Community Guidelines

PenPalsOnly exists to help people build genuine written connections. To keep the platform safe and useful for everyone, all listings and correspondence must follow these rules.

For listings

  • Listings must be submitted by the individual, or by someone with their permission.
  • All information (name, facility, mailing address) must be accurate and kept up to date.
  • Photos and bios must not contain contact information that bypasses postal mail (no phone numbers, emails, or social media handles).
  • We reserve the right to remove any listing that violates these guidelines or a facility's mail policy.

For pen pals

  • Always follow the receiving facility's mail guidelines (check what is and isn't allowed to be sent).
  • Never send money, gift cards, or financial information to someone you haven't independently verified.
  • Report any listing or correspondence that seems fraudulent using our contact page.

Prohibited content

We do not allow listings or messages that solicit money under false pretenses, contain sexually explicit content, promote illegal activity, or attempt to circumvent facility mail policies. Violations may result in listing removal without refund.