How Seen Works

Start Here: You Decide What You Are Looking For

Seen is designed so you can change what you are looking for anytime.

Feeling one way today and different tomorrow? That is normal. Humans are not static, and your app should not be either.

You can explore:

• Straight
• Gay
• Bi
• Trans
• Curious
• Or simply people

You do not have to be anything to explore anything. You do not have to explain why. And you definitely do not have to stay in one lane. Change your preferences in a blink and discover a completely new side of Seen whenever you want.

How Switch It Up Works

Open the menu, tap Switch it up, and choose exactly what you want to see right now. You can change Show me, optionally add Orientation filters, and instantly refresh what appears in Grid and Map.

If you want to browse quietly, turn on Remain hidden while switched. That keeps you out of discovery while your temporary switch is active.

You can also choose how long the change should last before it resets back to your original preferences: 30 minutes, 1 hour, 4 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, or keep it until you change it again.

If you have Seen+, you also control whether others can see your SEEN+ Member label. Turn it on or off in Profile any time.

In other words: your preferences can flex with your mood, your curiosity, and your moment, without losing your base settings.

Seen Ghost Mode (Seen+)

Want to browse fully invisible? Open the menu and tap Seen Ghost Mode. When enabled, you are hidden from online status, Map, and Grid while still being able to browse and chat.

Ghost Mode is part of Seen+ and can be turned on or off anytime from the menu.

Location-Based, Or Explore Anywhere

Seen is built around location, but you are never stuck in one place.

You can:

• See who is around you right now
• Check out other cities
• Travel virtually before you travel in real life

We are proudly Austin-focused for the initial launch, building a strong local community first. But exploration beyond your city is always open.

Map View or Grid View, Your Choice

Some people love maps. Some people hate maps. So Seen gives you both.

Map View

See people around you visually and explore by location.

Grid View

Scroll profiles quickly and browse at your own pace.

Switch anytime. Use whichever fits your mood.

Profiles and Photos

Every profile includes:

• Up to 5 public photos
• Bio and tags
• Optional additional details

You also get a rolling 5 recent photos feature:

• Quickly send recent pics in chat
• Updates automatically
• No digging through your camera roll

Fast. Easy. Real.

"Like" and "Match"

Seen keeps things simple and clear.

Like

Tap "Like" to add someone to your Seen List (favorites). It is your private list of people you are interested in.

Match

If you want someone to know you are interested, tap Match.

If they Match you back, you are a Match. Both of you get notified right away. In Seen List → Matches, new mutual matches are labeled New Match for up to 72 hours (or until viewed), then stay with the date you matched.

Messaging Rules

By default, first-message access is based on compatibility (mutual gender + orientation preference filters), not random cold messaging.

Want stricter control? Turn on Only accept messages from people I’ve matched with in Profile. Then inbound messages require mutual Match.

Once a chat has started, it stays open even if temporary filter settings later change. If needed, block still overrides everything.

Messaging and Media

Once a chat is open, you can:

• Chat instantly
• Send photos quickly
• Use your rolling recent pics
• Keep conversations flowing naturally

No pressure. No forced swiping games.

Safety, Privacy, and Real Humans Only

Seen is built with privacy first, not as an afterthought.

Secure Login (2FA Phone Verification)

We use phone verification to:

• Keep bots out
• Stop spam accounts
• Reduce fake profiles
• Protect real users

This is not about tracking you. It is about keeping the community real.

No Unnecessary Data Collection

We do not store unnecessary personal data. Your information is yours, period.

Photo Privacy Protection

All uploaded images automatically go through EXIF stripping. This removes hidden metadata like:

• GPS coordinates
• Device info
• Embedded location data

It happens automatically for peace of mind.

Moderation and Reporting

You can:

• Block anyone instantly
• Report abuse or harassment
• Flag suspicious behavior

We actively moderate to keep Seen safe and respectful.

Built on Secure Infrastructure

Seen runs on high-security infrastructure powered by Cloudflare, providing enterprise-level protection and reliability.

Why Seen Is Web-Based (Not in App Stores)

Seen runs directly in your browser.

Why? Because app stores:

• Track users heavily
• Restrict features
• Take large revenue cuts
• Limit privacy freedom

By staying web-based, you get:

• Less tracking
• More privacy
• More freedom to build what users actually want
• Lower costs leading to cheaper subscriptions

You get a cleaner, more private experience.

Built by One Person (Who Actually Uses It)

Seen is built by a solo developer: me. I am a gay male who has personally spent thousands on apps that overcharged, under-delivered, flooded users with ads, and locked basic features behind expensive subscriptions.

Seen exists because I knew it could be better.

My Promise

• Freemium will always stay ad-free
• Seen+ will stay as affordable as possible
• Subscriptions should never cost the price of a dinner out
• Value should always exceed cost

If you love the app and subscribe, you are helping keep it alive and evolving.

Always Evolving

Seen will never stop growing.

If you want a feature, tell me. If something could be better, tell me.

Nothing is too much to ask. This is not just another social or dating app. It is a living platform built with its users.

Welcome to Seen.