A Buy Nothing Facebook Group Is Requiring My Address or Cross Streets
Overview
We appreciate and fully support concerns about privacy and personal safety. Requiring members to share an exact address, cross streets, or other personally identifiable information (PII) in order to join a group is not a requirement of Buy Nothing.
Buy Nothing’s Position on Privacy
Collecting exact location details or PII as a condition of joining a Buy Nothing group has never been a rule of the Buy Nothing Project and is not condoned by our guidelines. Our community standards focus on building trust and connection—not on collecting sensitive personal data.
Inclusion and Community Standards
Our Community Commitment is grounded in principles of radical inclusion and equitable participation. Admins are expected to serve their entire community without exclusion or discrimination and to uphold these shared values.
What We Can and Cannot Do
Local Buy Nothing Facebook groups are managed independently by volunteer admins. Because of this, we are unable to directly intervene in local moderation or membership requirements.
Your Options Moving Forward
1. Report the Group (For Review)
If a group requires addresses, cross streets, or other PII as a condition of joining—or if you believe the practice is discriminatory—you may submit a report for review.
Report a Group:
https://forms.gle/RDYpwrZY6Xm9ktK1A
All reports are reviewed, and concerns related to privacy and discrimination are taken seriously.
2. Choose a More Equitable Option: The Buy Nothing App
Experiences like this are one of the reasons we built the Buy Nothing web and mobile platform.
On the app:
- There are no admin gatekeepers requiring personal location details
- You control your own sharing radius and visibility
- Participation is designed to be welcoming, equitable, and privacy-conscious
Join the platform:
We’re Here to Support You
We hope this helps you find a safe and inclusive way to participate in your local gift economy. If you have further questions, our Support Team is happy to help.