Doxxing

Doxxing (from "docs," short for documents) is the act of researching and publishing someone's private personal information — such as their real name, home address, workplace, or phone number — without their consent, usually to harass or intimidate them.

It is especially harmful in anonymous chat contexts, where a core expectation is that your real-world identity stays separate from your online activity. Doxxing deliberately breaks that separation.

Nearly all reputable platforms treat doxxing as a serious, reportable violation. Protecting yourself starts with not sharing identifying details (full name, location, workplace) with people you have just met online.