Child Safety Policy
Version 1.0 · Effective April 13, 2026 · Minor User Protections Across All Features
1. Age Policy
HangOn permits users aged 13 and above. Users below 13 are strictly prohibited from creating accounts. This aligns with the DPDP Act 2023 prohibition on processing personal data of children under 13 without verified parental consent.
Users aged 13–17 ("Minor Users") require verified Guardian consent and operate under enhanced protections across all features.
2. Guardian Consent — Setup
Account activation for minors requires all of the following steps to complete — no partial activation:
- 1Minor enters date of birth at signup — system detects minor status
- 2Minor enters Guardian's mobile number (must differ from minor's own number, verified by check)
- 3Guardian receives OTP + consent link via SMS — must be opened on a separate device
- 4Guardian reviews: what HangOn is, that real money may be involved, that their financial details will be used
- 5Guardian submits PAN + UPI ID + verifies both via penny drop
- 6Guardian completes OTP verification
- 7Account activates only after all steps complete
Guardian consent is tied to the specific Guardian who provided it. If the Guardian changes, the minor account is frozen pending new consent from the new guardian, verified by ID.
3. Feature-by-Feature Minor Protections
3.1 Tournaments
- •All financial transactions (entry fees and winnings) processed via Guardian's payment details
- •Guardian notified of every entry fee charge and every payout
- •Guardian can set monthly spending limits via Guardian Portal
- •TDS deducted against Guardian's PAN; Form 16A issued to Guardian
3.2 Discovery (Swipe Feature)
- •Minor accounts visible in discovery ONLY to users within 3 years of the minor's age by default
- •Users aged 21 and above cannot see minor profiles in discovery without explicit Guardian override
- •Minors cannot see profiles of users aged 21+ in discovery by default
- •Guardian can fully disable discovery for minor account via Guardian Portal
- •Age band is enforced server-side — cannot be circumvented by user
3.3 Chat and Messaging
- •Minors can only initiate chat with mutual connections (both swiped right)
- •Unsolicited messages from non-connections to minor accounts are blocked
- •Any user sending sexual content to a minor account: immediate permanent ban + law enforcement referral
- •Guardian can disable all chat for minor account via Guardian Portal
- •HangOn may review chat involving minor accounts in response to reported safety concerns
3.4 Social Feed
- •Minor accounts can post on the feed subject to the same content rules as adult accounts
- •Content posted by minors is subject to elevated moderation review
- •Minor accounts cannot receive unsolicited direct contact from adult users via feed comments
- •Profile information displayed on feed posts for minor accounts: display name and gaming handle only — no city, no other details
3.5 Voice Rooms
- •Minors can join only voice rooms tagged "All Ages" — 18+ rooms are blocked at account level
- •Minors cannot be added to private voice rooms by users they are not connected with
- •Voice room hosts are notified when a minor joins their room
- •Guardian can disable voice room access entirely via Guardian Portal
3.6 Venue Booking
- •Venue booking for minor accounts requires Guardian approval per booking
- •Guardian receives notification when a minor books a venue
- •Physical venue Partners are informed when a booking involves a minor user
4. Guardian Portal
Guardians have access to a dedicated Guardian Portal where they can:
5. Reporting Child Safety Concerns
Any user can report child safety concerns via the in-app Report button on any profile, post, message, or voice room, or by emailing safety@hangon.live.
| Type of Report | Response Time | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Grooming or sexual solicitation of a minor | Account suspended within 1 hour, reviewed within 4 hours | Suspension + investigation |
| CSAM transmitted through any Platform feature | Content removed immediately | Permanent ban + NCMEC + cybercrime.gov.in referral within 24 hours |
| Minor in immediate danger | Immediate | Referral to emergency services |
| All other child safety reports | Within 24 hours | Investigation + action |
6. Age Misrepresentation
Users who misrepresent their age to create adult accounts will, upon discovery:
- •Have their account immediately converted to a minor account
- •Be required to complete the Guardian consent process before the account can be used again
- •Have any winnings held pending Guardian verification
- •Face account termination if Guardian consent cannot be obtained within 14 days
HangOn detects age misrepresentation through: PAN verification (PAN contains date of birth), guardian reports, law enforcement reports, and customer support investigations.
7. No Under-13 Policy — Enforcement
HangOn does not permit accounts for users under 13. If we discover an under-13 account:
- •Account is immediately suspended
- •All personal data is deleted within 30 days
- •All entry fees paid are refunded to the original payment method
- •Any winnings are forfeited
8. Staff Training and Accountability
HangOn staff who handle content moderation, customer support, and safety reviews are trained on:
- •Identifying signs of grooming behaviour in platform interactions
- •Mandatory reporting obligations for CSAM
- •DPDP Act requirements for processing minor data
- •Escalation procedures for child safety incidents
This policy is reviewed annually and updated as required by law or best practice.