{ "batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "articles": [ { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_meta_contact_upload_mechanics", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] How uploaded contacts power friend/account suggestions across Meta apps", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] When a user enables contact uploading, Meta accesses and uploads the names, phone numbers and email addresses in that user's address book or Google Account on a daily basis, and uses them to suggest contacts as Facebook friend requests (People You May Know) or as suggested accounts to follow on Instagram.", "body": "When a user enables contact uploading, Meta accesses and uploads the names, phone numbers and email addresses in that user's address book or Google Account on a daily basis, and uses them to suggest contacts as Facebook friend requests (People You May Know) or as suggested accounts to follow on Instagram.\n\nWhat Meta (Facebook Help Center) actually says:\n\n“When a user uses Contact Uploading and grants us access to their mobile device’s address book or their Google Account, we will access and upload the names, phone numbers and email addresses in their address book or their Google Account on a daily basis to our servers, including those of both users of Facebook, Messenger and/or Instagram and other contacts who are not users or don’t have an account (i.e., Non-Users).”\n\nNote: Same page: 'If a user’s contact is also on Facebook, Messenger and/or Instagram, we can suggest this contact on Facebook as someone to send a friend request to in the Facebook user’s People You May Know or as a suggested account to follow on Instagram.' This is the shared engine behind Instagram and Facebook contact-based suggestions.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/help/637205020878504", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Meta (Facebook Help Center)", "evidence_quote": "When a user uses Contact Uploading and grants us access to their mobile device’s address book or their Google Account, we will access and upload the names, phone numbers and email addresses in their address book or their Google Account on a daily basis to our servers, including those of both users of Facebook, Messenger and/or Instagram and other contacts who are not users or don’t have an account (i.e., Non-Users).", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Meta (Facebook, Messenger, Instagram) contact uploading", "topic": "how uploaded contacts power friend/account suggestions across Meta apps", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Covers Facebook, Messenger and Instagram; also applies to people who are not themselves users (Non-Users).", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_instagram_contacts_turnoff", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Instagram: turning off contact syncing and deleting previously synced contacts", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Instagram contact syncing is turned off via Accounts Center > Your Information and Permissions > Upload Contacts > Connect Contacts toggle > Disconnect, and previously synced contacts are deleted separately from a computer (Edit profile > See more in Accounts Center > Your information and permissions > Manage Contacts > Delete all), with deletion taking up to 90 days during which recommendations based on contacts may continue.", "body": "Instagram contact syncing is turned off via Accounts Center > Your Information and Permissions > Upload Contacts > Connect Contacts toggle > Disconnect, and previously synced contacts are deleted separately from a computer (Edit profile > See more in Accounts Center > Your information and permissions > Manage Contacts > Delete all), with deletion taking up to 90 days during which recommendations based on contacts may continue.\n\nWhat Instagram Help Center (Meta) actually says:\n\n“Tap Accounts Center, then tap Your Information and Permissions. Tap Upload Contacts, then select the account that you would like to control contacts for. Tap Toggle next to Connect Contacts to turn off contact syncing. Tap Disconnect. Turning off contacts syncing will not delete contacts you’ve previously synced.”\n\nNote: Deletion path and 90-day caveat on same page: 'Keep in mind that it may take up to 90 days to complete the deletion process after it begins. During the deletion process, Instagram may still make recommendations based on your contacts.' Page also notes 'You cannot delete individual contacts from Instagram.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://help.instagram.com/236691729788553", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Instagram Help Center (Meta)", "evidence_quote": "Tap Accounts Center, then tap Your Information and Permissions. Tap Upload Contacts, then select the account that you would like to control contacts for. Tap Toggle next to Connect Contacts to turn off contact syncing. Tap Disconnect. Turning off contacts syncing will not delete contacts you’ve previously synced.", "volatility": "high", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Instagram", "topic": "turning off contact syncing and deleting previously synced contacts", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Turning off syncing does not delete previously synced contacts; the contact list is periodically re-uploaded unless sync", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_instagram_recommendation_byphone", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Instagram: whether the account is recommended to people who hold the user's phone number or email", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Instagram states that when a user confirms a phone number or email on Instagram, the account may be recommended to users who have that contact information in their device's contact list.", "body": "Instagram states that when a user confirms a phone number or email on Instagram, the account may be recommended to users who have that contact information in their device's contact list.\n\nWhat Instagram Help Center (Meta) actually says:\n\n“Keep in mind that when you confirm your phone number or email on Instagram, your account may be recommended to users who have your contact information in their device’s contact list.”\n\nNote: Same page: connecting contacts is at Menu > 'Below How others can interact with you, tap Follow and invite friends' > 'Follow contacts' > 'Allow access'. No Instagram setting was found in the pages opened that stops the account being recommended to holders of the number (only turning off one's own syncing and deleting one's own uploaded contacts).", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://help.instagram.com/195069860617299/?cms_platform=android-app", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Instagram Help Center (Meta)", "evidence_quote": "Keep in mind that when you confirm your phone number or email on Instagram, your account may be recommended to users who have your contact information in their device’s contact list.", "volatility": "high", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Instagram", "topic": "whether the account is recommended to people who hold the user's phone number or email", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Recommendation, not search: the article describes recommendation via contact list connection and notifications.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_instagram_pymk_explore", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Instagram: 'people you might like to follow' suggestion mechanics", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Instagram surfaces people you might like to follow through Search & Explore and through connecting the device's contact list, with an AI system selecting and ranking suggested accounts.", "body": "Instagram surfaces people you might like to follow through Search & Explore and through connecting the device's contact list, with an AI system selecting and ranking suggested accounts.\n\nWhat Instagram Help Center (Meta) actually says:\n\n“You can find people you might like to follow on Instagram through Search & Explore. ... You can also connect your device's contact list in the Instagram app to find people you know. Visit the Meta Transparency Center for information on how an artificial intelligence (AI) system selects, ranks and suggests the people you might follow on Instagram.”", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://help.instagram.com/741619032578266", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Instagram Help Center (Meta)", "evidence_quote": "You can find people you might like to follow on Instagram through Search & Explore. ... You can also connect your device's contact list in the Instagram app to find people you know. Visit the Meta Transparency Center for information on how an artificial intelligence (AI) system selects, ranks and suggests the people you might follow on Instagram.", "volatility": "high", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Instagram", "topic": "'people you might like to follow' suggestion mechanics", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_facebook_pymk_what", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Facebook: what People You May Know is", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] People You May Know is Facebook's list of suggested friends based on things in common such as a mutual friend, school or workplace.", "body": "People You May Know is Facebook's list of suggested friends based on things in common such as a mutual friend, school or workplace.\n\nWhat Facebook Help Center (Meta) actually says:\n\n“People You May Know is a list of people who you might want to be friends with because you have things in common, like a mutual friend, school or workplace.”", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/help/1163341187771886", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Facebook Help Center (Meta)", "evidence_quote": "People You May Know is a list of people who you might want to be friends with because you have things in common, like a mutual friend, school or workplace.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Facebook", "topic": "what People You May Know is", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "thin_body", "source_unverifiable:fetch_failed:budget" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_facebook_pymk_sources", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Facebook: where People You May Know suggestions come from", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Facebook states that People You May Know friend suggestions come from things like friends in common, networks such as current city, school or work, shared groups, being tagged in the same photo or post, and contacts the viewer uploaded.", "body": "Facebook states that People You May Know friend suggestions come from things like friends in common, networks such as current city, school or work, shared groups, being tagged in the same photo or post, and contacts the viewer uploaded.\n\nWhat Facebook Help Center (Meta) actually says:\n\n“Friend suggestions come from things like: Having friends in common; Your networks, such as your current city, school or work; Being in the same Facebook group; Being tagged in the same photo or post; Contacts you uploaded”\n\nNote: Article links to 'manage what information is used for People You May Know' (help/4759635354082807), which lists changing friends-list privacy, limiting friend requests, managing uploaded contacts, and controlling who Facebook can suggest your profile to.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/help/163810437015615", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Facebook Help Center (Meta)", "evidence_quote": "Friend suggestions come from things like: Having friends in common; Your networks, such as your current city, school or work; Being in the same Facebook group; Being tagged in the same photo or post; Contacts you uploaded", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Facebook", "topic": "where People You May Know suggestions come from", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_facebook_suggest_control", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Controlling who Facebook suggests your profile to based on phone number or email (default and setting)", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Facebook's setting 'Who can Facebook suggest your profile to based on your phone number or email address' defaults to Possible Connections — meaning the profile may appear as a friend suggestion to people who have uploaded your phone number or email — and can be restricted to Friends of Friends, Friends, or No one, under Settings > Settings & privacy > Settings > Audience and Visibility > How people find and contact you.", "body": "Facebook's setting 'Who can Facebook suggest your profile to based on your phone number or email address' defaults to Possible Connections — meaning the profile may appear as a friend suggestion to people who have uploaded your phone number or email — and can be restricted to Friends of Friends, Friends, or No one, under Settings > Settings & privacy > Settings > Audience and Visibility > How people find and contact you.\n\nWhat Facebook Help Center (Meta) actually says:\n\n“By default, your setting is set to Possible Connections. This means that your profile might appear as a friend suggestion in People You May Know to people who have uploaded your phone number or email address to Facebook. ... No one. Your profile won’t be suggested to anyone based on your phone number or email address.”\n\nNote: Menu path from same article: click profile picture > Settings & privacy > Settings > below Audience and Visibility click How people find and contact you > View next to 'People with your email address' / 'People with your phone number'. Article also warns: 'Even if you restrict these settings, People You May Know may suggest your profile based on information other than your email address or phone number.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/help/131297846947406", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Facebook Help Center (Meta)", "evidence_quote": "By default, your setting is set to Possible Connections. This means that your profile might appear as a friend suggestion in People You May Know to people who have uploaded your phone number or email address to Facebook. ... No one. Your profile won’t be suggested to anyone based on your phone number or email address.", "volatility": "high", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Facebook", "topic": "controlling who Facebook suggests your profile to based on phone number or email (default and setting)", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "There are separate settings for email address and phone number.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_facebook_search_byphone", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Facebook: whether searching a phone number or email finds the profile", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Facebook states that searching a person's email address or mobile phone number using Facebook's search feature will not show their profile, though searching an email address that includes the full name may still show the profile in search results.", "body": "Facebook states that searching a person's email address or mobile phone number using Facebook's search feature will not show their profile, though searching an email address that includes the full name may still show the profile in search results.\n\nWhat Facebook Help Center (Meta) actually says:\n\n“If someone searches for your email address or mobile phone number using Facebook’s search feature, the search results won't show your profile. But if someone searches using your email address and it includes your full name, your profile may be shown in search results.”", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/help/131297846947406", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Facebook Help Center (Meta)", "evidence_quote": "If someone searches for your email address or mobile phone number using Facebook’s search feature, the search results won't show your profile. But if someone searches using your email address and it includes your full name, your profile may be shown in search results.", "volatility": "high", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Facebook", "topic": "whether searching a phone number or email finds the profile", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Describes the search bar, not People You May Know suggestions (which are covered by the suggest-profile setting).", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_facebook_contacts_upload_manage", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Facebook: contact uploading purpose and management", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Facebook lets users upload contacts from their mobile device or Google account expressly to improve friend suggestions, with continuous contact uploading managed only in the Facebook app and uploaded contacts viewable or removable on the Manage Your Uploaded Contacts page.", "body": "Facebook lets users upload contacts from their mobile device or Google account expressly to improve friend suggestions, with continuous contact uploading managed only in the Facebook app and uploaded contacts viewable or removable on the Manage Your Uploaded Contacts page.\n\nWhat Facebook Help Center (Meta) actually says:\n\n“You can only manage continuous contact uploading in the Facebook app. ... You can view or remove your uploaded contacts on the Manage Your Uploaded Contacts page.”\n\nNote: help/561688620598358: 'You can upload contacts from your mobile device or your Google account to improve friend suggestions on Facebook.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/help/355489824655936", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Facebook Help Center (Meta)", "evidence_quote": "You can only manage continuous contact uploading in the Facebook app. ... You can view or remove your uploaded contacts on the Manage Your Uploaded Contacts page.", "volatility": "high", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Facebook", "topic": "contact uploading purpose and management", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_facebook_contacts_delete", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Facebook: stopping contact upload and deleting uploaded contacts", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] To stop contacts being re-uploaded, continuous contact uploading must be turned off on each device using the Facebook app, and previously uploaded contacts are deleted via the Uploading and Managing Your Contacts screen's Delete All button; disabling device-level contact permission does not delete previously uploaded contacts.", "body": "To stop contacts being re-uploaded, continuous contact uploading must be turned off on each device using the Facebook app, and previously uploaded contacts are deleted via the Uploading and Managing Your Contacts screen's Delete All button; disabling device-level contact permission does not delete previously uploaded contacts.\n\nWhat Facebook Help Center (Meta) actually says:\n\n“If you disable contact access from your mobile device settings, your previously uploaded contacts will not be deleted. The only way to delete these is through the Facebook Lite app or Facebook app settings. ... 1. Go to the Uploading and Managing Your Contacts screen. 2. Click Delete All.”\n\nNote: Same page: 'To stop your mobile device contacts from being uploaded again, you'll need to turn off continuous contact uploading on each of the devices where you're using the Facebook app.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/help/147699975301738", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Facebook Help Center (Meta)", "evidence_quote": "If you disable contact access from your mobile device settings, your previously uploaded contacts will not be deleted. The only way to delete these is through the Facebook Lite app or Facebook app settings. ... 1. Go to the Uploading and Managing Your Contacts screen. 2. Click Delete All.", "volatility": "high", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Facebook", "topic": "stopping contact upload and deleting uploaded contacts", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Turning off contact access for a Google account does delete those contacts; turning off device permissions does not.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_threads_crossapp_suggestions", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Whether Threads content is surfaced to audiences on Instagram and Facebook, and the opt-out", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] If a Threads profile is public, Threads posts may be suggested by Meta on Facebook or Instagram so people can discover and follow the account, and the user can turn this off per app under Threads Settings > Privacy > Suggesting posts on other apps.", "body": "If a Threads profile is public, Threads posts may be suggested by Meta on Facebook or Instagram so people can discover and follow the account, and the user can turn this off per app under Threads Settings > Privacy > Suggesting posts on other apps.\n\nWhat Instagram Help Center (Meta) — Threads help actually says:\n\n“If your Threads profile is public, your posts may be suggested by Meta on Facebook or Instagram so people can discover, follow, and interact with you. ... Tap Privacy, then tap Suggesting posts on other apps. Below Allow your posts to be suggested on, you can: Tap next to Instagram to turn off suggesting of your Threads posts from Instagram. Tap next to Facebook to turn off suggesting of your Threads posts from Facebook.”\n\nNote: Same page caveat: 'When you choose to opt out of your posts being suggested by Meta on other apps, others can still share and reshare your posts on or off the Threads app.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://help.instagram.com/757869952768933", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Instagram Help Center (Meta) — Threads help", "evidence_quote": "If your Threads profile is public, your posts may be suggested by Meta on Facebook or Instagram so people can discover, follow, and interact with you. ... Tap Privacy, then tap Suggesting posts on other apps. Below Allow your posts to be suggested on, you can: Tap next to Instagram to turn off suggesting of your Threads posts from Instagram. Tap next to Facebook to turn off suggesting of your Threads posts from Facebook.", "volatility": "high", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Threads (Meta)", "topic": "whether Threads content is surfaced to audiences on Instagram and Facebook, and the opt-out", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Applies only to public Threads profiles.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_threads_profile_visibility", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] What a private Threads profile does and does not hide", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Even with a private Threads profile, profile information including the profile photo, name, username and bio remains visible to anyone on or off Threads, including on other Meta Products like Facebook.", "body": "Even with a private Threads profile, profile information including the profile photo, name, username and bio remains visible to anyone on or off Threads, including on other Meta Products like Facebook.\n\nWhat Instagram Help Center (Meta) — Threads help actually says:\n\n“Who can see your Threads profile information, including your profile photo, name, username and bio? | Public Threads profile: Anyone on or off Threads, including on other Meta Products like Facebook. | Private Threads Profile: Anyone on or off Threads, including on other Meta Products like Facebook.”\n\nNote: Table cells joined with pipe; row identical for public and private profiles. Private profiles restrict who can follow and who can see posts.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://help.instagram.com/756440792648838", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Instagram Help Center (Meta) — Threads help", "evidence_quote": "Who can see your Threads profile information, including your profile photo, name, username and bio? | Public Threads profile: Anyone on or off Threads, including on other Meta Products like Facebook. | Private Threads Profile: Anyone on or off Threads, including on other Meta Products like Facebook.", "volatility": "high", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Threads (Meta)", "topic": "what a private Threads profile does and does not hide", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Under-18 profiles default to private per the same article.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_tiktok_suggest_account", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] TikTok: conditions under which the account is suggested to the user's phone contacts, and the off switch", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] TikTok may suggest a user's account to others when the user has added a phone number to the account, the Contacts setting under 'Suggest your account to others' is on, and the other person has synced phone contacts containing that number; the Contacts setting is turned off via Profile > Menu > Settings and privacy > Privacy > Suggest your account to others.", "body": "TikTok may suggest a user's account to others when the user has added a phone number to the account, the Contacts setting under 'Suggest your account to others' is on, and the other person has synced phone contacts containing that number; the Contacts setting is turned off via Profile > Menu > Settings and privacy > Privacy > Suggest your account to others.\n\nWhat TikTok Support actually says:\n\n“Your account may be suggested to others on TikTok if: • You've added your phone number to your TikTok account. • You turned on the Contacts setting in the Suggest your account to others privacy setting. • The person we're suggesting your account to has chosen to sync their phone contacts to TikTok and your phone number is in their contacts.”\n\nNote: Menu path quoted verbatim in article: 'In the TikTok app, tap Profile at the bottom. Tap the Menu ☰ button at the top, then select Settings and privacy. Tap Privacy. Tap Suggest your account to others. Turn the Contacts setting on or off.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://support.tiktok.com/en/account-and-privacy/personalized-ads-and-data/how-your-phone-number-is-used-on-tiktok", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "TikTok Support", "evidence_quote": "Your account may be suggested to others on TikTok if: • You've added your phone number to your TikTok account. • You turned on the Contacts setting in the Suggest your account to others privacy setting. • The person we're suggesting your account to has chosen to sync their phone contacts to TikTok and your phone number is in their contacts.", "volatility": "high", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "TikTok", "topic": "conditions under which the account is suggested to the user's phone contacts, and the off switch", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "The article does not state the default state of the Contacts setting.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_tiktok_sync_contacts", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] TikTok: syncing the user's own contacts and removing previously synced data; visibility of phone/email", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] TikTok contact syncing is controlled under Settings and privacy > Privacy > Sync contacts and Facebook friends, where Sync contacts can be turned off and previously synced data removed; TikTok also states email and phone numbers are not visible on the profile and can be removed.", "body": "TikTok contact syncing is controlled under Settings and privacy > Privacy > Sync contacts and Facebook friends, where Sync contacts can be turned off and previously synced data removed; TikTok also states email and phone numbers are not visible on the profile and can be removed.\n\nWhat TikTok Support actually says:\n\n“We can help you find and follow people you may know if you've added your phone number to your TikTok account and your phone contacts are synced. You can stop syncing at any time and remove any previously synced data from TikTok. ... Your email and mobile phone number aren't visible on your TikTok profile. You can change or remove your email or phone number at any time once you provide an alternative method of logging in to your account.”\n\nNote: Article also notes TikTok may receive email information if the user chooses to sync Facebook friends, linking TikTok contact discovery to the Facebook graph.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://support.tiktok.com/en/account-and-privacy/personalized-ads-and-data/how-your-phone-number-is-used-on-tiktok", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "TikTok Support", "evidence_quote": "We can help you find and follow people you may know if you've added your phone number to your TikTok account and your phone contacts are synced. You can stop syncing at any time and remove any previously synced data from TikTok. ... Your email and mobile phone number aren't visible on your TikTok profile. You can change or remove your email or phone number at any time once you provide an alternative method of logging in to your account.", "volatility": "high", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "TikTok", "topic": "syncing the user's own contacts and removing previously synced data; visibility of phone/email", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_snapchat_contacts_data_removal", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Snapchat: what contact upload stores and how to remove synced contacts", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] When Snapchat users upload contacts, Snapchat stores contact names, hashed phone numbers and email addresses and related metadata, and users can remove shared contacts via 'Remove Synced Contacts From Snapchat' or Settings > Privacy Controls > Clear Data > Clear Contact Data, noting that changing device permissions alone does not remove previously shared contacts.", "body": "When Snapchat users upload contacts, Snapchat stores contact names, hashed phone numbers and email addresses and related metadata, and users can remove shared contacts via 'Remove Synced Contacts From Snapchat' or Settings > Privacy Controls > Clear Data > Clear Contact Data, noting that changing device permissions alone does not remove previously shared contacts.\n\nWhat Snapchat Support actually says:\n\n“When you upload your contacts, we may store information on our servers such as: Contact names, hashed phone numbers, and email addresses ... You can also remove your shared contacts from Snapchat by tapping 'Remove Synced Contacts From Snapchat,' or by going to 'Privacy Controls' in Settings, and tapping 'Clear Data' and then 'Clear Contact Data.' Importantly, disabling or adjusting your device-level permission to limit sharing contacts data with Snapchat may not remove previously shared contacts from Snapchat, which can always be done via in-app settings.”\n\nNote: Users can inspect uploaded data under Settings > Contacts (Additional Services) > 'See Contacts Shared With Snapchat'.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/7012328615828-How-to-Add-Friends-on-Snapchat", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Snapchat Support", "evidence_quote": "When you upload your contacts, we may store information on our servers such as: Contact names, hashed phone numbers, and email addresses ... You can also remove your shared contacts from Snapchat by tapping 'Remove Synced Contacts From Snapchat,' or by going to 'Privacy Controls' in Settings, and tapping 'Clear Data' and then 'Clear Contact Data.' Importantly, disabling or adjusting your device-level permission to limit sharing contacts data with Snapchat may not remove previously shared contacts from Snapchat, which can always be done via in-app settings.", "volatility": "high", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Snapchat", "topic": "what contact upload stores and how to remove synced contacts", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_snapchat_findfriends_factors", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Snapchat: Find Friends (formerly Quick Add) suggestion mechanics", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Snapchat's friend recommendations in Find Friends are based on factors such as age, location, existing friends, existing followers, reputation and behaviour on Snapchat, and a user can still appear in others' Find Friends because they are in other Snapchatters' uploaded contact books even if they never upload contacts themselves.", "body": "Snapchat's friend recommendations in Find Friends are based on factors such as age, location, existing friends, existing followers, reputation and behaviour on Snapchat, and a user can still appear in others' Find Friends because they are in other Snapchatters' uploaded contact books even if they never upload contacts themselves.\n\nWhat Snapchat Support actually says:\n\n“Friend recommendations in Find Friends are based on factors such as age, location, existing friends, existing followers, reputation and behavior on Snapchat. ... Even if you don’t upload your contacts to Snapchat, or you delete your previously uploaded contacts, you may still see friends in Find Friends for other reasons, such as if you’re in other Snapchatters’ contacts.”", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/7012328615828-How-to-Add-Friends-on-Snapchat", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Snapchat Support", "evidence_quote": "Friend recommendations in Find Friends are based on factors such as age, location, existing friends, existing followers, reputation and behavior on Snapchat. ... Even if you don’t upload your contacts to Snapchat, or you delete your previously uploaded contacts, you may still see friends in Find Friends for other reasons, such as if you’re in other Snapchatters’ contacts.", "volatility": "high", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Snapchat", "topic": "Find Friends (formerly Quick Add) suggestion mechanics", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_snapchat_findfriends_optout", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Snapchat: turning off appearing in Find Friends suggestions", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Snapchat states all users can turn off showing up in Find Friends in Settings, and that Quick Add was renamed Find Friends; teen accounts appear in suggestions only in limited instances such as numerous mutual friends or being in each other's uploaded contact books.", "body": "Snapchat states all users can turn off showing up in Find Friends in Settings, and that Quick Add was renamed Find Friends; teen accounts appear in suggestions only in limited instances such as numerous mutual friends or being in each other's uploaded contact books.\n\nWhat Snapchat Support actually says:\n\n“What used to be called Quick Add is now going by the much simpler and more straightforward name, Find Friends. ... all users can turn off showing up in Find Friends in Settings. ... teens can appear in another user’s Find Friends suggestions in limited instances, such as if they have numerous mutual friends or are in one or the other’s contact book already uploaded to Snapchat”\n\nNote: Article also states 'All Snapchat accounts are private by default' and that users can only communicate with mutually accepted friends or people whose numbers they have already saved. The article does not give the exact menu path for the Find Friends opt-out toggle.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/34691800487316-What-happened-to-Quick-Add", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Snapchat Support", "evidence_quote": "What used to be called Quick Add is now going by the much simpler and more straightforward name, Find Friends. ... all users can turn off showing up in Find Friends in Settings. ... teens can appear in another user’s Find Friends suggestions in limited instances, such as if they have numerous mutual friends or are in one or the other’s contact book already uploaded to Snapchat", "volatility": "high", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Snapchat", "topic": "turning off appearing in Find Friends suggestions", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_x_discoverability_settings", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] X (Twitter): findability by email/phone, the off switches, and search", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] X uses the account's email address and phone number to make the account discoverable — people who have them in their contacts may find the account when uploading contacts, and the account may appear as a follow suggestion — controlled by 'Let others find you by your email' and 'Let others find you by your phone' under Settings and privacy > Privacy and safety > Discoverability and contacts, with turning these off also stopping X from using uploaded contacts to suggest the account to others.", "body": "X uses the account's email address and phone number to make the account discoverable — people who have them in their contacts may find the account when uploading contacts, and the account may appear as a follow suggestion — controlled by 'Let others find you by your email' and 'Let others find you by your phone' under Settings and privacy > Privacy and safety > Discoverability and contacts, with turning these off also stopping X from using uploaded contacts to suggest the account to others.\n\nWhat X Help Center actually says:\n\n“In order to help you make those connections, we use your email address and phone number to make your account discoverable to others. You can control whether others can find you on X by your email address or phone number by adjusting your discoverability privacy settings (instructions below). If you turn off the settings that let others find you by your email address or phone number, X will also not use your address book contacts (if you have chosen to upload them) to suggest your account to others.”\n\nNote: Same article: 'If someone has your email address or phone number in their contacts, they may find your account when they upload those contacts to X. Your account may also appear as a suggestion for others to follow if your email address or phone number is included in the contacts that others have uploaded.' and 'Others will be able to find all accounts associated with the same phone number that have this setting enabled.' The article does not state the default state of these toggles.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://help.x.com/en/safety-and-security/email-and-phone-discoverability-settings", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "X Help Center", "evidence_quote": "In order to help you make those connections, we use your email address and phone number to make your account discoverable to others. You can control whether others can find you on X by your email address or phone number by adjusting your discoverability privacy settings (instructions below). If you turn off the settings that let others find you by your email address or phone number, X will also not use your address book contacts (if you have chosen to upload them) to suggest your account to others.", "volatility": "high", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "X (Twitter)", "topic": "findability by email/phone, the off switches, and search", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Email and phone number are not publicly displayed; each account tied to the same phone number has its own setting, and a", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_x_contacts_upload_manage", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] X (Twitter): uploading, stopping, and deleting address book contacts", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Syncing address book contacts uploads contacts from the device to X on an ongoing basis; turning off Sync address book contacts only stops that device, and previously uploaded contacts must be removed via Remove all contacts (app) or Settings > Privacy and safety > Discoverability and contacts > Manage contacts (web), after which some contact-based suggestions may persist for a time.", "body": "Syncing address book contacts uploads contacts from the device to X on an ongoing basis; turning off Sync address book contacts only stops that device, and previously uploaded contacts must be removed via Remove all contacts (app) or Settings > Privacy and safety > Discoverability and contacts > Manage contacts (web), after which some contact-based suggestions may persist for a time.\n\nWhat X Help Center actually says:\n\n“Tap Sync address book contacts. When you sync your contacts, contacts from your device’s address book will be uploaded to X on an ongoing basis. ... When you turn off your Sync address book contacts setting on a given device, this will stop syncing contacts to X from that device only. ... X will continue to store and use the contacts you’ve previously uploaded unless you remove all contacts.”\n\nNote: Removal path: 'Tap Remove all contacts. You’ll need to confirm the removal of all contacts by tapping the prompt.' with note 'this takes a little time and you may still notice some suggestions on X (based on your contacts) in the meantime.' Article also states contacts are used to 'find and follow contacts who have allowed other people to find them by their email address or phone number.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://help.x.com/en/using-x/upload-your-contacts-to-search-for-friends", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "X Help Center", "evidence_quote": "Tap Sync address book contacts. When you sync your contacts, contacts from your device’s address book will be uploaded to X on an ongoing basis. ... When you turn off your Sync address book contacts setting on a given device, this will stop syncing contacts to X from that device only. ... X will continue to store and use the contacts you’ve previously uploaded unless you remove all contacts.", "volatility": "high", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "X (Twitter)", "topic": "uploading, stopping, and deleting address book contacts", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_telegram_contact_discovery", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Telegram: who can contact/find a user, by phone number or username", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Telegram states people can contact a user if they know their phone number or if the user messages them first, and that setting a public username makes the account findable in Global Search by people who do not have the number.", "body": "Telegram states people can contact a user if they know their phone number or if the user messages them first, and that setting a public username makes the account findable in Global Search by people who do not have the number.\n\nWhat Telegram (official FAQ) actually says:\n\n“People can contact you on Telegram if they know your phone number or if you message them first. If they don’t know your phone number, they can find you in these cases: When you both are members of the same group. If you set a public username. Others can use Global Search and find you by your username.”\n\nNote: FAQ accessed via Internet Archive capture of 2026-01-01 because telegram.org returns HTTP 403 to this client. Same FAQ: 'It then becomes possible for other users to find you by that username – you will appear in search under ‘global results’. Please note that people who find you will be able to send you messages, even if they don’t know your number. If you are not comfortable with this, we advise against setting a username on Telegram.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://telegram.org/faq", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Telegram (official FAQ)", "evidence_quote": "People can contact you on Telegram if they know your phone number or if you message them first. If they don’t know your phone number, they can find you in these cases: When you both are members of the same group. If you set a public username. Others can use Global Search and find you by your username.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Telegram", "topic": "who can contact/find a user, by phone number or username", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_telegram_phone_privacy", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Telegram: phone number visibility default and setting", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] By default a Telegram phone number is visible only to people the user has added to their own address book as contacts, modifiable under Settings > Privacy and Security > Phone Number, with the caveat that people who already know and have saved the number will always see it.", "body": "By default a Telegram phone number is visible only to people the user has added to their own address book as contacts, modifiable under Settings > Privacy and Security > Phone Number, with the caveat that people who already know and have saved the number will always see it.\n\nWhat Telegram (official FAQ) actually says:\n\n“On Telegram, you can send messages in private chats and groups without making your phone number visible. By default, your number is only visible to people who you've added to your address book as contacts. You can further modify this in Settings > Privacy and Security > Phone Number. > Note that people will always see your number if they know it already and saved it in their address book.”\n\nNote: FAQ accessed via Internet Archive capture of 2026-01-01 (telegram.org 403 to this client). Quote begins at the answer text; the '>' marks the FAQ's own blockquote note.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://telegram.org/faq", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Telegram (official FAQ)", "evidence_quote": "On Telegram, you can send messages in private chats and groups without making your phone number visible. By default, your number is only visible to people who you've added to your address book as contacts. You can further modify this in Settings > Privacy and Security > Phone Number. > Note that people will always see your number if they know it already and saved it in their address book.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Telegram", "topic": "phone number visibility default and setting", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "FAQ 'Your Account' section; the FAQ does not enumerate the 'Who can find me by my number' options on the page opened.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_signal_findbynumber_default", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Signal: whether people who know the number can find the account, and the off switch", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Signal's 'Who can find me by my number' setting is toggled to Everybody by default so anyone who has the number can find and message the account, and setting it to Nobody makes the number appear unassociated with a Signal account even to people who have it saved in their contacts, after which contact requires the exact username.", "body": "Signal's 'Who can find me by my number' setting is toggled to Everybody by default so anyone who has the number can find and message the account, and setting it to Nobody makes the number appear unassociated with a Signal account even to people who have it saved in their contacts, after which contact requires the exact username.\n\nWhat Signal Support actually says:\n\n“By default, “Who can find me by my number” will be toggled to “Everybody,” meaning that people who have your phone number can find you by phone number. ... If you change the default and select “Nobody,” a person entering your phone number in the New Message screen will see a pop-up saying that that your phone number is not associated with a Signal account. They will see this screen even if they have your phone number in their phone’s contacts.”\n\nNote: Same article: 'If you set “Who can find me by my phone number” to “Nobody,” someone will need to know your exact, unique username in order to connect with you on Signal.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/6829998083994-Phone-Number-Privacy-and-Usernames-Deeper-Dive", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Signal Support", "evidence_quote": "By default, “Who can find me by my number” will be toggled to “Everybody,” meaning that people who have your phone number can find you by phone number. ... If you change the default and select “Nobody,” a person entering your phone number in the New Message screen will see a pop-up saying that that your phone number is not associated with a Signal account. They will see this screen even if they have your phone number in their phone’s contacts.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Signal", "topic": "whether people who know the number can find the account, and the off switch", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Signal 7.0+; settings at Settings > Privacy > Phone Number. Settings are all-or-nothing.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_signal_seenumber_default", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Signal: whether the phone number is shown to chat partners", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Signal's 'Who can see my phone number' defaults so that people the user chats with do not see the number on the profile details page unless they already have it saved in their own contacts.", "body": "Signal's 'Who can see my phone number' defaults so that people the user chats with do not see the number on the profile details page unless they already have it saved in their own contacts.\n\nWhat Signal Support actually says:\n\n“If you select “Nobody,” the people who you chat with on Signal will not see your phone number as part of your Profile Details page unless they have already saved your phone number to their phone’s contacts. This is the default setting.”\n\nNote: Usernames in Signal are not handles visible in chats: 'A username is not the profile name that’s displayed in chats, it’s not a permanent handle, and not visible to the people you are chatting with in Signal.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/6829998083994-Phone-Number-Privacy-and-Usernames-Deeper-Dive", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Signal Support", "evidence_quote": "If you select “Nobody,” the people who you chat with on Signal will not see your phone number as part of your Profile Details page unless they have already saved your phone number to their phone’s contacts. This is the default setting.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Signal", "topic": "whether the phone number is shown to chat partners", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_discord_findyourfriends", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Discord: opt-in contact-based friend discovery, how to disable it, and data deletion", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Discord's Find Your Friends matches phone contacts only when both people have opted in to be discoverable, periodically syncs cryptographically hashed phone numbers, can be disabled via User Settings > Privacy & Safety > 'Allow contacts to add me', and disabling it (or deleting the account) removes all contact data from Discord's servers without deleting existing friend recommendations.", "body": "Discord's Find Your Friends matches phone contacts only when both people have opted in to be discoverable, periodically syncs cryptographically hashed phone numbers, can be disabled via User Settings > Privacy & Safety > 'Allow contacts to add me', and disabling it (or deleting the account) removes all contact data from Discord's servers without deleting existing friend recommendations.\n\nWhat Discord Support actually says:\n\n“Wumpus and Cap both are on Discord and want to find friends, so BOTH of them will need to opt-in to be discoverable via Find Your Friends. ... If Wumpus has Cap's contact, but Cap decides not to opt-in to be discoverable via Find Your Friends, Wumpus will not discover him. ... After enabling Find Your Friends, Discord periodically syncs phone numbers from your phone to Discord's servers. These phone numbers are cryptographically hashed.”\n\nNote: Disable path quoted: 'navigate to your User Settings tab ... navigate to your Privacy & Safety setting. Tap Allow contacts to add me to enable/disable the feature.' 'Disabling Find Your Friends or deleting your Discord account will remove all of your contact data from Discord's servers. We won't delete any existing friend recommendations in either direction, but no new recommendations will be created.' Article dated June 26, 2024 per support page metadata.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/360061878534-Find-Your-Friends-FAQ", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Discord Support", "evidence_quote": "Wumpus and Cap both are on Discord and want to find friends, so BOTH of them will need to opt-in to be discoverable via Find Your Friends. ... If Wumpus has Cap's contact, but Cap decides not to opt-in to be discoverable via Find Your Friends, Wumpus will not discover him. ... After enabling Find Your Friends, Discord periodically syncs phone numbers from your phone to Discord's servers. These phone numbers are cryptographically hashed.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Discord", "topic": "opt-in contact-based friend discovery, how to disable it, and data deletion", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Requires a verified phone number; raw phone numbers are stated never to be stored.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_pinterest_search_private", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Pinterest: profile search and the effect of a private profile", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Pinterest profiles are found by searching a person's name or Pinterest username, and users cannot search for people who have private Pinterest profiles.", "body": "Pinterest profiles are found by searching a person's name or Pinterest username, and users cannot search for people who have private Pinterest profiles.\n\nWhat Pinterest help actually says:\n\n“Keep in mind that you won’t be able to search for people with private Pinterest profiles private Pinterest profiles.”\n\nNote: Search path: search bar > enter name or username > filter icon > Profiles. The help articles opened do not describe phone-number or contact-based account suggestion.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://help.pinterest.com/en/article/find-and-follow-friends", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Pinterest help", "evidence_quote": "Keep in mind that you won’t be able to search for people with private Pinterest profiles private Pinterest profiles.", "volatility": "high", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Pinterest", "topic": "profile search and the effect of a private profile", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Article noted 'Profiles tab is not available in your area' at time of capture.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_youtube_handles_search", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] YouTube: how channels are found in search", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] YouTube channels are findable by searching the '@' symbol followed by the channel handle or by channel name, and every channel has an associated handle.", "body": "YouTube channels are findable by searching the '@' symbol followed by the channel handle or by channel name, and every channel has an associated handle.\n\nWhat YouTube Help (Google) actually says:\n\n“Viewers and creators can search for your channel directly on YouTube using the @ symbol followed by your handle, which can be found on your channel page or profile card. All channels will have an associated handle to find and interact with other users.”\n\nNote: Handles are unique channel identifiers starting with '@', distinct from channel names; handle guidelines forbid URL-like and phone-number-like handles. No YouTube help article opened describes discovering channels via the viewer's phone contacts or contact upload.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/11585688?hl=en", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "YouTube Help (Google)", "evidence_quote": "Viewers and creators can search for your channel directly on YouTube using the @ symbol followed by your handle, which can be found on your channel page or profile card. All channels will have an associated handle to find and interact with other users.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "YouTube", "topic": "how channels are found in search", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_reddit_chat_suggestions", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Who Reddit suggests in chat", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Reddit's chat suggestions are people the user has recently interacted with — people they follow, have friended on old.reddit.com, or have chatted or messaged before — not people from the user's address book.", "body": "Reddit's chat suggestions are people the user has recently interacted with — people they follow, have friended on old.reddit.com, or have chatted or messaged before — not people from the user's address book.\n\nWhat Reddit Help actually says:\n\n“When you’re creating a new chat, you may see a few suggested people that you’ve recently interacted with. These may be people you’re following, you’ve friended on old.reddit.com, or that you’ve chatted with or messaged before.”\n\nNote: No Reddit help article opened documents contact/address-book upload or phone-number-based account discovery; Reddit users are found by username in search.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/360043478431-How-does-Reddit-suggest-people-I-might-like-to-chat-with", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Reddit Help", "evidence_quote": "When you’re creating a new chat, you may see a few suggested people that you’ve recently interacted with. These may be people you’re following, you’ve friended on old.reddit.com, or that you’ve chatted with or messaged before.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "Reddit", "topic": "who Reddit suggests in chat", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r90_start_contact_discovery_onlyfans_profile_hiding", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] OnlyFans: creator profile visibility controls (geo/IP blocking)", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] OnlyFans lets creators hide their profile from specified IP addresses, countries, or US/Australian/Canadian states or provinces, configured in the Safety section of the Privacy and safety settings page.", "body": "OnlyFans lets creators hide their profile from specified IP addresses, countries, or US/Australian/Canadian states or provinces, configured in the Safety section of the Privacy and safety settings page.\n\nWhat OnlyFans Help / Community Guidelines actually says:\n\n“It is possible to hide your profile from certain IP addresses, countries, or individual states/provinces within the US, Australia, and Canada. These options can be found in the \"Safety\" section of the \"Privacy and safety\" Settings page.”\n\nNote: No OnlyFans help article opened describes discovery of creator profiles by real name or phone number; the help centre's creator articles cover onboarding, content rules and payouts, not a people-you-may-know feature.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://onlyfans.com/help/196/197/288", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "OnlyFans Help / Community Guidelines", "evidence_quote": "It is possible to hide your profile from certain IP addresses, countries, or individual states/provinces within the US, Australia, and Canada. These options can be found in the \"Safety\" section of the \"Privacy and safety\" Settings page.", "volatility": "high", "from_batch": "90-start-contact-discovery", "subject": "OnlyFans", "topic": "creator profile visibility controls (geo/IP blocking)", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Geo/IP blocking granularity limited to IP, country, and states/provinces within the US, Australia, and Canada.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } } ] }