Frequently Asked Questions
Getting started
What is ptchat.org?
ptchat.org is a free, non-commercial online community. You can post updates, follow and befriend other members, chat privately, join groups, and create polls.
Who can join?
Anyone aged 16 or older. You can have one account per person. See our Terms of Service.
What do I need to register?
Only a username and an email address. Anything else on your profile is optional and up to you.
I didn’t receive the confirmation email. What now?
Check your spam or junk folder first. If it isn’t there after a few minutes, contact us at support@ptchat.org using the email address you registered with.
I forgot my password.
Use the “Forgot password?” link on the login form. We’ll email you a link to set a new one.
Your profile and privacy
Who can see my posts?
When you write a post, you choose its audience with the privacy selector, for example public, members only, friends, or only you. Posts in groups follow that group’s privacy settings.
Can I change who sees my profile information?
Yes. You can edit your profile details and their visibility from your profile at any time.
What’s the difference between friends and followers?
Friends is a mutual connection: both of you have to accept. Following is one-way: you see someone’s public posts in your stream without them having to follow you back.
Someone is bothering me. What can I do?
- Block them from their profile. Blocked users can’t interact with you.
- Report the content using the report option on the post, comment, or message.
- If it’s serious, email us at support@ptchat.org.
We handle reports according to our Terms of Service.
Messages and chat
Are private messages really private?
Only you and the other participants can see them in the Site. However, they are not end-to-end encrypted. They are stored on our server, and administrators only access them when needed to handle a report or comply with the law. Don’t share passwords or highly sensitive information. See our Privacy Policy.
Can I chat with someone who isn’t my friend?
That depends on their own messaging settings. Some members only accept messages from friends.
Groups
What kinds of groups are there?
- Open groups: anyone can see and join.
- Closed groups: anyone can see the group, but members must be approved, and only members see its posts.
- Secret groups: hidden from everyone except members, who join by invitation.
Can I create my own group?
Yes. As the group owner you can invite members, appoint group moderators, and set extra rules for your group. Group rules can add to our Terms of Service but can’t override them.
Posts, GIFs and polls
How do I create a poll?
Start a new post and choose the poll option. Add your question and answers, then publish. Members can vote and see the results.
Where do the GIFs come from?
GIFs are provided by GIPHY. When you search for or view a GIF, your browser connects to GIPHY’s servers. See our Privacy Policy for details.
What can’t I post?
In short:
- nothing illegal
- no harassment or hate speech
- no sexual/NSFW content
- no spam, advertising, or self-promotion
- no impersonation
- no bots
The full list is in our Terms of Service.
Mobile app
Is there a mobile app?
Yes. You can use ptchat.org on your phone through Universo, a free app made by PeepSo for communities like ours.
- Install Universo from the App Store or Google Play.
- Open it and enter our address: ptchat.org
- Log in with your usual username and password.
You can also use the website in your phone’s browser, so the app is optional.
Do I need a separate account for the app?
No. It’s the same account, posts, friends, messages, and groups as on the website.
Why are there ads in the app?
The free version of Universo shows a small ad area promoting PeepSo’s own products. That’s how PeepSo keeps the app free. We don’t receive anything from it. The website itself has no ads.
Will I get push notifications on my phone?
Not at the moment. Push notifications aren’t available in the free version of the app. You’ll still see your notifications when you open the app or the website, and you can receive email notifications if you’ve enabled them.
Who runs the app? What about my privacy?
The app is published and maintained by PeepSo, not by us. Your account and content stay on our servers, but PeepSo handles data related to the app itself under its own privacy policy. See the “Universo mobile app” part of our Privacy Policy.
Notifications
I’m getting too many emails. How do I turn them off?
Go to your profile’s notification settings. You can choose which notifications you receive on the site and which ones by email.
Your account
How do I change my username, email, or password?
From your profile’s account settings.
Can I download my data?
Yes, where available you can download a copy of your data from your account settings. You can also email us at support@ptchat.org and we’ll send it to you.
How do I delete my account?
From your account settings. Deleting your account permanently removes your profile and everything you posted, including posts, comments, polls, and messages. It can’t be undone. Copies may remain in our backups for up to 30 days.
My account was suspended. Why?
We’ll have told you the reason in the notice we sent. We usually warn first, except for serious violations. If you think we made a mistake, reply to the notice or email support@ptchat.org and we’ll review it.
Contact
How do I reach the administrator?
Email support@ptchat.org. For privacy requests (access, correction, deletion of your data), mention “Privacy” in the subject.