Youth safety is at the heart of New York Youth Speaks. We exist to give young people a safe and respectful place to express their lived experiences, free from judgment and exposure. To protect contributors, all submissions are reviewed and edited before publication to ensure that personal or identifying details are not shared. We also remove or adjust potentially harmful content, such as detailed descriptions of self-harm, violence, or illegal activity.

Confidentiality means that your identity remains private. No real names or identifying information will appear publicly, and we will never knowingly publish content that could put you or someone else at risk. However, confidentiality does have limits. If a submission contains identifiable content or suggests immediate danger, we may choose not to publish it. We do not function as therapists, mandatory reporters, or crisis responders, but we may add supportive language or crisis resources when needed.

While we take extensive care to protect anonymity, we cannot guarantee how others may react to or interpret published stories. By participating, you acknowledge that anonymous storytelling can involve emotional vulnerability. Our goal is not to discourage expression, but to support thoughtful and safe participation.