Terms of Use

TERMS OF USE - WORLDMATES.CLUB SOCIAL NETWORK

Last Updated: August 12, 2025
Effective Date: August 12, 2025

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to Worldmates.club (the "Site" or "Platform"), a social network designed to connect people from around the world, exchange ideas, experiences, and content. These Terms of Use ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you (the "User," "you") and the Site Operator – an individual entrepreneur registered in accordance with the laws of Ukraine, with registration location in Dnipro, Ukraine ("Operator," "we," "us").

These Terms govern your use of the Site, including creating an account, publishing content, interacting with other users, and accessing features and services. By using the Site, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms, as well as the Privacy Policy and other applicable rules published on the Site.

If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not register or use the Site. The Operator reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes take effect upon publication on the Site. Continued use of the Site after changes constitutes your acceptance of them. We recommend regularly checking the Terms for updates.

The Site operates in accordance with Ukrainian legislation, including the Law of Ukraine "On Media" No. 2849-IX of December 13, 2022, the Law of Ukraine "On Personal Data Protection" No. 2297-VI of June 1, 2010, the Law of Ukraine "On Advertising" No. 270/96-VR (as amended), as well as other regulatory acts, taking into account the specifics of martial law in Ukraine (extended until November 2025) and draft laws such as No. 11115 on online platform regulation and No. 8153 on personal data protection.

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS

1.1 Basic Provisions

These Terms of Use (hereinafter referred to as the "Terms") govern the relationship between WorldMates.club (hereinafter referred to as the "Platform," "Site," "We") and users (hereinafter referred to as the "User," "You") when using the WorldMates.club social network, available at worldmates.club and its associated mobile applications and services.

1.2 Definitions

Account — a unique user account on the Platform
Content — any information posted by Users: texts, images, videos, audio, comments
Personal Data — any information that allows identification of a natural person
Service — the functionality of the WorldMates.club social network
Administration — the management and technical support team of WorldMates.club

1.3 Legal Framework

These Terms have been developed in accordance with:

Law of Ukraine "On Media" (No. 2849-IX of December 13, 2022)
Law of Ukraine "On Personal Data Protection" (No. 2297-VI)
EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
Civil Code of Ukraine
Law of Ukraine "On Information"

2. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS AND REGISTRATION

2.1 Agreement to Terms

By using WorldMates.club, you confirm that you:

Have read, understood, and agree to these Terms
Are at least 16 years old (parental consent required for users under 16)
Have the legal capacity to enter into this agreement
Provide accurate information during registration

2.2 Registration Process

For full use of the Service, you must:

Provide a valid email address
Create a secure password (minimum 8 characters, including numbers and letters)
Confirm your email address
Provide your real first and last name
Accept these Terms and Privacy Policy

2.3 Account Responsibility

The User bears full responsibility for:

Maintaining confidentiality of login credentials
All actions performed under their account
Immediate notification of suspected account compromise

3. PLATFORM USAGE RULES

3.1 Permitted Use

WorldMates.club is intended for:

Social communication and networking
Information and content sharing
Creating interest-based communities
Educational and entertainment activities
Professional communication

3.2 Prohibited Actions

STRICTLY PROHIBITED:

3.2.1 Illegal Content

Posting materials that violate copyright
Publishing defamatory or libelous information
Distributing extremist materials
Content promoting violence or discrimination
Pornographic materials, especially involving minors

3.2.2 Violations under Ukrainian Media Law

Distributing information that denies the existence of the Ukrainian people or Ukrainian statehood
Publishing materials that demean the Ukrainian state language
Justifying the criminal nature of communist or Nazi regimes
Positive coverage of activities directed against Ukrainian independence

3.2.3 Technical Violations

Attempting hacking, DDoS attacks, or disrupting Platform operations
Using automated programs (bots) without permission
Circumventing technical restrictions
Creating viruses or malicious software

3.2.4 Platform Abuse

Spam, intrusive advertising
Phishing or fraud
Selling prohibited goods or services
Violating other users' privacy

3.3 Language Requirements

In accordance with Ukrainian media legislation:

The primary interface language is Ukrainian
Content may be published in Ukrainian, English, and other languages
Discriminatory content against the Ukrainian language will result in sanctions

4. CONTENT AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

4.1 User Content

4.1.1 Content Rights

You retain rights to content you create
By posting content, you grant us a non-exclusive license to use it within Platform operations
The license includes rights to store, display, reproduce, and distribute content

4.1.2 Content Responsibility

You bear full responsibility for posted content
You guarantee that you have all necessary rights
You undertake not to violate third-party rights

4.2 Content Moderation

4.2.1 Automated Moderation

Algorithms are used to identify potentially violating content
Automatic scanning for spam and malicious links
Image verification for community guidelines compliance

4.2.2 Manual Moderation

Moderation team reviews user complaints
Review of disputed cases within 24-72 hours
Ability to appeal moderation decisions

4.3 Copyright

4.3.1 DMCA Compliance

Procedure for filing copyright infringement complaints
Content removal upon valid complaints
Warning system for violators

4.3.2 Original Content Protection

Duplicate content detection technologies
Priority to original source in disputes
Ability to mark original content

5. PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION

5.1 Data Processing Principles

In accordance with GDPR and Ukrainian legislation, we ensure:

Lawfulness — processing only based on consent or legal grounds
Data Minimization — collecting only necessary data
Accuracy — maintaining data currency
Storage Limitation — deleting data when no longer needed
Security — reliable protection against breaches and unauthorized access

5.2 Types of Data Collected

5.2.1 Required Registration Data

First and last name
Email address
Date of birth (for age verification)
Country of residence

5.2.2 Additional Profile Data

Profile photo
Work and education information
Interests and hobbies
Contact information (optional)

5.2.3 Technical Data

IP address and location
Device and browser information
Activity and interaction logs
Cookies and similar technologies

5.3 User Rights Regarding Personal Data

5.3.1 GDPR Rights

Right of Access — obtaining a copy of your data
Right to Rectification — correcting inaccurate information
Right to Erasure — "right to be forgotten"
Right to Restrict Processing — pausing data use
Right to Data Portability — receiving data in machine-readable format
Right to Object — refusing certain types of processing

5.3.2 CCPA Rights (for California residents)

Right to know what personal data is collected
Right to delete personal data
Right to opt-out of personal data sales
Right to non-discriminatory service

5.4 International Data Transfers

Data may be processed in the EU, USA, and other jurisdictions
Appropriate safeguards are used (Standard Contractual Clauses)
Ensuring adequate protection level for international transfers

5.5 Data Security

5.5.1 Technical Measures

Data encryption in transit (TLS 1.3)
Data encryption at rest (AES-256)
Regular security audits
Multi-factor authentication for critical operations

5.5.2 Organizational Measures

Limited access to personal data
Staff training on privacy matters
Security breach notification procedures
Regular security system testing

6. MINORS' PROTECTION

6.1 Age Restrictions

Minimum age: 16 years (according to GDPR)
For users 13-15 years: parental/guardian consent required
For users under 13: use is prohibited

6.2 Additional Protection for Minors

6.2.1 Technical Measures

Automatic detection of potentially dangerous content
Limited visibility of minors' profiles
Additional privacy settings by default
Blocking direct messages from unknown adults

6.2.2 Parental Controls

Ability to create family accounts
Parental notifications of suspicious activity
Tools for monitoring children's activity
Ability to limit usage time

6.3 Educational Initiatives

Digital literacy programs
Safe internet behavior training
Partnerships with educational organizations
Regular webinars for parents and teachers

7. COMMERCIAL USE AND ADVERTISING

7.1 Platform Advertising

7.1.1 Types of Advertising

Targeted advertising based on interests
Native advertising in feeds
Sponsored content
Event and community advertising

7.1.2 Advertising Content Requirements

Compliance with national advertising legislation
Clear designation of advertising materials
Prohibition of misleading content
Compliance with age restrictions

7.2 User Monetization

7.2.1 Permitted Activities

Selling own goods and services
Crowdfunding and donations
Educational courses and consultations
Creative services and original content

7.2.2 Restrictions

Prohibition on selling banned goods
Compliance with tax legislation
Providing requisites for commercial activities
Compliance with consumer rights

7.3 Partnership Programs

Participation opportunities in partnership programs
Transparent compensation terms
Compliance with partnership disclosure requirements

8. LIABILITY AND LIMITATIONS

8.1 Platform Liability

8.1.1 Liability Limitations

WorldMates.club is NOT liable for:

User-generated content
Direct or indirect losses from platform use
Service interruptions due to technical reasons
Third-party actions on the platform

8.1.2 Platform Obligations

We undertake to:

Ensure reasonable data security
Comply with applicable legislation
Provide technical support
Inform about significant service changes

8.2 User Liability

Users bear full responsibility for:

Compliance with these Terms
Legality of posted content
Respecting other users' rights
Account security

8.3 Indemnification

Users agree to indemnify WorldMates.club for any losses resulting from:

Violation of these Terms
Posting illegal content
Violating third-party rights
Any unlawful user actions

9. MODERATION AND SANCTIONS

9.1 Warning System

9.1.1 Violation Gradation

Minor: spam, inappropriate behavior (warning)
Medium: community guidelines violation (temporary restriction)
Serious: illegal content, threats (account suspension)
Critical: extremism, child pornography (immediate blocking and law enforcement contact)

9.1.2 Review Procedure

Automatic or manual violation detection
User notification of violation
Opportunity for explanation (for disputed cases)
Moderation decision
Sanctions notification
Appeal opportunity

9.2 Types of Sanctions

9.2.1 Temporary Restrictions

Content posting restriction (1-30 days)
Messaging ban (1-7 days)
Search hiding (1-14 days)
Community creation restriction (7-30 days)

9.2.2 Permanent Sanctions

Complete account blocking
IP address blocking
Ban on creating new accounts

9.3 Appeal Process

Users have the right to:

File an appeal within 30 days
Provide additional explanations
Receive case reconsideration
Appeal to an independent arbitrator (for serious cases)

10. TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND FEEDBACK

10.1 Support Channels

Help Center: help.worldmates.club
Email: support@worldmates.club
Support Chat: available 24/7

10.2 Response Time

Critical issues: within 2 hours
Regular requests: within 24 hours
Complex technical issues: within 72 hours

10.3 Support Languages

Support is available in the following languages:

Ukrainian (primary)
English
Russian (for existing users)

11. CHANGES TO TERMS

11.1 Change Notifications

Substantial changes: 30-day notice
Technical changes: 7-day notice
Legal requirement changes: immediate notification

11.2 Notification Methods

Email to all registered users
Notification upon account login
Publication on official website
Mobile app notifications

11.3 Acceptance of Changes

Continued platform use after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of new terms.

12. TERMINATION OF USE

12.1 User-Initiated Termination

Users may:

Delete account at any time
Request complete data deletion
Export their data before deletion

12.2 Platform-Initiated Termination

WorldMates.club may terminate services:

Upon substantial Terms violation
By law enforcement request
Due to technical impossibility of service provision

12.3 Termination Consequences

After termination:

Account becomes inaccessible
Personal data deleted according to Privacy Policy
Public content may be preserved for discussion integrity
Backup copies deleted within 90 days

13. APPLICABLE LAW AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

13.1 Applicable Law

These Terms are governed by Ukrainian law. Disputes are subject to consideration in Ukrainian courts, Dnipro city.

13.2 Pre-litigation Settlement

Before court proceedings, parties undertake to:

Send written complaint
Consider mediation possibility
Use internal dispute resolution procedures

13.3 International User Specifics

13.3.1 EU Users

Right to appeal to courts in country of residence
Application of European consumer protection law
Alternative dispute resolution through ODR platform

13.3.2 US Users

CCPA application for California residents
Compliance with US federal legislation
Arbitration possibility with mutual consent

14. FINAL PROVISIONS

14.1 Agreement Completeness

These Terms together with the Privacy Policy constitute the complete agreement between parties.

14.2 Severability

Invalidity of individual provisions does not entail invalidity of the entire agreement.

14.3 Translations

In case of discrepancies between language versions, the Ukrainian version takes priority.

15. CONTACT INFORMATION

WorldMates.club
Address: [Address in Dnipro, Ukraine]
Email: legal@worldmates.club
Data Protection Service: privacy@worldmates.club

For GDPR inquiries:
Data Protection Officer: dpo@worldmates.club

For CCPA inquiries:
CCPA Agent: ccpa@worldmates.club

These Terms have been drafted in compliance with Ukrainian and international legislation requirements. Regular updates checking at worldmates.club/terms is recommended

Last Updated: August 12, 2025