FAQ
Getting Started
Q: Do I need to sign-up or create an account to use Mayo?
A: Nope. Just download the free Mayo app from the App Store or Google Play and go!
Q: Is Mayo really free?
A: Yes! There are no subscriptions, in-app purchases, or fees to use Mayo.
Q: Does Mayo only work in my neighborhood, or anywhere I go?
A: Mayo is based on your current whereabouts, so take it everywhere you go! You can communicate with anyone using Mayo within 650 feet (about 2 blocks) of your current location. It’s not just specific to your neighborhood like NextDoor.
Q: Does Mayo connect to my social network, contacts, and friends?
A: No. Mayo doesn’t rely on your contacts or social network to “find” people. It only connects people based on their proximity to each other, not who they are. However, you can refer people from within the Mayo app to make Mayo more useful to a community and earn Mayo Points. To do this while you're in the app, simply:
Tap the top right circular button
Tap on Spread Mayo from the menu
Share your unique link to anyone you want to invite and you both get Mayo Points!
Q: I love Mayo, but not many people around me have the app yet. How can I help spread the word?
A: You can refer people within the Mayo App to make Mayo more useful to a community and earn Mayo Points. To do this while you're in the app, simply:
Tap the top right circular button
Tap on Spread Mayo from the menu
Share your unique link to anyone you want to invite and you both get Mayo Points!
Join the Mayo Movement to spread the kindness even further. Visit our Ambassadors & Amplifiers page to learn more.
What is Mayo?
Mayo is help in a moment, nearby.
→ It’s quick, hyperlocal asks or offers for help simple enough to be resolved here (within walking distance) and now (within an hour).
Mayo is NOT stale or static information.
→ It’s not a platform of posts, news, projects, or events such as a neighborhood blog or community message board.
Mayo is limited to your whereabouts.
→ It’s based on your present location so you can communicate with anyone up to 650 feet (2 blocks) from you, wherever you go.
Mayo is NOT limited to your neighborhood.
→ It’s not based on a specific area of residents like a neighborhood social or block-watch app such as Nextdoor or Neighbors.
Mayo is an altruistic kindness exchange.
→ It’s an interactive platform that enables people to connect for quick solutions via supportive physical or virtual exchanges.
Mayo is NOT a match-making marketplace.
→ It’s not a goods or services marketplace such as O erUp or Thumbtack, nor is it a people- finding app such as Tinder or Bumble.
Mayo is open, unbiased, and welcoming.
→ It’s an easy way to practice sharing and inclusion with people around you based on what they need, not on who they are.
Mayo is NOT closed, prejudiced, or secret.
→ It’s not a way to have hidden conversations between private parties like an anonymous chatting app such Whisper or Secret.
Mayo Basics
Q: What happens if nobody responds to my post?
A: After one hour of inactivity on a post or thread, a post expires and goes into history.
Q: Can I still respond to an expired post?
A:
Expired / history posts can be viewed within the Mayo app as grey cards. The users can tap on the post to see past chat histories, but they cannot add (respond) more to it.
However as the owner of the post, once your post expires we will let you know. The next time you come back to the app, if someone did send messages in your expired post, then we pop up a screen asking you to choose who helped you out based on their color + last message to thank them.
Q: Why wouldn’t I just use Slack / Facebook / NextDoor / Craigslist instead of Mayo?
A: People are already using some of those platforms for quick helps — and the results are not very effective. Most of the time those online communities can’t help because they are not near you physically or immediately. Also, they are based on your community contacts or friends and they exchange information (chatting, questions, info, updates, products) but not instantaneous ‘actions’ like requesting a few eggs right now, picking something up from the store, or lending a bottle opener to neighbors.
Q: How is Mayo different than social media or neighborhood apps?
A: Mayo is a platform with a different purpose and intention. It doesn't require a profile or sign up and all interactions are purpose built around getting or providing quick, immediate help.
While neighborhood apps are based on one location, Mayo goes with you wherever you go.
The conversation function, while similar to a chat, is purpose built to enable users to interact with the intention of helping each other.
Q: What are the Mayo Points for?
A: Mayo Points are an extra token of appreciation for lending a hand. The Mayo point reward system is still in progress, but any points you accrue now can be used once it’s ready.
Safety
Q: Is Mayo safe to use?
A: Yes! Mayo is based on the belief that people are inherently good and want to help others. However, we’ve built in some measures to ensure experiences are both safe and happy:
Only Mayo users within 2 blocks of you can see or respond to your posts.
Nobody can see your location unless you post a Mayo hey, at which point it is a vague dot on a map, not an exact address. No personally identifying information is shown or shared by Mayo (only what you choose to share in a post).
Posts and reply threads are visible to all Mayo users in the area as an added assurance and to promote positive community self-regulating.
Q: What about COVID-19? Can I safely share with others without spreading the virus?
A: You CAN safely spread kindness without spreading the virus by following recommended precautions, local laws, and keeping informed.
Q: What should I do if someone on Mayo makes me uncomfortable?
A:
If they are responding to your post, just delete it or ignore that person until someone else replies to help or it expires (in one hour).
If you’ve arranged for help and they are creeping you out IRL, use common sense to stay safe. Never provide building security access codes, your personal information, or passwords via Mayo. See Mayo Safe Sharing Tips for ideas.
We treat the safety and happiness of the Mayo community seriously. You can report misbehavior or other concerns from within the app, or please send us a note at support@heymayo.com
Privacy & Location
Q: Why is it anonymous / no profiles?
A: At Mayo, our focus is real human interaction and kindness, regardless of who you are. When you have a profile, biases and ‘filtering’ happens whether it’s intentional or not. Our app is about asking for help or lending a hand to someone.
Q: Why does Mayo need my location?
A: Mayo is a proximity based app: sharing your location is integral to your experience. By sharing your location, it helps us determine where you are. Mayo can then display your posts to those around you and show you only posts from the people within your radius.
For the best possible experience, set your location to “Always Allow” so that you can help others even when the app isn’t open. The same rule applies when you share a post.
We never share your location info directly with other people and we don’t ask you to share your profile.
Q: What data does Mayo collect, store, or share?
A: Coming soon with our Terms of Use & Prvacy Policy