Video Chat App Privacy Settings: An Android Guide

Video chat apps are a great way to meet new people, but they also touch some of the most personal parts of your phone: your camera, your microphone, your contacts and your face. Getting your privacy settings on video chat apps right does not take technical skill. It takes about ten minutes and a few habits that soon become second nature.

This checklist is written for Android phones, since that is what most people in India use. It applies to any video chat app. We make Titli, so where it is useful we also explain how things work there.

Check app permissions on Android

Every app has to ask before using your camera, microphone, location and other sensitive features. You can review and change these at any time. Menu names differ a little between brands like Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo and OnePlus, but the path is usually similar:

Open Settings and tap Apps (sometimes "Apps and notifications").
Find the video chat app and tap Permissions.
Review each permission and choose the option that suits you.

Many Android phones also have a Permission manager under Settings, then Privacy (or Security and privacy), which lets you see every app that can use, say, your microphone.

Camera and microphone

A video chat app genuinely needs the camera and microphone to work. On recent Android versions you can usually choose Allow only while using the app. That is the safest choice for most people, because the app cannot use them in the background.

Recent Android versions also show a small green dot or icon in the corner of the screen when the camera or microphone is in use. If you see it when you are not on a call, check which app is using it. Some phones also have quick-settings toggles to block camera or microphone access completely.

Notifications

Notifications are handy for missed calls and messages, but they can show message previews on your lock screen. If others sometimes pick up your phone, open the app's notification settings and turn off previews on the lock screen, or hide sensitive notifications.

Other permissions

Be thoughtful about anything beyond what the app clearly needs. If a video chat app asks for your contacts, location or files, ask yourself why, and deny anything that does not make sense for the feature you are using. You can usually still use the main features.

Your profile is the first thing new people see. Keep it friendly, but avoid details that could identify or locate you.

Use your first name or a nickname, not your full name.
Do not include your phone number, email, workplace or college name.
Avoid photos that show your home, street, vehicle number plate or school uniform.
Keep your city general if the app asks for location, for example "Mumbai" rather than your neighbourhood.
Remember posts are public. On apps with a feed, think before you share pictures of your family or daily routine.

On Titli, you sign in with a phone number (OTP) or a Google account. You choose what to put on your profile, and your phone number is not shown to people you talk to.

This is the single most important habit. Many online scams in India begin with a friendly chat that slowly moves to "Can you give me your number?", "Send ₹500 on UPI, I will return it" or "I sent you a code by mistake, please tell me the OTP."

An OTP is like a key to your account or bank. No genuine friend, company or app support team will ever ask you for it.
Keep payments inside the app. Do not send money or share UPI or bank details with someone you met online.
Move to other apps slowly. Wait until you trust someone before sharing WhatsApp or Instagram, and remember that they reveal more about you.

If you are cheated, report it quickly on India's national cybercrime portal at https://cybercrime.gov.in or call the helpline 1930.

Block and report without hesitation

Blocking is a privacy tool, not just a safety one. It stops someone from contacting you or seeing your activity. Reporting helps the app's moderators act against people who break the rules.

On Titli, you can block or report anyone from their profile or chat. Report reasons include nudity, fake profile, harassment, spam and underage user. A blocked-accounts list in the app lets you see and manage everyone you have blocked. Our safety page explains how this works, and our tips for women on video chat cover more ways to stay in control.

Be aware of screenshots and recordings

On any video chat app, the other person can potentially take a screenshot, or point another phone at the screen and record. No app can fully prevent that. So the best protection is simple: on a call with someone new, do and show only what you would be comfortable with if it were saved.

Keep your face and voice as the focus, check what is visible behind you, and end the call immediately if someone asks you to do something you are not comfortable with. Then report them.

Understand how the app moderates calls

It is worth reading the privacy policy of any app you use, especially the parts about calls. Look for what is collected, why, how long it is kept and who can see it.

On Titli, video calls are moderated for safety. During calls, still snapshots may be captured and reviewed by moderation, an on-screen indicator shows when this is happening, and users agree to it when they sign up. This helps Titli act against people who break the Community Guidelines. The details are in our Privacy Policy. We think being upfront about this matters more than vague promises.

Know how to delete your account

If you stop using an app, delete your account rather than just uninstalling it. Uninstalling removes the app from your phone, but your profile and data usually stay on the company's servers until you ask for deletion.

On Titli, Settings, then Account, then Delete account deactivates your account and hides your profile immediately. To permanently erase all your data, email genzphilam@gmail.com from your registered phone number or email with the subject "Delete my Titli account". Deletion is completed within 30 days, except data the law requires us to keep, such as payment records. Our delete account page explains the steps.

A quick privacy checklist

Camera and microphone set to "Allow only while using the app".
Lock-screen notification previews turned off if others use your phone.
No phone number, address, workplace or college on your profile.
Never share OTPs, UPI IDs or bank details.
Block and report anyone who makes you uncomfortable.
Read the privacy policy, especially the part about calls.
Delete accounts you no longer use.

Frequently asked questions

Which permissions does a video chat app really need?

For video calls, an app needs the camera and microphone. Notifications are useful for calls and messages. Be cautious about contacts, location or file access unless a specific feature clearly needs them.

Can someone see my phone number on Titli?

No. You sign in with a phone number or a Google account, but your phone number is not shown to people you talk to. You choose what to put on your profile.

Does Titli record my video calls?

Titli may capture still snapshots during video calls for moderation to review for safety. An on-screen indicator shows this, and it is explained in the Privacy Policy, which you agree to at signup.

Is uninstalling an app the same as deleting my account?

No. Uninstalling only removes the app from your phone. On Titli, Delete account in the app deactivates your account and hides your profile. To permanently erase your data, email genzphilam@gmail.com with the subject "Delete my Titli account".

What should I do if someone asks for my OTP?

Never share it. End the conversation, block and report the person. If you have lost money, report it at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930.