Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 19, 2026
Operator: Ted Frantz, an individual
Contact: Support@join-now.app

This document contains the Terms of Use for JoinNow and the Privacy Policy explaining how information is handled when you use the JoinNow app, website, and related services (the “Service”). JoinNow is for adults aged 18 and older.

Terms of Use / EULA

1. Using JoinNow and accepting these Terms

These Terms are between you and Ted Frantz, the individual operating JoinNow. You must be at least 18 years old and provide accurate account information.

Before creating a JoinNow account, including with Apple or Google, you must expressly accept the current Terms of Use and Privacy Policy using the agreement checkbox in registration. You can read the document before agreeing. We record the current accepted version and time. Signing in to an existing account does not require repeating registration or accepting a separate sign-in screen. Policy updates are announced in your in-app notifications with an optional review link; existing users are not required to accept them again. The registration agreement includes the AI-assisted content screening described in this document; there is no separate approval during posting. If you do not agree to these Terms, do not create an account.

Subject to these Terms, we allow you to use JoinNow for your personal use. Keep your account credentials secure and do not let someone else use your account to evade age restrictions, blocks, or account restrictions.

For an iOS app downloaded from Apple's App Store, Apple's Standard End User License Agreement applies to the app license unless a separate custom license agreement is expressly provided through App Store Connect. These Terms also govern your use of the JoinNow service. Apple is not a party to these service Terms and does not provide JoinNow's support or manage its content. Apple's Standard EULA is available at https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/.

2. Prohibited content and behavior

JoinNow has zero tolerance for objectionable content and abusive users.

Do not create, post, send, upload, or distribute:

• harassment, bullying, hate, or discrimination;
• threats, encouragement of violence, or encouragement of self-harm;
• sexually explicit content, child sexual abuse or exploitation, or nonconsensual intimate images;
• scams, fraud, spam, or illegal content; or
• another person's private information without permission.

These rules apply to profiles, photos, traits, Meets, groups, messages, attachments, and other content or interactions on JoinNow. Do not evade a block, suspension, or other safety restriction.

3. AI-assisted content screening

We use AI-assisted safety checks to screen submitted text and images before they are shared on JoinNow. This includes profile text and photos, custom traits, Meet and group text, chat messages, attachments, and edits.

To perform these checks, submitted text and images may be sent to OpenAI, directly or through our configured screening gateway. This can include private messages and photos you submit. The Privacy Policy below explains what is shared and why.

Content that fails a safety check is not published. If screening is unavailable, the submission is not published until it can be screened. Automated checks can make mistakes. You can revise rejected content or contact Support@join-now.app.

4. Reporting and blocking

Use Report User, Report Meet, or Report message to flag a safety concern. Choose a reason and include relevant details so we can review it.

Reports are reviewed by the person or people authorized to handle safety concerns for JoinNow. Report review and decisions about removing content or restricting an account are handled by those reviewers, separately from AI-assisted checks before content is shared. Reports, supporting evidence, and internal review notes are not public.

Blocking hides your accounts from each other, prevents further contact through JoinNow, removes any friendship, and separates shared group or Meet participation where needed. Blocking also creates a private safety report for review. It cannot remove information someone has already seen, saved, or captured outside the app.

5. Safety reviews and account action

We review safety reports within 24 hours of submission. When a report identifies violating content or an abusive user, we remove the violating content and eject the abusive user by suspending their access within that period.

Depending on the findings, we may dismiss a report, remove content, or suspend an account. A suspension prevents access to the account and further interactions through JoinNow.

We may send an in-app notice or an email about a report or action affecting your account. The person who submitted a report may receive a brief outcome update without another user's private information.

If you believe an action was taken in error, or a safety concern remains unresolved, contact Support@join-now.app. JoinNow is not an emergency service. Contact local emergency services if someone is in immediate danger.

6. Your content and account

You must own your content or have permission to submit it. You remain responsible for what you share.

You give JoinNow the limited permission needed to host, process, screen, and display your content to provide the features you use and to investigate safety reports. This does not transfer ownership of your content to JoinNow.

We may retain limited report evidence and enforcement records when necessary for safety, legal, or dispute-related purposes, as explained in the Privacy Policy.

You can request account deletion through Settings or https://join-now.app/delete-account. Deleting the app from your device does not delete your account.

7. Privacy and sharing

The Privacy Policy below describes the information we collect, how we use it, and when it is shared.

Profile information, ratings, traits, scores, and activity totals can appear on local and global leaderboards, subject to the existing profile-visibility settings and blocking rules. Information needed to provide the Service is processed on JoinNow's servers and by the service providers described below.

8. Meeting others and service availability

Use care when meeting people in person. We do not conduct identity or background checks and cannot guarantee another person's identity, behavior, or the safety of a Meet. Meet in public places and share only information you intend others to receive.

JoinNow may be interrupted or unavailable at times. Nothing in these Terms excludes rights or liabilities that cannot legally be excluded.

9. Changes and contact

We may update these Terms as the Service or applicable requirements change. We send existing users an in-app notification about updates with an optional link to review them. Reviewing an update is optional and does not require accepting the policy again.

For support, safety concerns, or questions about these Terms, contact Support@join-now.app.

Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 19, 2026
Operator: Ted Frantz, an individual
Privacy contact: Support@join-now.app

This Privacy Policy explains how JoinNow collects, uses, shares, retains, and deletes information. JoinNow is operated by Ted Frantz as an individual; no separate legal business entity operates the Service.

1. Who may use JoinNow

JoinNow is intended for adults aged 18 and older. You must provide your date of birth when creating an account. This is a self-reported age check; JoinNow does not independently verify your identity or date of birth.

Do not use JoinNow if you are under 18. If we learn that an account belongs to someone under 18, we may restrict or close it and delete its information, subject to information we must preserve for legal, safety, security, or dispute-related purposes.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. A parent or guardian who believes a child has provided information may contact Support@join-now.app.

2. Information we collect

The information collected depends on the features you use, what you submit, and the permissions you grant.

Information you provide or receive through your account

• Account and authentication: username, email address, password stored as a one-way hash, date of birth, account settings, and records needed to create and secure your account and sign you in.
• Apple and Google sign-in: if you choose a provider, we receive its account identifier and the account information it makes available with your authorization. Google may provide your email address, name, and profile image. Apple may provide your name and email address, including an Apple private relay email address if you choose Hide My Email. Available information can depend on the provider and whether you have previously authorized JoinNow.
• Profile: display name, profile photo, biography, gender or preferences if provided, custom traits, ratings or endorsements, and other profile information.
• Meets, groups, and connections: names and descriptions, selected or entered locations, dates and times, host and member relationships, invitations, join requests, attendance and participation history, friend relationships, and related settings.
• Messages and attachments: direct, group, and Meet messages, reactions, selected photos, captions, GIF selections, and other submitted content.
• Safety and support: reports, reasons and details, blocked-user relationships, relevant content snapshots or attachment evidence, review decisions, account restrictions, safety notices, and information you provide when contacting us.
• Information from other users: messages, invitations, ratings, endorsements, reports, blocks, and other interactions involving your account.
• Agreement and privacy choices: your recorded registration agreement version and time, any separate AI-screening permission previously recorded, and the settings and choices you select. Reading or marking a policy-update notification as seen or read is not recorded as agreement.

You choose which optional profile information and content to provide. People who can access a profile, Meet, group, or conversation may save, copy, or capture what is shared outside JoinNow.

Information collected through the app and related services

• Location: if you grant permission or use a location feature, JoinNow may receive your device location to find nearby Meets, display maps, or support an active Meet. You can also enter or select a location. Meet location details may be visible to the host and authorized participants. The native app requests foreground location access, not background location access when the app is not in use. You can change permission in device settings.
• Device, network, and session information: IP address, device and operating-system information, app version, request times, session and authentication identifiers, and security or error records needed to provide, protect, and troubleshoot the Service.
• Push notifications: if you allow notifications, a device push token is associated with your account and device to deliver notifications.
• Photos and attachments: submitted files, file type, dimensions, captions, and related message or account identifiers. Chat attachments are stored with conversation data. GIF identifiers are stored with messages, and GIF media is loaded from GIPHY.
• Service-provider information: providers may receive request metadata, device or network information, and other information needed to deliver the feature you use.

3. How we use information

We use information to:

• create and secure accounts, authenticate password, Apple, and Google sign-ins, link sign-in methods when requested, and support email verification;
• apply the adults-only eligibility and participation requirements;
• provide profiles, Meets, groups, connections, ratings, traits, leaderboards, and conversations;
• support maps, nearby discovery, and active Meet features;
• store and deliver messages, attachments, notifications, and account or safety emails;
• screen submitted text and images using AI-assisted safety checks;
• have authorized reviewers assess reports, apply blocks, investigate abuse, remove content, restrict accounts, and communicate review outcomes;
• maintain reliability and security, prevent spam or fraud, diagnose errors, and respond to support requests; and
• meet legal obligations and protect people, the Service, and applicable rights.

Your full date of birth is stored with your account for eligibility and related rules. It is not included in the public profile response.

4. AI-assisted content screening and human report review

Automated checks before content is shared

Submitted profile text and photos, custom traits, Meet and group text, chat messages, and attachments are screened before publication or delivery, including edits.

For this purpose, submitted text and images may be sent to OpenAI, directly or through our configured OpenAI screening gateway. This includes private messages and attachments you submit. The screening request contains the content being checked; it does not automatically include an unrelated full conversation.

We explain this sharing in the registration agreement and this document. There is no separate screening-approval prompt when you post, create a Meet, edit your profile, or send a message. Automated checks can make mistakes. If content is rejected, revise it or contact Support@join-now.app. If screening is unavailable, the content is not published or delivered.

OpenAI states that API inputs and outputs are not used to train its models unless the API customer opts in. Its default abuse-monitoring logs may contain submitted content and are generally retained for up to 30 days, subject to applicable exceptions. Processing and retention also depend on the API feature, configuration, and any gateway used. These statements do not mean submitted content is never retained. Further information is available at https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/your-data.

Review of reports

Safety reports are reviewed by the person or people authorized to handle JoinNow safety concerns. AI-assisted checks before publication are separate from report review and enforcement decisions.

Authorized reviewers can access the report, relevant account or content information, and supporting snapshots or attachments to investigate and take action. Limited evidence and review records may remain after the original content is removed. Reports, evidence, and internal notes are not publicly displayed.

Blocking creates a private safety report. We also keep records needed to communicate decisions, follow up on reports, and handle challenges to an action.

5. When information is shared

Leaderboards

JoinNow collects and processes profile information, ratings, traits, scores, and activity totals on its servers to calculate rankings.

Local and global leaderboards display your username, display name, profile photo, and relevant ratings, traits, scores, or activity totals to other users. Local rankings use location information associated with Meets or activity to determine proximity. Exact coordinates are not included in public leaderboard responses. Existing profile-visibility settings and blocking rules apply.

With other users

Depending on the feature and settings, other users may see your username, display name, photo, biography, traits, ratings, Meet or group details, attendance, messages, reactions, and attachments.

A Meet host and authorized participants may see the location information needed to attend. Your full date of birth, password, and account email are not part of the public profile response.

Blocking limits visibility and interactions but cannot undo information another person has already seen, saved, or captured. People who report content may receive a brief outcome without access to another user's private account information.

With providers that help operate JoinNow

We use providers for hosting and database operation, Apple and Google sign-in, map and location features, GIPHY search and media, OpenAI content screening, email delivery, and Expo, Apple, and Google push-notification delivery.

Providers receive the information needed for the feature or service they provide. For example:

• Apple and Google process sign-in information under their own privacy materials.
• Map and location providers may receive location queries, search terms, IP addresses, or device information.
• GIPHY may receive search terms and request information when you search for or load GIFs.
• OpenAI or the configured screening gateway receives the submitted content described in Section 4.
• Email providers process recipient addresses and message content to deliver verification, account, support, or safety messages.
• Expo and device-platform providers process push tokens and notification-delivery information.

Provider processing is subject to applicable service terms and data-protection requirements. Their systems and retention practices may differ from JoinNow's. We update this Policy when material changes to our providers or practices require an update.

Other disclosures

We may disclose information when reasonably necessary to comply with law or valid legal process; protect someone's safety, rights, or property; investigate fraud, abuse, or security incidents; enforce Service rules; or complete a financing, reorganization, merger, or sale, subject to applicable law.

JoinNow does not sell personal information for money or use it for cross-context behavioral advertising. The current Service does not use advertising SDKs to target ads based on activity across other companies' apps or websites. If these practices change, we will update the Policy and required disclosures before the change takes effect.

We may use aggregated or de-identified information where it can no longer reasonably identify you. We will not attempt to re-identify it where prohibited.

6. Location and in-person safety

Location information can reveal where you live, work, travel, or spend time. You can deny or revoke device location permission, but locations you enter or include in your profile, Meet, messages, or attachments may still be visible to others.

Review Meet details and share only the information you intend participants to see. Some nearby features may not work without location access.

JoinNow does not conduct identity or background checks. We cannot verify another user's identity or guarantee their behavior or the safety of a meeting. Use your judgment, meet in safe public places, tell someone you trust about your plans, and contact local emergency services if you are in immediate danger.

7. Retention and account deletion

We keep account information while your account is active and as needed to provide the Service. You can request deletion through the in-app account-deletion control or https://join-now.app/delete-account. If you cannot access your account, contact Support@join-now.app. Deleting the app does not delete your account.

When deletion is completed, we remove your account and associated personal information from active account systems, subject to the limited exceptions below. The deletion process covers account-linked messages, attachments, reactions, traits, friendships and requests, invitations, push tokens, authentication records, and other account-linked information covered by the deletion process.

A group with other members may transfer to an existing member so it can continue; an empty group may be deleted. Meets you hosted are ended. If a Meet record must remain for other participants' history, identifying host information, title, description, exact location, and filters are removed. Records belonging to other people may remain in their accounts.

We may retain limited safety reports, evidence, enforcement records, or other information when necessary to meet legal obligations, respond to claims, or investigate or prevent serious abuse, fraud, or security incidents. Access is restricted, and retention is limited to the period needed for the purpose.

Deleted information may remain in protected backups until the hosting provider's backup rotation expires or overwrites it. Those backup copies are not used for ordinary Service operation.

Provider retention, including OpenAI processing described in Section 4, is governed by the applicable provider arrangements and practices. Deleting your JoinNow account does not necessarily immediately erase provider-held records.

8. Your choices and privacy rights

You can edit optional profile information, use the privacy settings available in the app, block users, change device location or notification permissions, and request account deletion.

You can contact us about access to, correction of, or deletion of information associated with your account, or about a change to your consent choices. Changing device permissions does not delete information already submitted.

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or receive a copy of your information; opt out of certain sale, sharing, or targeted-advertising uses; limit certain uses of sensitive information; or appeal a privacy decision. These rights are subject to applicable exceptions and verification requirements. We will not unlawfully discriminate against you for exercising them.

Email Support@join-now.app from the address associated with your account and describe your request. We may ask for information reasonably necessary to verify account ownership. If we deny a request and an appeal right applies, reply with “Privacy appeal” in the subject. We respond within the period required by applicable law.

9. Security

We use measures designed to protect information, including password hashing, access controls, authenticated sessions, and protected network communications. No transmission, storage system, or security measure is completely secure. Keep your credentials confidential and contact us if you believe your account is compromised.

10. International processing

JoinNow and its providers may process information in the United States or other countries where their systems operate. Privacy laws may differ from those where you live. Where required, we use legally appropriate safeguards for international transfers.

11. Changes and contact

We may update this Policy as the Service, our data practices, or applicable requirements change. The “Last updated” date shows when the current version took effect. We send existing users an in-app notification with an optional link to review updates. A policy update does not require you to accept this document again. Screening is described in the registration agreement and does not require a separate approval during use.

We record the current policy version you accept and the time of your acceptance.

For privacy questions or requests, contact Support@join-now.app.