Safety boundaries that are asked for, never imposed
A safety boundary in Orbily is an area around a place that matters, such as home or school, with the times it applies. It is a two-way agreement: anyone in an orbit can ask for one, but nothing runs until the person it covers has seen the exact area, the times and what will be shared, and said yes. They can switch it off whenever they want.
Join the betaHow does a safety boundary work?
Someone in your orbit draws an area on the map, chooses when it applies — all the time, up to four weekly windows such as school hours, or just once — and asks you. Nothing happens until you accept.
Once you have agreed, if you leave the area during those times the person who asked is told, and so are you: the alert you see says they have been told. When you are back inside, they hear that too.
Does the person always know they have a boundary?
Yes, always. Before answering, they see the exact shape on a map, the times it applies and what the person asking will be told. An agreed boundary stays listed in their settings for as long as it exists, and both people are told when each window starts and finishes. There is no way to set one up quietly.
Can I say no, or switch a boundary off later?
Yes, both, at any time. “Not now” declines a request with no follow-up, and any boundary can be switched off instantly, even in an orbit that has ended. The person who asked learns that it is off, never why.
If they change the area or the times, you are asked again, and the version you agreed keeps running until you accept the change.
What is stored when someone crosses a boundary?
Only the direction and the time: left, or back inside. Orbily never keeps a record of where you went inside or outside the area, and the boundary is only ever seen by the two people who agreed it — never by the rest of the orbit.
Who can ask for a safety boundary?
Anyone in the orbit can ask, not just its admins, but only someone who shares their live location in that orbit can be asked. Everyone can turn boundary requests off in Settings: they are on by default in permanent orbits, like a family, and off in temporary ones, like a trip. One person can ask another for up to three boundaries.
Is it part of Orbily Plus?
Asking for a new boundary needs someone in the orbit to have Orbily Plus. Being asked, answering, switching a boundary off and every alert it sends are free for everyone, on every plan.
More questions about safety boundaries
No. A boundary only runs after the person it covers has seen it and agreed to it, every alert tells them the other person was told, and they can switch it off at any moment.
No. Being an admin gives no extra power over boundaries. Every boundary is a request, and the person it covers decides.
It ends. A boundary only exists between two people who are both in the orbit.