Terms of Service

Terms of Service

Last updated: November 16, 2025

Version: 5.0

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using Hooked ("the Service"), you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and provision of this agreement. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use our service.

2. Description of Service

Hooked is an event-based social networking platform that allows users to connect with other attendees at specific events. The service is designed for temporary use during events and automatically deletes user data when events conclude. Our service includes:

• Event-based profile creation and management
• User discovery and matching features
• In-app messaging and communication
• Event-specific social networking
• Automated photo validation and content moderation

3. User Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to use our service. By using Hooked, you represent and warrant that you meet this age requirement and have the legal capacity to enter into this agreement.

3.1 Device Permissions and Access

By using Hooked, you grant permission for:

• Camera access for profile photo capture
• Photo library access for photo selection
• Push notification delivery for match and message alerts
• Network connectivity for app functionality

You may revoke permissions through device settings, but this may limit app functionality.

4. User Accounts and Profiles

OAuth Authentication

Account Creation: Hooked uses OAuth authentication via Google Sign-In, Apple Sign-In, or Facebook Login. When you sign in, we collect your email address from your chosen authentication provider to create your persistent user account.

Account Structure: Your Hooked account consists of two parts:

• User Account (Persistent): Your email address, authentication provider, display name, and lifetime analytics persist across events until you delete your account
• Event Profiles (Temporary): Each time you join an event, you create an event-specific profile with photos, bio, matches, and messages. These event profiles are automatically deleted 24-48 hours after the event expires

Single Event Rule: You can only participate in one event at a time. To join a new event, you must leave your current event first.

Profile Creation and Responsibilities

When creating event profiles, you agree to:

• Provide accurate and truthful information
• Not create multiple profiles for the same event
• Use appropriate and respectful profile photos that comply with our guidelines
• Keep your profile information up to date
• Submit profile photos that meet validation requirements (one clear face, appropriate content)

Account Deletion

You can delete your entire user account (including all data and lifetime analytics) at any time through:

• App Settings → Delete Account
• Email request to contact@hookedapp.com
• GDPR/CCPA data deletion request

Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. All user data, analytics, and active event profiles will be deleted within 30 days (GDPR) or 45 days (CCPA).

5. Acceptable Use and Content Guidelines

You agree not to use the service to:

• Harass, abuse, bully, or harm other users
• Share inappropriate, offensive, or explicit content
• Impersonate others or provide false information
• Use the service for commercial purposes without permission
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems
• Share personal information of other users without consent
• Use automated systems or bots to interact with the service
• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Share content that promotes hate speech or discrimination
• Use the service for dating or romantic purposes outside of event context

5.1 Profile Photo Requirements and Validation

All profile photos undergo automated validation using AI technology powered by AWS Rekognition:

• Face Detection: Photos must contain exactly one clearly visible face
• Content Standards: Photos are automatically rejected for explicit content, violence, hate symbols, drugs, or celebrity faces
• Resubmission: Users may resubmit photos if rejected
• Appeal Process: Users can contest automated rejections by contacting support at contact@hookedapp.com
• Enforcement: Repeated violations may result in account restrictions or suspension

You have the right to request human review of automated photo rejections.

6. Content Moderation and Safety

We are committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment:

• We reserve the right to review and moderate all content
• Users can report inappropriate behavior or content
• We may remove content or suspend accounts for violations
• Profile photos must be appropriate and non-explicit
• Messages must be respectful and non-harassing
• We do not tolerate hate speech, discrimination, or harassment

6.1 Administrator Access and Moderation

By using Hooked, you acknowledge and agree that authorized platform administrators may access your data for legitimate purposes:

• Investigation: Investigating reports of harassment, abuse, or Terms of Service violations
• Support: Providing customer support and resolving account issues
• Safety: Ensuring platform safety and enforcing community standards
• Legal Compliance: Complying with legal obligations, subpoenas, and court orders

Access Controls and Accountability:

• All admin access requires justification and is logged in our audit system
• Admins must provide a reason before viewing personally identifiable information (PII)
• Email and phone numbers are masked by default and require justification to view
• All admin actions are logged with timestamps, justifications, and notes
• You have the right to request your audit log and contest admin decisions

Moderation Actions:

• Warning: First-time minor violations receive warnings
• Kick: Immediate removal from an event for policy violations
• Suspension: Temporary ban (24 hours to 30 days) for repeated violations
• Permanent Ban: Indefinite account termination for severe or repeated violations
• Appeal: You may appeal any moderation decision through contact@hookedapp.com

7. User Safety and Reporting

Your safety is important to us:

• Report any inappropriate behavior or content immediately
• Do not share personal contact information with strangers
• Meet in public places if you choose to meet someone from the app
• Trust your instincts and report suspicious behavior
• We will investigate all reports within 24-48 hours and take appropriate action
• Contact local authorities if you feel unsafe or threatened

Reporting Mechanisms

• In-App Reporting: Report profiles, messages, and behavior directly through the app
• Anonymous Reporting: Reports can be submitted anonymously
• Review Timeline: All reports reviewed within 24-48 hours
• Appeal Process: Users can appeal moderation decisions through in-app support

Platform Response and Enforcement

• First Violation: Warning and content removal for minor violations
• Second Violation: 24-hour account suspension
• Third Violation: Permanent account ban
• Severe Violations: Immediate permanent ban and law enforcement notification if necessary
• Appeal Response: Human review of all appeals within 72 hours

8. Data and Privacy

Your privacy is important to us. Please review our Privacy Policy, which also governs your use of the service, to understand our practices regarding data collection, use, and retention.

9. Third-Party Services

Our service uses third-party services including OAuth authentication providers (Google, Apple, Facebook), AWS Rekognition, Firebase, OneSignal, Google Analytics, Google Places API, Sentry, and Expo. These services have their own terms of service and privacy policies. By using our service, you acknowledge that these third-party services may process your data in accordance with their respective policies.

Key Third-Party Services:

• Google Sign-In (Google LLC): OAuth authentication and email collection
• Apple Sign-In (Apple Inc.): OAuth authentication and email collection
• Facebook Login (Meta Platforms, Inc.): OAuth authentication and email collection
• AWS Rekognition: Photo validation and content moderation
• Firebase: Database, storage, and cloud functions
• OneSignal: Push notification delivery to your devices
• Google Analytics: Website analytics and usage tracking
• Google Places API: City autocomplete on event submission forms
• Sentry: Error monitoring and performance tracking
• Expo: Cross-platform app development framework

OAuth Provider Data Collection: When you authenticate via Google, Apple, or Facebook, we only collect your email address. We do not access your contacts, friends lists, or other social media data. See our Privacy Policy Section 8 for links to each provider's privacy policy.

9.1 Use of Artificial Intelligence

Hooked uses AI and automated systems for:

• Profile photo validation and content moderation (AWS Rekognition)
• Safety and security monitoring
• Fraud prevention and abuse detection
• Service improvement and analytics

Your Rights: You have the right to contest automated decisions, request human review, and understand how AI affects your experience. Automated decisions do not produce legal or similarly significant effects on your rights.

10. Event-Specific Terms

User Accounts vs Event Profiles

Important Distinction: Your Hooked account consists of two separate data layers:

• User Account (Persistent): Your email address, authentication provider, display name, and lifetime analytics persist across all events until you manually delete your account
• Event Profiles (Temporary): Each time you join an event, you create an event-specific profile with photos, bio, matches, and messages. These event profiles are automatically deleted 24-48 hours after the event expires

Event Profile Rules

Hooked is designed for event-specific use with the following rules:

• Automatic Deletion: Event profiles (photos, bio, matches, messages) are automatically deleted within 24-48 hours after events expire
• New Profile per Event: Each event requires creating a new event-specific profile
• No Cross-Event Data: Matches and conversations do not persist between events
• Single Event Rule: You can only be visibly active in one event at a time. You must leave your current event before joining another
• Event-Specific Data: Profile data (photos, bio) is specific to each event and does not transfer between events
• User Analytics Persist: While event profiles are deleted, your lifetime analytics (events joined, total matches count, etc.) persist with your user account
• Event Codes Required: You must have a valid event code provided by event organizers to participate
• Organizer Terms: Event organizers may have additional terms specific to their events

Leave Event Behavior

When you use the Leave Event feature (Settings → Leave Event):

• Profile Hidden: Your profile becomes immediately hidden from other users in that event
• Data Preserved: Your matches, messages, and profile information remain stored (but hidden) until the event expires
• Rejoin Capability: You can rejoin the same event and your matches and conversations will be restored
• Join New Events: You can join a different event immediately after leaving, without waiting for the old event to expire
• Automatic Deletion: All event data is permanently deleted within 24-48 hours after the event expires, regardless of when you left. See our Privacy Policy for detailed deletion timelines and processes
• No Manual Deletion: You cannot manually delete your data before the event expires. Data deletion is automatic when the event ends

11. Intellectual Property

The service and its original content, features, and functionality are owned by Hooked and are protected by international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property laws. You retain ownership of content you create, but grant us a license to use it for service provision.

12. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your account immediately, without prior notice, for conduct that we believe violates these Terms of Service or is harmful to other users, us, or third parties. Upon termination, your right to use the service will cease immediately.

13. Limitation of Liability

In no event shall Hooked, nor its directors, employees, partners, agents, suppliers, or affiliates, be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including without limitation, loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, resulting from your use of the service.

14. Disclaimers

The service is provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis. Hooked makes no warranties, expressed or implied, and hereby disclaims all warranties, including without limitation, warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. We do not guarantee that the service will be uninterrupted or error-free.

15. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Hooked and its affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses arising from your use of the service or violation of these terms.

16. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms shall be interpreted and governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which Hooked operates, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising from these terms or your use of the service shall be resolved through binding arbitration or in the courts of our jurisdiction.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that these Terms will otherwise remain in full force and effect.

18. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify or replace these Terms at any time. If a revision is material, we will provide at least 30 days notice prior to any new terms taking effect. Your continued use of the service after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

19. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us at:

20. Terms of Service Version History