Terms of Service

FaithLink Social – Terms of Service
Effective Date: 03/12/2025
Last Updated: 03/12/2025

Welcome to FaithLink Social, a faith-centered online platform where Christians can connect, encourage one another, and build a supportive community. By using FaithLink Social, you agree to the following Terms of Service.

1. Acceptance of Terms
By creating an account or using FaithLink Social, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and our Community Guidelines. If you do not agree, please do not use the platform.

2. Who Can Use FaithLink Social?

You must be at least 13 years old to use FaithLink Social. However, parental discretion is advised for minors under 18.
While our platform is designed for Christians, anyone may join as long as they remain respectful of Christian values.
We reserve the right to remove or restrict access to anyone who violates these terms.

3. Community Guidelines & User Conduct

FaithLink Social is a place for wholesome and respectful interactions. Users are expected to:
✅ Treat others with kindness and respect. Harassment, bullying, or personal attacks will not be tolerated.
✅ Keep content Christ-honoring. Posting revealing photos that may lead others into lust and temptation is strictly prohibited and will be grounds for immediate removal and potential banning.
✅ Use language that edifies. While we recognize different styles of communication, swearing, vulgar speech, or anything disrespectful is discouraged.
✅ Avoid spam and excessive self-promotion. Business-related posts should align with our guidelines and be appropriately categorized.

📢 Users are encouraged to report violations. FaithLink Social uses a community-driven moderation system:

If three (3) users report the same post or user, the system will automatically remove the reported content or suspend the reported user.
If you believe your content or account was wrongfully removed, you may request a manual review.

4. Content Ownership & FaithLink Rights
While users create and own their content, FaithLink Social retains full ownership rights over all publicly shared content.
By posting publicly, you grant FaithLink Social a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, modify, distribute, and display content for platform-related purposes (e.g., marketing, community features).
FaithLink Social reserves the right to remove any content that violates our guidelines.

5. Business Listings & Advertisements
FaithLink Social offers both free and paid business listings in our directory.
Businesses may pay to advertise their listings on the platform.
Any Christian business may run an ad, but all advertisements are periodically reviewed for compliance.
Users may link their business listings to their FaithLink Social profiles for better visibility.
We reserve the right to remove or restrict ads that violate our policies.

6. Privacy & Data Collection
FaithLink Social does NOT collect, store, or sell user data beyond what is necessary for platform functionality.
We do not share private information with third parties.
See our Privacy Policy for full details.

7. Moderation & Reporting System
Content moderation is community-driven—users can report content that violates guidelines.
If three (3) reports are made on the same post or user, the system will automatically remove the content or suspend the reported user.
Moderate violations (e.g., inappropriate language, spam) will result in a warning.
Severe violations (e.g., explicit content, harassment, revealing photos) will result in immediate suspension without warning.
Suspended users may appeal, but FaithLink Social retains full discretion over final decisions.

8. Account Termination
FaithLink Social reserves the right to:

Remove content that violates our standards.
Suspend or ban users who repeatedly violate policies.
Deny reinstatement requests based on our sole discretion.

9. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability
FaithLink Social is provided “as-is” with no guarantees of uninterrupted service.
We are not responsible for user-generated content, interactions, or any damages resulting from your use of the platform.
FaithLink Social is not liable for:
Any disputes between users.
The content, accuracy, or reliability of posts made by members.
Any financial or reputational damages resulting from content on the platform.
Users agree to use FaithLink Social at their own risk.

10. Payment Processing & Third-Party Services
FaithLink Social uses third-party payment processors (such as Stripe) for business listings and advertising payments.
By making a payment, you agree to the terms of the payment processor.
FaithLink Social is not responsible for payment disputes or issues with third-party providers.
Users may log in via social sign-ins (Google, Facebook, etc.), but FaithLink Social does not control or store third-party login credentials.

11. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution
These Terms are governed by the laws of the United States and the State of South Carolina.
Any disputes must be resolved through arbitration rather than court litigation, unless otherwise required by law.

12. Changes to Terms of Service
FaithLink Social may update these Terms at any time.
If changes are made, we will notify users via platform announcements.
Continued use of the platform after changes take effect means you accept the updated Terms.

13. Contact Us
If you have any questions or need support, you can reach us at:
✉️ [email protected]

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 03/12/2025
Last Updated: 03/12/2025

FaithLink Social (“we,” “our,” or “us”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting it through this Privacy Policy. This policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website and mobile applications.

By using FaithLink Social, you agree to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use our services.

1. Information We Collect

A. Information You Provide to Us

We collect information that you voluntarily provide when creating an account, interacting with other users, or posting content. This may include:

• Account Information: Username, email address, password, and profile details.
• Content You Post: Photos, comments, and any other information you share publicly.
• Business Listings (if applicable): If you create a business listing, we collect details about your business, such as name, location, and services.
• Payment Information: If you make a purchase (e.g., business ads, premium listings), we use third-party payment processors (e.g., Stripe) and do not store your payment details.

B. Information We Collect Automatically

When you use FaithLink Social, we may collect certain data automatically:

• Device & Log Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, and usage activity.
• Cookies & Tracking Technologies: We use cookies for login sessions, security, and analytics.
• App Usage Data: Interactions with the app, such as login times and features accessed.

C. Information We Do NOT Collect

🚫 We DO NOT sell, rent, or trade personal data.
🚫 We DO NOT collect sensitive personal information (e.g., SSN, government IDs).
🚫 We DO NOT track your location unless you voluntarily provide it for a business listing.
🚫 We DO NOT collect biometric data (fingerprints, facial recognition, etc.).

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:
✅ Provide and maintain FaithLink Social’s services.
✅ Improve user experience and develop new features.
✅ Protect the community by enforcing guidelines.
✅ Process transactions for business listings or ads.
✅ Respond to customer support inquiries.
✅ Comply with legal obligations.

3. How We Share Your Information

We do NOT sell your personal data, but we may share it in the following cases:

A. With Service Providers

We use third-party companies to:

• Process payments (e.g., Stripe, PayPal).
• Host data and servers.
• Analyze app performance (e.g., Google Analytics, Firebase).

B. With Other Users

• Your public posts, profile information, and business listings are visible to others.
• Private messages between users are not visible to the public but may be monitored for abuse if reported.

C. For Legal Compliance

We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or to protect the safety of users and the integrity of FaithLink Social.

4. Your Privacy Rights & Choices

A. Managing Your Data

✅ You can edit or delete your profile information.
✅ You can request account deletion by contacting us.
✅ You can disable cookies through your browser settings.

B. Opt-Out of Marketing Communications

If we ever send marketing emails, you will be able to unsubscribe at any time.

C. California Privacy Rights (CCPA Compliance)

If you are a California resident, you have the right to:

• Request access to your personal data.
• Request deletion of your personal data.
• Opt-out of data sharing.

✉️ To exercise your rights, email us at [email protected].

D. European Privacy Rights (GDPR Compliance)

If you are in the European Union (EU), you have:

• The right to access and correct your data.
• The right to request deletion (“Right to be Forgotten”).
• The right to data portability (request a copy of your data).
• The right to object to processing (e.g., stop us from using your data).

✉️ To make a GDPR request, email us at [email protected].

5. Data Security

We take reasonable security measures to protect your information:
✅ Data encryption for passwords and sdata.
✅ Secure cloud hosting with firewalls.
✅ Limited employee access to user data.

⚠️ However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. We encourage users to keep their passwords safe and report suspicious activity.

6. Children’s Privacy (COPPA Compliance)

FaithLink Social is not intended for children under 13.

• If we discover a user under 13, we will delete the account.
• Parents can request account deletion by contacting us.

7. Third-Party Links & Logins

• Third-Party Logins: You may log in using Google, Facebook, or other providers. These services have their own privacy policies.
• External Links: FaithLink Social may contain links to other sites. We are not responsible for their privacy practices.

8. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make significant changes, we will:
📢 Notify users via email or in-app notifications.
📅 Update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page.

Continued use of FaithLink Social after changes means you accept the revised policy.

9. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:
✉️[email protected]