Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Hello Technologies Ltd. Your use of the Service, whether via the mobile app, website, or any other interface we provide, signifies your full acceptance of these Terms.

These Terms apply to all users of Hello, including visitors, registered users, and contributors of content. Use of certain features may be subject to additional guidelines or rules, which are incorporated into these Terms by reference.

We reserve the right to update these Terms at any time. Continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. We will notify you of material changes via the app or email.

2. Eligibility

Minimum Age

Hello is intended for users aged 13 and older. If you are under 13, you may not create an account or use the Service. Residents of the European Economic Area (EEA) must be at least 16 years old to use Hello without parental consent, in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Account Capacity

By using Hello, you represent and warrant that: (a) you meet the minimum age requirement; (b) you have not been previously suspended or removed from Hello; (c) your use of the Service does not violate any applicable law or regulation; and (d) if you are using Hello on behalf of a company or organisation, you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms.

3. Account Registration

Creating an Account

To access most features of Hello, you must register for an account. When registering, you agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information. You are responsible for keeping your account information up to date.

Account Security

You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials, including your password. You agree to notify Hello immediately at support@hellosocial.app if you suspect any unauthorised use of your account. Hello is not liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to protect your account credentials.

One Account Per Person

You may register only one personal account. Creating multiple accounts to circumvent suspensions, bans, or platform rules is prohibited and will result in termination of all associated accounts.

Username

Your username is your unique identity on Hello. You may not use a username that: impersonates another person or entity, is vulgar or offensive, infringes on trademarks, or is otherwise in violation of these Terms. Hello reserves the right to reclaim or require you to change a username at our sole discretion.

4. User Content

Your Content, Your Responsibility

Hello allows you to post, upload, share, and transmit content including text, images, audio (voice messages), video (clips), and other material ("User Content"). You are solely responsible for all User Content you post.

License Grant

By posting User Content on Hello, you grant Hello Technologies Ltd. a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, sublicensable licence to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, distribute, and display your content solely for the purpose of operating and improving the Service. This licence ends when you delete your content or your account, subject to technical limitations such as cached copies and third-party storage.

Content Standards

All User Content must comply with the following standards:

• It must not violate any applicable law or regulation.
• It must not infringe any third-party intellectual property, privacy, or publicity rights.
• It must not contain hate speech, harassment, threats, or content that promotes violence or discrimination.
• It must not be deceptive, misleading, or fraudulent.
• It must not contain nudity, sexually explicit material, or content inappropriate for the platform age guidelines.
• It must not include personal information of others without their consent.
• It must not contain malware, viruses, or harmful code.

Content Removal

Hello reserves the right to remove any User Content that violates these Terms or that we find objectionable, without prior notice and at our sole discretion. We may also preserve User Content if required by law or legal process.

5. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to engage in any of the following activities while using Hello:

Identity and Impersonation

• Impersonating any person, entity, or Hello itself.
• Creating false profiles or using misleading profile information.
• Falsely claiming affiliation with any organisation.

Harassment and Abuse

• Bullying, harassing, threatening, or stalking other users.
• Sending unsolicited messages or spam to other users.
• Using Hello to coordinate or encourage harassment campaigns.

Platform Integrity

• Attempting to gain unauthorised access to Hello systems or other users' accounts.
• Using automated tools, bots, scrapers, or scripts without Hello's prior written consent.
• Manipulating engagement metrics (waves, echoes, views) through artificial means.
• Reverse-engineering, decompiling, or disassembling any part of the Service.
• Circumventing any technical measures Hello uses to enforce these Terms.

Illegal Activity

• Using Hello for any illegal purpose or in violation of any local, national, or international law.
• Distributing, promoting, or facilitating the sale of illegal goods or services.
• Uploading content that exploits, harms, or threatens minors in any way.

6. Special Features

Whisper Mode

Hello offers Whisper Mode — an ephemeral content layer designed for privacy-sensitive sharing. Whisper Mode operates as follows:

• Single-View Whispers: Content is permanently deleted from our servers immediately after the first view. Once seen, it cannot be recovered by any party, including Hello.
• 24-Hour Whispers: Content is automatically and permanently deleted 24 hours after posting, regardless of whether it has been viewed.
• Whisper Messages: Direct messages sent in Whisper Mode are automatically deleted from both sender and recipient devices and our servers 5 seconds after the recipient reads them.

Whisper Mode content, once deleted, cannot be restored. Do not use Whisper Mode for content you may need to retrieve later.

Anonymous Friday

Anonymous Friday is a weekly feature available every Friday that allows users to post within four content categories — Confessions, Truth or Dare, Freaky Friday, and Questions — with their identity concealed from other users in the app interface.

Anonymous Friday posts are subject to all applicable content standards in Section 4 and prohibited conduct rules in Section 5. The social anonymity of this feature does not grant permission to post content that would otherwise be prohibited. Users found to have abused the Anonymous Friday feature may be subject to suspension or permanent ban.

Voice Messages

Hello allows users to send voice message recordings in direct messages. Voice messages are stored on Cloudinary, our third-party cloud media platform, under your account. You retain ownership of your voice recordings. By sending a voice message, you grant the recipient the right to play it. Voice messages are subject to Hello content standards and may be removed for violations.

Clips (Video)

Hello's Clips feature allows users to post short video content. Clips are viewable by other users as determined by your privacy settings. All Clips are subject to Hello content standards. Hello may remove Clips that violate these Terms without notice.

Stories

Stories are short-form content visible to your followers for a limited time period as configured within the app. Stories are subject to Hello content standards. Story view data (who viewed your Story) is available to the poster and may be used by Hello for operational purposes as described in our Privacy Policy.

Direct Messages (DMs)

Hello provides private direct messaging between users. Standard (non-Whisper) messages are stored to enable message history and are subject to Hello content standards and applicable law. We do not sell your private messages. Hello may access DM content only as required by law or to investigate verified reports of serious harm or illegal activity.

7. Intellectual Property

Hello's IP

The Hello name, logo, brand identity, app design, source code, trade dress, and all related intellectual property are the exclusive property of Hello Technologies Ltd. and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws. Nothing in these Terms grants you any right to use Hello's intellectual property for any commercial purpose.

Your IP

You retain all ownership rights to the original content you create and post on Hello. The licence you grant Hello (as described in Section 4) does not transfer ownership of your intellectual property.

DMCA / Copyright Infringement

If you believe your copyrighted work has been posted on Hello without authorisation, please send a notice to legal@hellosocial.app with: (a) identification of the copyrighted work; (b) identification of the infringing content and its location; (c) your contact information; (d) a statement of good faith belief; and (e) a statement of accuracy under penalty of perjury. Hello will respond to valid DMCA notices in accordance with applicable law.

8. Third-Party Services

Hello integrates with the following third-party services to deliver certain features. By using Hello, you acknowledge your use of these services is also subject to their respective terms and privacy policies:

Hello is not responsible for the content, terms, or practices of third-party services. Any issues arising directly from third-party services should be directed to those providers.

Hello may also contain links to external websites or services not operated by us. We have no control over those sites and assume no responsibility for their content or policies.

9. Disclaimers

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, HELLO TECHNOLOGIES LTD. EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
• WARRANTIES THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS.
• WARRANTIES REGARDING THE ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY CONTENT ON THE SERVICE.
• WARRANTIES THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED.

Hello does not warrant or guarantee that User Content will not be lost, corrupted, or exposed due to technical failures. You are responsible for maintaining your own backups of content you consider important.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties. In such jurisdictions, the above exclusions apply to the maximum extent permitted by law.

10. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL HELLO TECHNOLOGIES LTD., ITS DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, PARTNERS, SUPPLIERS, OR AFFILIATES BE LIABLE FOR:

• ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES.
• LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, BUSINESS, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES.
• DAMAGES RESULTING FROM YOUR ACCESS TO OR USE OF (OR INABILITY TO ACCESS OR USE) THE SERVICE.
• ANY CONDUCT OR CONTENT OF ANY THIRD PARTY ON THE SERVICE.
• ANY CONTENT OBTAINED FROM THE SERVICE.
• UNAUTHORISED ACCESS, USE, OR ALTERATION OF YOUR TRANSMISSIONS OR CONTENT.

REGARDLESS OF WHETHER HELLO HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, AND EVEN IF A REMEDY SET FORTH HEREIN IS FOUND TO HAVE FAILED OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE.

In jurisdictions where limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages is not permitted, Hello's liability shall be limited to the greatest extent permitted by law. Hello's total cumulative liability to you for all claims arising from or related to the Service shall not exceed the greater of (a) the amount you paid to Hello (if any) in the 12 months preceding the claim, or (b) USD $100.

11. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Hello Technologies Ltd. and its officers, directors, employees, contractors, agents, and partners from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, judgements, awards, losses, costs, expenses, and fees (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or relating to:

• Your violation of these Terms.
• Your User Content.
• Your use of the Service.
• Your violation of any third-party rights, including intellectual property or privacy rights.
• Your violation of any applicable law or regulation.
• Any misrepresentation made by you.

Hello reserves the right to assume the exclusive defence and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you, in which event you will cooperate with Hello in asserting any available defences.

12. Termination

Termination by You

You may delete your account at any time through the app settings. Upon deletion, your profile and public content will be removed. Certain data may be retained as required by law or as described in our Privacy Policy (for example, to comply with legal obligations or resolve disputes).

Termination by Hello

Hello may suspend or permanently terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, for conduct that Hello believes: (a) violates these Terms; (b) is harmful to other users, third parties, or Hello; (c) violates applicable law; or (d) creates legal liability or reputational risk for Hello.

Effect of Termination

Upon termination, your right to use the Service ceases immediately. Provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination shall survive, including Sections 4 (User Content licence), 7 (Intellectual Property), 9 (Disclaimers), 10 (Limitation of Liability), 11 (Indemnification), 13 (Governing Law), and 14 (Dispute Resolution).

13. Governing Law

These Terms and any dispute arising out of or in connection with them shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

If you are a consumer resident in a jurisdiction that provides additional statutory rights that cannot be waived by contract (such as within the EU or EEA), nothing in these Terms limits those statutory rights.

14. Dispute Resolution

Informal Resolution First

Before filing a formal dispute, you agree to attempt to resolve any claim informally by contacting Hello at legal@hellosocial.app. We will attempt to resolve the dispute within 30 days of receiving your notice.

Binding Arbitration

If informal resolution fails, any dispute, claim, or controversy arising from or relating to these Terms or your use of Hello shall be resolved by binding arbitration, except: (a) either party may bring an individual claim in small claims court; and (b) either party may seek injunctive or equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction for intellectual property or confidentiality violations.

No Class Actions

YOU AND HELLO EACH AGREE THAT ANY DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEEDINGS WILL BE CONDUCTED ONLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT AS A CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION. IF FOR ANY REASON A CLAIM PROCEEDS IN COURT RATHER THAN IN ARBITRATION, YOU WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A CLASS ACTION.

EU/EEA residents may also submit complaints to your local data protection authority or use the European Commission's Online Dispute Resolution platform.

15. Changes to Terms

Hello reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of changes by updating the "Effective Date" at the top of this page and, for material changes, by sending a notification via the app or email.

Your continued use of Hello after updated Terms take effect constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the revised Terms, you must stop using Hello and may delete your account.

16. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests relating to these Terms of Service, please contact us:

For Privacy Policy information, please visit our Privacy Policy page.