off---line keeps evolving and adding new features, so this document may not contain all the latest information.

General


off---line Basics


Contact off---line Support


General Questions

What is off---line? What do I do here?

off---line is a directory that connects people through social networks, focusing on privacy and user control. It’s designed to be simple, fun, and free, ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience.


With off---line, you can share information through the social graph, a digital mapping of real-world social connections. You can interact with friends, join groups, and explore new connections.


Who is off---line for?

off---line is for anyone who values privacy and control over their social networking experience, making it suitable for a wide range of users. You can manage your connections and interactions with ease, making it ideal for individuals who want to understand and navigate their social networks better.


Is it limited to colleges or universities?

No. off---line is open to everyone.


While it was initially designed for college and university students, it has since expanded to support a broader user base.


How is off---line different from other social networks?

off---line’s commitment to user privacy and control makes it a standout option for those who value these aspects in their social networking experience.


Unique features like the Browse page and visualization tools offer a more personalized and insightful social networking experience.


How old is off---line?

off---line opened to the public on September, 2023. The platform continues to evolve and add new features to enhance the user experience.


Which devices can I use?

off---line is a web application compatible with any device that supports a modern browser, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.


Does off---line have an app?

At the moment off---line is a web-based platform, so there is no app. You can access off---line from any device with an internet browser.


Does it have a mobile version?

Yes, off---line has a mobile lite version that you can access by visiting m.off---line.com.


The mobile lite version is designed to be fast and lightweight, with a mobile-first design that currently supports the news feed and status updates. The rest of the features are accessible as a desktop version.


Who are the people behind off---line?

off---line was founded by Erald Veliaj.


Where is off---line based?

off---line is based in London, United Kingdom.


Will you sell my data?

No. See this post for details.


How are you going to make money out of this?

We believe in providing a secure and enjoyable social networking experience.


Erald Veliaj, who is financing off---line, has outlined a strategy to make off---line sustainable in this post.


Following this plan, off---line has implemented sustainable forms of monetization that prioritize its users:

  • off---line launched Subscriptions which users can purchase to both support the app and unlock additional exclusive features.

  • off---line launched Announcements – minimalist, privacy-conscious announcements that can appear in certain public pages.


These revenue streams will help us cover infrastructure costs and developer salaries, but making profits will never be the primary goal for off---line.


Learn more about off---line Subscription.


What are your thoughts on internet privacy?

We think that the two most important components of Internet privacy should be:

  • Protecting your private conversations from snooping third parties, such as officials, employers, etc.

  • Protecting your personal data from third parties, such as marketers, advertisers, etc.


What about GDPR?

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force in Europe on May 25, 2018. Since user privacy is a core principle of off---line, we were already aligned with many of its requirements.


We don’t use your data for ad targeting, we don’t sell it to others, and we are committed to protecting your privacy.


off---line only keeps the information it needs to function as a feature-rich social network. For example, your connections and interactions – so that you can access them from any device without using third-party backups, or your contacts – so that you can rely on your existing social graph when interacting with people on off---line. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information.


You can contact us about Data Privacy at hi@off---line.com.


off---line Basics

How can I protect my privacy?

You can adjust your privacy settings to allow only you, your friends, friends of friends, or people within your network to see it. And further, you can create different privacy settings for each information on your profile.


What does it mean when friends display on the left side of my profile?

off---line chooses 6 of your friends at your school completely at random to display on your profile.


What is the Browse page?

The Browse page shows all users whose privacy settings allow you to view their information. When you click on "Browse", ten random users from different networks are displayed.


Why does the Browse page repeat people?

Since the selection of who is displayed is random, there is a chance that the same person will be displayed on two pages. This problem will alleviate itself as more people join.


How do I search for something besides names?

When you use basic search, it will search for everything on the site that matches your query. If you're looking for something specific, try the advanced search on the search page.


If I reject someone, will they find out?

No. When you reject someone, their friend request will leave your list of friendships to confirm, but they will not be notified. They also will not be able to send you another friend request for some amount of time, so to them, it will just seem as if you haven't confirmed their friendship yet.


If I remove someone from my friends list, are they notified?

No, but all friend links are reciprocal, so you are removed from their list as well.


How can I view the visualization?

In order to see the visualized social network, you need to go to your my social network page.


How do I navigate through the visualization?

Left-click and hold while dragging to scroll, or use the mouse wheel to zoom. Left-click and hold on a connection while dragging to reorganize the graph.


Can I change my name and password?

Yes -- you can request a name change and change your password on your my account page. For quality control purposes, we confirm all name changes before they take place. Password changes take effect immediately.


What is poking?

We have about as much of an idea as you do. We thought it would be fun to make a feature that has no specific purpose and to see what happens from there. So mess around with it, because you're not getting an explanation from us.


off---line Support

If you have any other questions, please contact off---line support at hi@off---line.com.


Discord

Join the off---line Discord server at https://discord.gg/jVeXDnHb9Z to chat with other off---line users and get help from the off---line team.


Patreon

Support off---line on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/offlinedotcom to help us continue improving the platform and providing a secure and enjoyable social networking experience.


Development Stream

Follow the off---line development stream at https://www.youtube.com/@drhelado to stay updated on the latest features and improvements being made.