

FINDING

Online Communities



© 2025 ADELAJA FAMILY FOUNDATION TRUST
FINDING ONLINE COMMUNITIES
Weblinks
To view the contents of this index - click on the (blue) link of interest below
1. Reddit
Reddit is one of the largest collections of online communities, organized into "subreddits" based on specific topics.
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Website : https://www.reddit.com
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How to Find Communities : Search for subreddits using keywords like "gaming," "fitness," "coding," etc., in the search bar. Examples:
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r/learnprogramming (for coding enthusiasts)
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r/personalfinance (for financial advice)
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2. Discord
Discord hosts thousands of servers dedicated to niche topics, from gaming to professional networking.
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Website : https://www.discord.com
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How to Find Communities : Use the "Explore" feature or search for servers using keywords. Examples:
3. Facebook Groups
Facebook has millions of groups covering almost every topic imaginable.
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Website : https://www.facebook.com/groups
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How to Find Communities : Use the search bar to find groups by interest. Examples:
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"Digital Nomads Around the World"
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"Freelancers United"
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4. Stack Exchange
A network of Q&A communities for professionals and enthusiasts.
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Website : https://stackexchange.com
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How to Find Communities : Browse topics like programming, science, or hobbies. Examples:
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Stack Overflow (for developers)
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5. Quora
A question-and-answer platform where users discuss a wide range of topics.
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Website : https://www.quora.com
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How to Find Communities : Follow spaces related to your interests. Examples:
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"Technology Trends"
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"Mental Health Awareness"
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6. Slack Communities
Slack hosts numerous public workspaces for collaboration and discussion.
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Website : https://slack.com
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How to Find Communities : Use directories like Slack List to discover public Slack groups.
7. GitHub Discussions
For developers, GitHub offers discussion boards within repositories.
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Website : https://github.com
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How to Find Communities : Explore repositories and join their discussions. Examples:
8. LinkedIn Groups
Professional networking groups for career-related discussions.
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Website : https://www.linkedin.com/groups
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How to Find Communities : Search for groups by industry or skill. Examples:
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"Entrepreneurs Network"
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"Data Science Professionals"
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9. Meetup
While primarily for in-person events, many Meetup groups have active online communities.
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Website : https://www.meetup.com
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How to Find Communities : Search for groups by location or interest. Examples:
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"Tech Startups Meetup"
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"Book Lovers Online"
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10. Niche Forums
There are countless forums dedicated to specific topics. Some popular ones include:
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Forums for Gamers : GameFAQs
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Forums for Writers : Absolute Write
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Forums for Health : HealthBoards
Tips for Finding Active Communities
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Search Engines : Use Google with queries like "online community for [your interest]."
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Social Media : Platforms like Twitter and Instagram often link to active communities.
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Niche Websites : Look for blogs or websites related to your interest—they often host forums or link to communities.
11. Telegram Groups and Channels
Telegram is a popular platform for creating both public and private communities.
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Website : https://telegram.org
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How to Find Communities : Use the search feature or explore directories like Telegram.me . Examples:
12. Clubhouse (Audio-Based Communities)
Clubhouse is an audio-based social network where users join "rooms" to discuss topics in real-time.
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Website : https://www.clubhouse.com
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How to Find Communities : Browse clubs or rooms based on your interests. Examples:
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"Startup Club"
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"Women in Tech"
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13. Twitch (Gaming and Creative Communities)
While primarily a streaming platform, Twitch has vibrant chat-based communities for gamers, artists, and creators.
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Website : https://www.twitch.tv
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How to Find Communities : Search for streamers or categories related to your interests. Examples:
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Gaming streams like Ninja's Channel
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Art streams under the "Creative" category
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14. Indie Hackers
A community for entrepreneurs and developers building online businesses.
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Website : https://www.indiehackers.com
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How to Engage : Join discussions, share your projects, and learn from others' experiences.
15. Product Hunt
A community for discovering and discussing new tech products and innovations.
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Website : https://www.producthunt.com
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How to Engage : Upvote products, leave reviews, and join discussions in the comments.
16. Dev.to
A community of software developers sharing knowledge and collaborating on projects.
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Website : https://dev.to
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How to Engage : Write articles, comment on posts, and participate in challenges.
17. Medium Publications
Medium hosts numerous publications and communities focused on specific topics.
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Website : https://medium.com
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How to Find Communities : Follow publications like:
18. Substack Newsletters
Substack allows creators to build communities around their newsletters.
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Website : https://substack.com
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How to Find Communities : Explore newsletters by topic. Examples:
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The Generalist (for business insights)
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The Margins (for tech and culture)
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19. Dribbble (For Designers)
A community for designers to showcase their work and connect with peers.
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Website : https://dribbble.com
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How to Engage : Share your designs, provide feedback, and collaborate on projects.
20. Trello Community
A space for Trello users to share tips, templates, and workflows.
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Website : https://community.trello.com
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How to Engage : Ask questions, share ideas, and participate in discussions.
21. Specialty Forums
Some forums cater to very specific niches. Here are a few examples:
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For Fitness Enthusiasts : Bodybuilding.com Forums
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For Travelers : Lonely Planet Community
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For DIY Projects : Instructables Community
22. Online Learning Platforms with Communities
Many online learning platforms have built-in communities for students. Examples:
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Coursera : Discussion forums within courses.
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Udemy : Q&A sections for each course.
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Skillshare : Project galleries and feedback sections.
23. Virtual Worlds and Metaverse Platforms
Platforms like VRChat and Decentraland offer immersive virtual spaces where users can interact.
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VRChat : https://vrchat.com
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Decentraland : https://decentraland.org
Tips for Engaging in Online Communities
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Be Respectful : Follow community guidelines and treat others with respect.
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Contribute Value : Share knowledge, answer questions, and provide feedback.
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Stay Active : Regular participation helps you build relationships and credibility.
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Network : Connect with like-minded individuals and collaborate on projects.
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Avoid Spamming : Promote yourself or your work only when appropriate.
Finding Communities Based on Specific Interests
If you’re looking for communities tailored to a particular niche, here’s how you can refine your search:
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For Developers : Explore GitHub Discussions, Stack Overflow, or Dev.to.
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For Writers : Join NaNoWriMo forums or writing groups on Facebook.
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For Gamers : Check out Reddit’s gaming subreddits or Discord servers for specific games.
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For Entrepreneurs : Look into Indie Hackers, LinkedIn Groups, or Slack communities for startups.
24. Mastodon (Decentralized Social Network)
Mastodon is a decentralized alternative to traditional social media platforms, organized into "instances" based on interests or regions.
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Website : https://joinmastodon.org
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How to Find Communities : Search for instances related to your interests. Examples:
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fosstodon.org (for open-source enthusiasts)
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artalley.social (for artists)
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25. Lemmy (Reddit Alternative)
Lemmy is a federated alternative to Reddit, where users can create and join communities called "lemmies."
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Website : https://lemmy.ml
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How to Find Communities : Browse or search for topics similar to Reddit. Examples:
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Programming discussions
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Music and art communities
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26. Kialo (Debate and Discussion Platform)
Kialo is a platform for structured debates and discussions on various topics.
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Website : https://www.kialo.com
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How to Engage : Join debates, contribute arguments, and vote on points.
27. Polywork
A professional networking platform that emphasizes side projects, skills, and collaborations.
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Website : https://www.polywork.com
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How to Engage : Share your work, collaborate with others, and join discussions.
28. Circle (Community Management Tool)
Circle is a tool used by creators and businesses to build private, paid, or free communities. Many creators host their communities here.
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Website : https://www.circle.so
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How to Find Communities : Look for links to Circle communities on blogs, newsletters, or social media.
29. Mighty Networks
A platform for hosting niche communities, courses, and events.
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Website : https://www.mightynetworks.com
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How to Find Communities : Search for networks by interest or follow recommendations. Examples:
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Fitness groups
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Creative writing workshops
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30. Tribe (Community Platform)
Tribe is a platform for building and managing online communities, often used by brands and influencers.
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Website : https://tribe.so
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How to Find Communities : Explore public communities or join via invites from creators.
31. PeerBoard (Forum Software)
PeerBoard powers forums for many websites and communities. You can find active forums by visiting sites that use this software.
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Website : https://peerboard.com
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How to Find Communities : Look for websites with embedded PeerBoard forums.
32. Vanilla Forums
Another popular forum software used by many organizations.
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Website : https://vanillaforums.com
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How to Find Communities : Visit websites in your niche and check if they have a Vanilla-powered forum.
33. Hive (Social Media for Creators)
Hive is a creator-focused platform where users can join communities around specific interests.
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Website : https://www.hive.co
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How to Engage : Follow creators, join groups, and participate in discussions.
34. Fishbowl (Professional Networking)
Fishbowl is a professional networking app where users discuss industry-specific topics anonymously.
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Website : https://fishbowlapp.com
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How to Engage : Join bowls (groups) related to your profession or industry.
35. Untappd (For Beer Enthusiasts)
Untappd is a social network for beer lovers to share reviews, ratings, and recommendations.
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Website : https://untappd.com
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How to Engage : Join local or global beer-related groups.
36. Goodreads (For Book Lovers)
Goodreads is a community for readers to track books, write reviews, and join book clubs.
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Website : https://www.goodreads.com
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How to Engage : Join groups like "Book Club" or "Sci-Fi Fans."
37. Letterboxd (For Film Enthusiasts)
Letterboxd is a social network for film lovers to log, rate, and discuss movies.
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Website : https://letterboxd.com
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How to Engage : Join discussions in the forums or comment on reviews.
38. Ravelry (For Knitters and Crocheters)
Ravelry is a vibrant community for fiber arts enthusiasts.
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Website : https://www.ravelry.com
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How to Engage : Share projects, patterns, and tips.
39. SoundCloud (For Musicians)
SoundCloud is a platform for musicians and audio creators to share their work and connect with fans.
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Website : https://soundcloud.com
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How to Engage : Comment on tracks, join groups, and collaborate with other artists.
40. Flickr (For Photographers)
Flickr is a photo-sharing platform with active communities of photographers.
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Website : https://www.flickr.com
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How to Engage : Join groups, participate in challenges, and provide feedback.
41. Wattpad (For Writers)
Wattpad is a platform for writers to share their stories and connect with readers.
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Website : https://www.wattpad.com
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How to Engage : Write stories, comment on others' works, and join writing challenges.
42. Duolingo Forums (For Language Learners)
Duolingo hosts forums where language learners can ask questions and share tips.
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Website : https://forum.duolingo.com
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How to Engage : Join discussions about grammar, vocabulary, and culture.
43. OpenCollective (For Open Source Projects)
OpenCollective is a platform for funding and supporting open-source projects, with active communities around each project.
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Website : https://opencollective.com
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How to Engage : Contribute financially or participate in discussions.
44. Discord Bots (Automated Communities)
Some Discord bots create automated communities or games within servers. Examples include trivia bots, role-playing bots, and more.
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Website : https://top.gg (a directory of Discord bots)
45. Niche-Specific Slack Groups
Many industries and hobbies have dedicated Slack groups. Use directories like:
46. Virtual Events and Conferences
Platforms like Hopin and Eventbrite host virtual events where attendees can network and form communities.
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Hopin : https://hopin.com
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Eventbrite : https://www.eventbrite.com
Final Tips For Success
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Be Consistent : Regularly participate to build trust and relationships.
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Leverage Multiple Platforms : Don’t limit yourself to one platform—explore multiple options.
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Start Your Own Community : If you can’t find the perfect fit, consider creating your own community using tools like Discord, Slack, or Mighty Networks.
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Stay Safe : Avoid sharing personal information and be cautious of