Terms and Conditions
Last Updated: November 19, 2024
1. Agreement to Terms
By accessing or using the website www.socials.community and related services (collectively, the "Services") operated by Socials BV ("Socials", "we", "us", or "our"), you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not use our Services.
Company Information:
Socials BV
Wolstraat 70
1000 Brussels, Belgium
Company Registration Number: 1023312881
Email: hello@socials.community
2. Description of Services
Socials provides a platform that connects international students with WhatsApp community groups in their destination cities. Our Services include:
- Access to curated WhatsApp group links for student communities
- City-specific student community information
- Connection facilitation between students
- Community event information and updates
3. Eligibility and Account Registration
3.1 Eligibility
To use our Services, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a current or prospective student
- Have the legal capacity to enter into binding agreements
- Provide accurate and complete registration information
3.2 Account Information
You are responsible for:
- Maintaining the confidentiality of your account information
- All activities that occur under your account
- Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized use
- Ensuring your registration information remains accurate and current
4. User Conduct and Obligations
4.1 Acceptable Use
You agree to use our Services only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You agree NOT to:
- Violate any applicable laws or regulations
- Impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent your affiliation
- Share false, misleading, or fraudulent information
- Harass, abuse, or harm other users
- Send spam, unsolicited messages, or commercial communications
- Use our Services for any illegal or unauthorized purpose
- Interfere with or disrupt the Services or servers
- Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Services
- Collect or harvest personal information of other users
- Use automated scripts to collect information or interact with the Services
4.2 Community Guidelines
When participating in student communities accessed through our Services:
- Respect all community members
- Follow WhatsApp's Terms of Service and Community Guidelines
- Comply with any specific rules set by individual community administrators
- Report inappropriate behavior to community moderators
5. Intellectual Property Rights
5.1 Our Content
All content on our Services, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, images, audio, video, software, and compilation thereof ("Content"), is the property of Socials BV or its licensors and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.
5.2 Limited License
We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use our Services for personal, non-commercial purposes in accordance with these Terms.
5.3 User Content
By submitting any content to our Services, you:
- Grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, and distribute such content
- Represent and warrant that you have all necessary rights to grant this license
- Agree that you are solely responsible for any content you submit
6. Third-Party Services and Links
6.1 WhatsApp Groups
The WhatsApp groups accessible through our Services are operated independently by third parties. We do not control, endorse, or assume responsibility for:
- The content, policies, or practices of WhatsApp groups
- Actions of group administrators or members
- WhatsApp's terms of service and policies
6.2 Third-Party Links
Our Services may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.
7. Privacy and Data Protection
Your use of our Services is subject to our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand our practices regarding personal data collection and use.
8. Disclaimers
8.1 Service Availability
THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
- MERCHANTABILITY
- FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
- NON-INFRINGEMENT
- ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, OR RELIABILITY OF CONTENT
8.2 No Guarantee
We do not guarantee:
- Uninterrupted or error-free operation of the Services
- The accuracy or reliability of any information obtained through the Services
- That defects will be corrected
- That the Services are free of viruses or harmful components
9. Limitation of Liability
9.1 Exclusion of Damages
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SOCIALS BV SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY:
- INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES
- LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES
- DAMAGES RESULTING FROM YOUR USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICES
- DAMAGES RESULTING FROM ANY THIRD-PARTY SERVICES OR CONTENT
9.2 Maximum Liability
IN NO EVENT SHALL OUR TOTAL LIABILITY EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF €100 OR THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.
9.3 Exceptions
Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or limitation of liability, so some of the above limitations may not apply to you.
10. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Socials BV, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including reasonable legal fees, arising out of or in any way connected with:
- Your use of the Services
- Your violation of these Terms
- Your violation of any third-party rights
- Any content you submit to the Services
11. Termination
11.1 By You
You may stop using our Services at any time. You may request deletion of your account by contacting us at hello@socials.community.
11.2 By Us
We may suspend or terminate your access to the Services at any time, with or without cause or notice, including but not limited to:
- Violation of these Terms
- Conduct that we believe is harmful to other users or the Services
- At our sole discretion
11.3 Effect of Termination
Upon termination:
- Your right to use the Services will immediately cease
- We may delete your account and any associated data
- Provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination will remain in effect
12. Modifications to Terms
We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of material changes by:
- Posting the updated Terms on our website
- Updating the "Last Updated" date
- Sending you an email notification (for material changes)
Your continued use of the Services after any changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.
13. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
13.1 Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Belgium, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
13.2 Jurisdiction
Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Services shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Brussels, Belgium.
13.3 Dispute Resolution
Before initiating legal proceedings, you agree to attempt to resolve any dispute through good faith negotiation by contacting us at hello@socials.community.
14. General Provisions
14.1 Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Socials BV regarding the use of our Services.
14.2 Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
14.3 Waiver
No waiver of any term of these Terms shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or any other term.
14.4 Assignment
You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your rights under these Terms without our prior written consent. We may assign our rights under these Terms without restriction.
14.5 Force Majeure
We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, war, terrorism, labor disputes, or governmental action.
15. Contact Information
If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at:
Socials BV
Wolstraat 70
1000 Brussels, Belgium
Email: hello@socials.community
16. Consumer Rights (EU Specific)
16.1 Right of Withdrawal
As our Services are provided free of charge and consist primarily of providing access to third-party WhatsApp groups, the right of withdrawal under EU consumer law may not apply. However, you may discontinue using our Services at any time.
16.2 Online Dispute Resolution
The European Commission provides a platform for online dispute resolution (ODR) available at: https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr
By using our Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
