Safety Guidelines
Teen safety comes first on Porchlight. Here's how it works, and what we expect from everyone.
Every adult is verified
Before posting a job or messaging a teen, every adult passes an ID check (a photo ID plus a selfie) and a background check that includes criminal records and the national sex offender registry.
Parents are part of every account
- A parent or guardian must approve a teen's account before it turns on.
- Parents can read every message their teen sends or receives.
- For teens under 16, parents approve each job before the teen can be hired.
- Pay goes to a payout account in the parent's name.
Jobs teens can do
| Category | Ages |
|---|---|
| Yard work (hand tools) | 13+ |
| Snow shoveling | 13+ |
| Pet care | 13+ |
| Tutoring / homework help | 13+ |
| Tech help | 14+ |
| Babysitting | 14+ |
| Light moving / carrying | 14+ |
| Household cleaning | 14+ |
| Car washing | 14+ |
| Errands (on foot or bike) | 14+ |
| Party / event help | 14+ |
| Lawn mowing (power mower) | 16+ |
| Leaf blower / string trimmer | 16+ |
| Snow blowing | 16+ |
Never allowed
- Roofs, ladders, tree climbing or removal
- Chainsaws, hedge trimmers, power saws, nail guns, pressure washers, riding mowers
- Pesticides, weed killers, bleach, or other chemicals
- Driving, or anything involving alcohol, tobacco, or firearms
- Overnight jobs or sleepovers
Hours
- All jobs: between 6am and 9pm, at most 8 hours, and not during school hours (7:30am–2:30pm) on school days.
- Under 16: between 7am and 7pm (9pm from June 1 to Labor Day), and at most 3 hours on a school day.
Chat rules
- Keep all communication on Porchlight. Messages with phone numbers, emails, social media, or addresses are blocked.
- No requests for photos, no comments about looks, no secrets, and no meeting outside the job. These are blocked and sent to our safety team.
- The job address is shared in the app after the teen is hired.
Tips for teens
- Always tell a parent where you're going and when you'll be back.
- Work outside or in shared spaces when you can. You never have to go inside if you don't want to.
- If anything feels wrong, leave. You'll never get in trouble with us for leaving a job to stay safe.
- Report anything that makes you uncomfortable. If someone is in danger, call 911.
Reporting
Use the Report button on any profile, job, or message. Our team reviews every report, can suspend accounts immediately, and works with law enforcement and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (CyberTipline: report.cybertip.org) when a child may be at risk.