Terms of Service

Social Market HQ is a social commerce platform that brings social networking and category-based marketplaces together in one place. It is built for people and businesses who want to trade, discover, and build a community around what they buy and sell.

On Social Market HQ you can:

• Buy products from individual sellers and shops
• Sell products by creating listings
• Create and run a shop with your own inventory
• Exchange items through barter, with or without a cash top-up
• Post Buy Requests to tell sellers what you are looking for
• Share posts to your social feed
• Upload stories that appear for a limited time
• Follow other users and businesses
• Chat privately with buyers and sellers
• Discover businesses and products near you

By creating an account, you agree to these Terms and to the policies referenced within them, including our Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and Community Guidelines. If you do not agree, please do not use the platform.

You may only use Social Market HQ if you are legally able to enter into a binding contract with us and are not barred from doing so under any applicable law.

You must be at least 18 years old, or the age of legal majority in your country or region if that age is higher. Where local law permits younger users to transact only with the consent and supervision of a parent or legal guardian, you are responsible for meeting those requirements. We may ask you to confirm your eligibility at any time.

To use most features you need an account. When you register and while you use the platform, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information about yourself
• Verify your email address when prompted, so we can secure your account and reach you
• Keep your account information up to date
• Maintain the security of your account and take responsibility for everything that happens under it
• Keep your password confidential and never share it with anyone
• Not share, sell, rent, or transfer your account to another person
• Notify us promptly if you believe your account has been compromised

You are responsible for all activity that occurs through your account. We are not liable for any loss arising from unauthorised use of your account that results from your failure to keep your credentials secure.

Social Market HQ only works when people use it honestly. You agree that you will not:

• Create fake, duplicate, or automated accounts
• Impersonate any person, business, or organisation, or misrepresent your affiliation with anyone
• Send spam, or post repetitive, unsolicited, or misleading content
• Scam, defraud, or deceive buyers, sellers, or barter partners
• Upload or share illegal, infringing, or harmful content
• Artificially manipulate likes, comments, ratings, reviews, or engagement
• Artificially inflate followers or use fake engagement of any kind
• Use bots, scrapers, or other automated tools to access or interact with the platform without our permission
• Attack, probe, or attempt to compromise the security or integrity of the platform
• Introduce or distribute malware, viruses, or any malicious code

When you list a product for sale, you are making representations that other users rely on. Every listing you create must:

• Accurately and honestly describe the product
• Include truthful, complete pricing with no hidden or misleading charges
• Represent an item you actually own or are authorised to sell
• Correctly state the item’s condition, whether new, used, refurbished, or otherwise

Listings that are misleading, fraudulent, or that misrepresent an item may be removed, and repeat offences may lead to suspension.

A Buy Request lets you tell sellers what you are looking for. If you create a Buy Request, you must genuinely intend to purchase the item or service you describe, and the information you provide must be truthful and made in good faith.

Buy Requests must not be used to spam sellers, harvest contact details, advertise, or mislead. Requests that are not genuine may be removed.

Barter lets you trade items directly with other users. When you create a barter listing, you must accurately describe:

• The item or items you are offering
• The item or items you are requesting in exchange
• Any cash top-up involved, if applicable

A shop lets you present your inventory as a business. If you run a shop, you agree to:

• Maintain accurate, up-to-date inventory and availability
• Provide honest descriptions and representative images
• Communicate professionally and respectfully with customers
• Avoid misleading advertising, false discounts, or deceptive claims

Shops that repeatedly mislead customers or fail to honour their representations may be restricted or removed.

You keep ownership of the content you upload — your posts, listings, images, videos, stories, and messages remain yours.

To operate the platform, however, you grant Social Market HQ a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to host, display, cache, optimise, resize, reformat, and distribute your content solely for the purpose of running, improving, and promoting the services you use. For example, we resize and optimise images and generate video previews so they load quickly for other users.

This licence lasts only as long as needed to provide the service and ends when you remove your content or close your account, except where the content has been shared with others who have not deleted it, or where we must retain it to comply with law. You are responsible for ensuring you have the rights to everything you upload.

Private messaging is provided for legitimate communication between buyers, sellers, and community members — for example, to ask about a listing or arrange a trade.

You must not use messaging to:

• Harass, threaten, or abuse anyone
• Send phishing links or attempt to steal credentials or payment details
• Commit or facilitate fraud
• Send spam or unsolicited bulk messages

The following may never be listed, offered, bartered, requested, or promoted on Social Market HQ:

• Illegal drugs and controlled substances
• Weapons, firearms, ammunition, and explosives where prohibited or unlicensed
• Counterfeit, replica, or pirated products
• Stolen goods
• Fake, forged, or fraudulent documents
• Protected or illegal wildlife, and products derived from them
• Dangerous, hazardous, or restricted chemicals
• Any service that is illegal or prohibited by law

This list is not exhaustive. We may remove any content or listing that is illegal, unsafe, or inconsistent with these Terms, and we may report unlawful activity to the relevant authorities.

If you see something wrong, tell us. You can report:

• Scams and fraudulent activity
• Abusive, harassing, or threatening users
• Fake or misleading listings
• Copyright and intellectual property violations
• Impersonation of a person or business

Social Market HQ reserves the right — but is not obligated — to investigate reports, and to remove content or restrict accounts that violate these Terms. We aim to act fairly and proportionately.

We may warn, suspend, restrict, or permanently terminate an account at our discretion, including for:

• Fraud or attempted fraud
• Repeated or serious policy violations
• Fake or falsified verification
• Abuse, harassment, or threats toward others
• Spam or manipulation of platform features
• Any illegal activity

Where practical and lawful, we will give notice and, for less serious issues, an opportunity to put things right. Serious violations may result in immediate termination.

Social Market HQ is a venue that connects buyers and sellers. Unless we explicitly state otherwise for a specific product or service, we are not the seller of items listed on the platform and we do not take part in the transactions between users.

Except where the law says otherwise, we are not responsible for:

• The transactions users enter into with one another
• Delivery, shipping, or collection of items
• The quality, safety, legality, or accuracy of listed items
• Payment disputes between users
• The outcome of any barter or trade

We encourage you to use good judgement, verify who you are dealing with, and follow the guidance in our Safety Center.

You use Social Market HQ at your own risk. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the platform is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, and Social Market HQ, its officers, employees, and partners are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for any loss of profits, data, goodwill, or opportunity, arising from your use of — or inability to use — the platform.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.

How we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information is explained in our Privacy Policy, which forms part of these Terms. Our use of cookies and similar technologies is described in our Cookie Policy.

The platform will grow and change over time, and these Terms may change with it. When we make significant updates, we will notify you — for example, through the app, by email, or by asking you to review and re-accept the updated Terms before you continue.

Each version of these Terms carries a version number and a last-updated date so you can see what has changed. This document is version 1.0.0, last updated 24 July 2026. Your continued use of the platform after an update takes effect means you accept the revised Terms.

If you have questions about these Terms, you can reach us at:

• Support email: support@socialmarkethq.com
• Legal email: legal@socialmarkethq.com
• Business address: [Business Address — to be confirmed]
• Website: www.socialmarkethq.com

These Terms are governed by the laws of [Jurisdiction — to be confirmed], and any disputes will be handled in accordance with those laws, without limiting any mandatory rights you have under the law of your own country of residence.