Draft version 0.1 — last updated for this prototype build.
By creating an account or otherwise using Merj, you agree to these Terms of Service and to our Privacy Policy. If you don't agree, don't use Merj.
You must be at least 18 years old to use Merj, with no exceptions. By creating an account you confirm your date of birth is accurate. Accounts found to belong to someone under 18 are removed, along with their data.
Not allowed, ever:
You keep ownership of the photos, bio, and messages you post. By posting them on Merj, you give us the license needed to display that content to other users as the product is designed to work (e.g. showing your photo in Discover, delivering your message to a match) — we don't sell it or use it for anything else. You're responsible for having the rights to whatever you upload, and for it actually being you in your profile photos.
The optional 18+ profile extension and 18+ video features require age verification and are gated per-viewer, per-profile, or by mutual opt-in for Blind Date. Non-consensual exposure (e.g. a video call outside the 18+ mode turning into unsolicited sexual content) is treated as a serious violation and is grounds for an immediate ban. Automated checks (like requiring a visible face on non-18+ calls) are a backstop, not a guarantee — report anything that violates this the moment it happens.
Merj runs automated and human review to catch fake and malicious accounts, but we cannot verify the real-world identity, intentions, or safety of every user, and no verification system is perfect. You're solely responsible for your own safety when messaging, calling, or meeting someone from Merj. We strongly recommend: meeting first-time matches in public places, telling a friend where you're going, and never sending money to someone you haven't met in person.
Core features — swiping, matching, messaging, voice/video calls — are free and will stay free. We support the platform through optional rewarded ads (you choose to watch one for extra swipes or filters) and, in future, advertising and affiliate partnerships. We will not paywall the ability to match with someone you've already matched with, or to reply to a message you've received.
We use a combination of automated signals and human review to detect fake accounts, scams, and policy violations (see our Privacy Policy §12 for how automated scoring works). We may limit, suspend, or permanently ban an account that violates these terms, at our discretion, with or without prior notice depending on severity. You can request human review of an automated restriction.
The Merj name, logo, and the platform itself (excluding your own content) belong to us. Don't copy, scrape, or reverse-engineer the platform beyond what's needed for your own normal use of it.
Merj is provided "as is." [Standard "no warranties of any kind, express or implied" language belongs here — have counsel draft this to fit your jurisdiction; disclaimer language that's too broad or too narrow can both cause problems.]
[This section caps what users can hold you liable for and is one of the most jurisdiction-sensitive parts of any ToS — do not publish this section as boilerplate. It needs a lawyer's input based on where you incorporate and where your users are.]
[Placeholder — name the governing law and dispute resolution process (courts vs. arbitration) once you've decided where Merj is legally based.]
We'll post material changes here with an updated date. Continuing to use Merj after a change means you accept the updated terms.
Questions about these terms: [legal@merj.app — placeholder]