Hily launches Consent Guard to block unsolicited nudes and stop cyberflashing
Hily, the dating app with roughly 39 million users worldwide, has introduced a new feature aimed at curbing unsolicited explicit messages commonly described as cyberflashing.
Called “Consent Guard,” the tool uses machine-learning models and custom algorithms to scan incoming messages and images for sexually explicit language and visual elements. When explicit content is detected, Hily alerts the recipient that their match is attempting to send explicit content and asks whether they want to view it. The recipient can then consent or decline; only with consent will the explicit content be revealed.
The sender is prompted to request one-click consent before the content is delivered. If the sender cancels the request, the content is not sent; if the recipient does not respond to the prompt, the conversation proceeds without exposing explicit material. According to Hily’s press release, users may send up to three consent requests per chat, and individuals can change their consent preferences at any time via settings described as “hot,” “chill,” or “not tonight, please.”
Hily developed Consent Guard in collaboration with sexologist and sex educator Dr. Mindy DeSeta, who contributed insights into consent culture and harassment. As Dr. DeSeta said in Hily’s press release: “Unsolicited pics have never really worked: they’re mostly just a turn-off. Hily’s new Consent Guard feature actually empowers your sexuality by putting you in charge of how you date, what you share, and how sexy you want to get. Instead of having an explicit photo pop up at the worst possible moment, imagine getting a notification that someone wants to get a little hot and heavy. That’s mental foreplay!”
Consent Guard replaces Hily’s previous Explicit Filter, which blurred suspicious photos for user review. The change places the choice to view explicit material squarely with the recipient rather than relying solely on automated blurring.
The launch arrives amid broader industry attention to non-consensual explicit content: a YouGov survey noted that, as of 2024, more than a third of women under 40 had received unsolicited sexual photos from someone who was not a partner. Other dating services have deployed similar tools, such as Bumble’s Private Detector, an AI-driven detector for nude images.
Hily also notes legal and policy considerations in its broader platform documentation, linking to its Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
