Terms of Service

These terms are an agreement between you and Shadow Particle AB, the company that makes HeyU. They explain what you can expect from us, what we expect from you, and what happens if something goes wrong.

We've tried to write them in plain language. Please read them, together with our Community Guidelines, which are part of these terms, and our Privacy Policy, which explains how we handle your personal data.

1. About these terms

HeyU (the "app") is provided by Shadow Particle AB ("we", "us", "our"), a Swedish limited company, organisation number 559230-2052, with its address at Östermalmsgatan 66A, 114 50 Stockholm, Sweden. You can reach us at support@shadowparticle.com.

By creating an account or using HeyU, you agree to these terms. If you don't agree, please don't use HeyU.

These terms are written in English. If we ever provide a translation, the English version applies if the two differ, unless the law where you live says otherwise.

2. Who can use HeyU

To use HeyU, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be able to enter into a binding agreement with us.
• Not have been banned from HeyU before, unless we've told you in writing that you can come back.
• Not have been convicted of a sexual offence or a violent crime against another person.
• Not be barred from using the app under the laws that apply to you, including the sanctions rules described in section 17.

You may only have one HeyU account, and it's for your personal, non-commercial use.

3. Your account

You sign in to HeyU with Sign in with Apple or Google Sign-In. You're responsible for what happens on your account, so keep access to that Apple or Google account secure. If you think someone else has accessed your HeyU account, contact us straight away.

Keep your account information accurate and up to date. To protect other users, some details, such as your name, date of birth and gender, can only be changed once every 30 days.

Your account is personal to you. Don't share it, sell it, transfer it, or let anyone else use it.

4. What HeyU is, and what it isn't

HeyU is a place to find new friends, community and support. It is not a dating app.

Here's how the main parts work:

• Your feed suggests profiles to you, based on things like your location, the filters you set, and how recently people have used the app. Some suggestions are chosen for variety, outside your filters.
• You can Like, Save or Pass on a profile, or simply scroll past it. A profile you scroll past may be shown to you again later.
• When two people Like each other, they form a Connection and can chat.
• Some features are free and some are paid. See section 9.

We can't promise that you'll make a Connection, or that any particular person will be shown to you or respond to you.

HeyU is not a crisis service, and people you meet on HeyU are not professional counsellors. If you or someone else is in danger, contact your local emergency services (112 in Sweden and across the EU).

We keep developing HeyU. We may add, change or remove features over time. If a change significantly affects a paid feature you've bought, section 14 explains what happens.

5. Your safety

HeyU is about meeting new people, and we take safety seriously. But please keep in mind:

• We don't run background checks on our users, and we can't verify everything people say about themselves.
• The Verified badge means that a person's selfie, taken with a pose we chose, matched their profile photos when we reviewed it. It doesn't guarantee who someone is or how they will behave.
• You're responsible for your own interactions with other users, online and in person. If you decide to meet someone, choose a public place, tell a friend where you're going, and leave if anything feels wrong.

You can block or report anyone at any time. Our Community Guidelines include more safety tips.

6. How you must behave

You must follow our Community Guidelines. We have zero tolerance for objectionable content and abusive users. People who harass, threaten, exploit or abuse others are removed from HeyU.

In addition, you must not:

• Break the law, or use HeyU to help anyone else break it.
• Create fake accounts, pretend to be someone else, or create a new account after we've banned you.
• Use HeyU for commercial purposes, such as advertising, selling, recruiting or collecting money.
• Collect information about other users, for example by scraping, automated access, or saving other people's profiles outside the app.
• Use bots, scripts or other automated tools to use HeyU.
• Access or try to access data or parts of HeyU that you aren't allowed to, or get around our security measures, paywalls or limits.
• Copy, modify, decompile or reverse engineer the app, except where the law allows it.
• Interfere with HeyU, for example by uploading malware or overloading our systems.

7. Your content

"Your content" means everything you add to HeyU: your photos, bio, prompt answers, tags, links and messages.

You own your content. To run HeyU, we need your permission to use it. So you give us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to host, store, copy, adapt (for example resize, crop or compress), display and share your content within HeyU, only for the purpose of operating, securing and improving HeyU.

We won't use your photos or messages in advertising or marketing without asking you first.

This licence ends when you delete the content or your account, except for:

• Copies we must keep to comply with the law, or to deal with a report or a legal claim.
• Copies that take a short time to be removed from our providers' systems, as described in our Privacy Policy.

You're responsible for your content. You confirm that you have the right to share it, that your photos show you, and that sharing it doesn't break the law, these terms or our Community Guidelines.

If you send us feedback or ideas, we may use them to improve HeyU without owing you anything.

8. Moderation and enforcement

This section explains how we keep HeyU safe and how we act when something breaks these terms or the law.

How we moderate

• Automated photo checks. Every profile photo is automatically checked before anyone other than you can see it. A photo is rejected if no face can be detected, or if it's likely to contain explicit or violent content. You can then choose a different photo.
• Human review. Verification selfies and reports are reviewed by a person.
• Your own tools. You can block or report anyone, and hide your profile from feeds.

What we may do

If content or behaviour breaks these terms, our Community Guidelines or the law, we may, depending on how serious it is and whether it has happened before:

• Remove content, such as a photo.
• Hide a profile from other users' feeds.
• Limit access to certain features.
• Suspend or permanently close an account.
• Report the matter to the police or other authorities.

Serious violations, such as any sexual content involving minors, sexual exploitation or credible threats of violence, lead to an immediate, permanent ban.

We'll tell you why

If we restrict your content or account, we'll tell you what we did and why, unless the law stops us or telling you would put someone at risk. We'll usually do this by email to the address linked to your Apple or Google sign-in.

If you disagree

If you think we got a decision wrong, email support@shadowparticle.com within six months of the decision and explain why. A person will review it, and we'll let you know the outcome. If we got it wrong, we'll reverse the decision.

Reporting illegal content

Anyone, including people without a HeyU account, can report content on HeyU that they believe is illegal. Users can report directly in the app. Anyone can also email support@shadowparticle.com. Please include:

• Why you believe the content is illegal.
• Where it is, so we can find it (for example the person's name, age and a description of their profile).
• Your name and email address. You don't need to give these if you're reporting sexual abuse of a child.
• A statement that you believe your report is accurate and complete.

We'll confirm that we've received your report, review it carefully, and let you know what we decided. If someone repeatedly sends reports that are clearly unfounded, we may stop processing their reports for a while.

If we become aware of information suggesting that someone's life or safety is at risk from a crime, we inform the police.

Contact point

Our single point of contact for users and for authorities, including under the EU Digital Services Act, is support@shadowparticle.com. You can write to us in English or Swedish.

9. Paid features

HeyU is free to use. Some features cost money:

• Subscriptions: Plus and Unlimited, each available monthly, every 6 months or yearly.
• Saves and Rewinds: packs you buy and then use in your feed.

What each subscription includes, and the current prices, are shown in the app before you buy. Prices are in your local App Store currency and include any taxes Apple is required to charge.

Buying through Apple

All purchases are made through the Apple App Store and are processed by Apple under Apple's own terms. We never see your payment card details. Refunds are handled by Apple: you can request one at reportaproblem.apple.com.

Subscriptions renew automatically

• A subscription renews automatically at the end of each period, at the price that applies then, unless you cancel it at least 24 hours before the current period ends.
• Your Apple account is charged for the renewal within the 24 hours before the current period ends.
• You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time in your Apple account settings, or from More in the HeyU app. When you cancel, you keep the subscription's features until the end of the period you've paid for.
• Deleting the app or your HeyU account does not cancel your subscription. You need to cancel it with Apple.
• If you upgrade, the new plan usually starts right away. If you downgrade or change billing period, the change usually takes effect when your current period ends. Apple handles any adjustments to what you pay.
• If a price changes, Apple tells you in advance and, where required, asks for your agreement before you're charged the new price.

Saves and Rewinds

• A Save is used when you save a profile to decide on later. Saving a profile you've already saved doesn't use another one.
• A Rewind is used when you go back to the previous profile in your feed. Going back to a card that isn't a profile, such as an ad, is free.
• Saves and Rewinds are a licence to use a feature in HeyU. They have no cash value, can't be exchanged for money, and can't be transferred to another account.
• Unused Saves and Rewinds are lost if your account is deleted or closed.
• Unlimited subscribers get unlimited Saves and Rewinds while their subscription is active, for normal personal use. We may limit automated or abusive use.
• We sometimes give Saves and Rewinds for free, for example the 5 Saves and 5 Rewinds every new account starts with, or a free Rewind for watching an ad. What we offer for free may change.

Your consumer rights

Your rights as a consumer, including any right to cancel a purchase, apply through Apple's terms and the law. Nothing in these terms limits the rights you have by law.

10. Ads

The free version of HeyU shows ads, including in your feed. Ads are provided by Google AdMob. If you live in the EU, the EEA, the UK or Switzerland, you can choose whether ads may be personalised, and change your choice at any time in the app under More, Privacy & Security.

Plus and Unlimited subscribers don't see ads in their feed. Watching an ad to earn a free Rewind is always optional.

We're not responsible for the content of ads, or for what you buy from advertisers.

11. Other services and links

HeyU works with services run by other companies, such as Sign in with Apple, Google Sign-In, the App Store, Apple Maps and Spotify. Profiles and chats may also contain links to other websites and apps.

Those services have their own terms and privacy policies, and you must follow any terms that apply to you when using them (for example, your mobile data plan). We're not responsible for other companies' services or content.

12. Our rights in HeyU

HeyU, including the app, its design, the HeyU name and logo, is owned by Shadow Particle AB or our licensors, and is protected by law.

We give you a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to download and use the HeyU app on Apple devices you own or control, as allowed by the App Store's usage rules and these terms. You may not use our name, logo or design without our written permission.

Parts of HeyU are open-source software, provided under their own licences. See our Acknowledgements.

If you believe something on HeyU infringes your copyright or other rights, email support@shadowparticle.com with the details, and we'll look into it.

13. Privacy

Our Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect, how we use it, and the choices and rights you have.

14. Changes to HeyU and these terms

Changes to HeyU. We may change or remove features. If we remove or significantly reduce a paid feature during a period you've already paid for, we'll tell you in advance where we can, and make sure you get a fair outcome, such as a proportionate refund where the law requires it.

Changes to these terms. We may update these terms, for example when we add features or when the law changes. If a change is significant, we'll tell you in the app before it takes effect, and we may ask you to accept the new terms before you continue using HeyU. If you don't agree, you can stop using HeyU and delete your account.

If we stop offering HeyU altogether, we'll give you reasonable notice first.

15. Ending your use of HeyU

You can leave at any time. Delete your account in the app under More, Privacy & Security, Delete Account. This removes your profile and data as described in our Privacy Policy. Remember to cancel any subscription with Apple separately.

We may suspend or close your account if you seriously or repeatedly break these terms or our Community Guidelines, if the law requires it, or if we need to protect other users or HeyU. We'll explain why, as described in section 8.

If we close your account because you broke these terms, you won't get a refund for any remaining subscription time or unused Saves and Rewinds, unless the law says otherwise.

Sections 7 (as it applies to feedback and to copies we must keep), 16, 17, 18 and 19 continue to apply after your account is closed.

16. Our responsibility to you

We work hard to keep HeyU running well, but we can't promise that it will always be available, uninterrupted or free of errors. As far as the law allows, HeyU is provided "as is".

What we're not responsible for. We're not responsible for how other users behave, on HeyU or elsewhere, or for what they post. As far as the law allows, we're not responsible for indirect or unforeseeable losses, such as lost profits or lost opportunities, or for losses caused by events outside our reasonable control.

Limit. As far as the law allows, our total liability to you is limited to SEK 1,000, or the amount you paid for HeyU in the 12 months before the claim, whichever is higher.

What these terms never limit. Nothing in these terms limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud, for harm we cause intentionally or through gross negligence, or for anything else that can't be limited by law. If you're a consumer, you have legal rights, for example that digital services must work as described, and nothing in these terms affects them.

17. The Apple App Store

Because you get HeyU through the Apple App Store, the following also applies:

• These terms are between you and Shadow Particle AB, not Apple. We, not Apple, are solely responsible for HeyU and its content.
• Your licence to use HeyU is limited to Apple devices you own or control, as allowed by the usage rules in the Apple Media Services Terms and Conditions. HeyU may also be used by other accounts linked to you through Family Sharing, where that applies.
• We, not Apple, are responsible for maintaining and supporting HeyU. Apple has no obligation to provide any maintenance or support.
• If HeyU fails to meet any warranty that applies, you may notify Apple, and Apple will refund the purchase price of the app, if any. As far as the law allows, Apple has no other warranty obligation for HeyU.
• We, not Apple, are responsible for handling any claims relating to HeyU, including product liability claims, claims that HeyU fails to meet a legal or regulatory requirement, and claims under consumer protection, privacy or similar laws.
• If anyone claims that HeyU or your use of it infringes their intellectual property rights, we, not Apple, are responsible for investigating, defending, settling and discharging the claim.
• You confirm that you are not located in a country subject to a US Government embargo, or designated by the US Government as a "terrorist supporting" country, and that you are not on any US Government list of prohibited or restricted parties.
• You must follow any third-party terms that apply when you use HeyU.
• Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of these terms. Once you accept them, Apple has the right to enforce them against you as a third-party beneficiary.

Questions, complaints or claims about HeyU go to us: Shadow Particle AB, Östermalmsgatan 66A, 114 50 Stockholm, Sweden, support@shadowparticle.com.

18. Disagreements

If something goes wrong, please contact us first at support@shadowparticle.com. Most problems can be solved that way.

Swedish law applies to these terms. If you're a consumer living in another country, you also keep the protection of the mandatory consumer laws of that country.

Courts. Disputes are decided by the Swedish courts, with Stockholm District Court (Stockholms tingsrätt) as the first instance. If you're a consumer, you can also bring a claim in the courts where you live.

Consumer complaints board. If you're a consumer and we can't agree, you can turn to the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes (Allmänna reklamationsnämnden, ARN), Box 174, 101 23 Stockholm, arn.se. We will take part in ARN's process. Consumers in other EU countries can get help from their national European Consumer Centre.

19. General

• These terms, the Community Guidelines and any terms shown to you when you buy something in the app are the whole agreement between you and us about HeyU.
• If a court finds part of these terms invalid, the rest still applies.
• If we don't enforce part of these terms straight away, we can still enforce it later.
• We may transfer our rights and obligations under these terms to another company, for example if HeyU is sold, as long as this doesn't reduce your rights. You may not transfer your rights under these terms.
• No one other than you, us and Apple (as described in section 17) has rights under these terms.

20. Contact

Shadow Particle AB, organisation number 559230-2052

Östermalmsgatan 66A, 114 50 Stockholm, Sweden

Email: support@shadowparticle.com