We do not access or share encrypted user content in the normal operation of the platform. Limited account or technical information may be disclosed where required by law.

A designated director acts as Safeguarding Lead and is responsible for: 

• Oversight of safeguarding risks

• Reviewing and updating this policy

• Acting as point of contact for safeguarding concerns

They can be contacted via safeguarding@thirdapp.co

While Third app takes reasonable steps to minimise harm: 

• We cannot guarantee the prevention of harm

• We cannot intervene in individual cases

• Responsibility for seeking support remains with the user

This policy will be reviewed regularly and updated in line with changes to the platform or relevant guidance.