Terms of Service

Last Updated: January 25, 2026

Welcome to Tangents. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the Tangents mobile application and related services (collectively, the "Service"). By using Tangents, you agree to these Terms.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account or using Tangents, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you don't agree to these Terms, please don't use the Service.

These Terms apply to all users, including those who simply browse the app.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 13 years old to use Tangents. By using the Service, you represent that you meet this age requirement.

If you are under 18, you confirm that you have your parent or guardian's permission to use the Service.

3. Account Registration

Creating an Account

To use Tangents, you must create an account by:

• Providing a valid phone number and verifying it via OTP (one-time password), or
• Using anonymous sign-in (note: anonymous accounts cannot be recovered if you lose access)

Account Security

You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the security of your account
• All activities that occur under your account
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized use

Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account if you violate these Terms or engage in harmful behavior.

4. Use of the Service

Permitted Use

Tangents is designed for personal, educational use. You may use the Service to:

• Engage in voice-based learning conversations
• Explore topics and build knowledge
• Review your learning history and profile

Prohibited Use

You may not:

• Use the Service for any illegal purpose
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems
• Interfere with or disrupt the Service
• Use automated tools (bots, scrapers) without permission
• Impersonate others or provide false information
• Share content that is harmful, abusive, or violates others' rights
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the app
• Use the Service to harm minors in any way

5. Content and Intellectual Property

Your Content

You retain ownership of the questions you ask and the conversations you have. By using Tangents, you grant us a license to:

• Store and process your conversations to provide the Service
• Use anonymized, aggregated data to improve our AI and features
• Generate learning profiles and topic suggestions based on your usage

Our Content

The Tangents app, including its design, features, AI responses, and underlying technology, is owned by us and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works from our content without express written permission.

Third-Party Content

Images provided through Unsplash are subject to the Unsplash License.

6. AI-Generated Content

Important Disclaimer: Tangents uses AI (Google Gemini) to generate responses. While we strive for accuracy:

• AI responses may contain errors or inaccuracies
• AI cannot provide professional advice (medical, legal, financial, etc.)
• You should independently verify important information
• AI responses are for educational and informational purposes only

We are not responsible for decisions you make based on AI-generated content.

7. Privacy and Data

Your privacy is important to us. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and protect your information.

By using Tangents, you consent to the data practices described in our Privacy Policy.

8. Payments and Subscriptions

Current Status: Tangents is currently in beta and free to use. We may introduce paid features or subscriptions in the future.

If we introduce paid features, we will:

• Clearly communicate pricing
• Provide advance notice to existing users
• Allow you to opt out before being charged

9. Service Availability

No Guarantee of Uptime

We strive to keep Tangents available 24/7, but we don't guarantee uninterrupted access. The Service may be unavailable due to:

• Maintenance and updates
• Technical issues
• Circumstances beyond our control

Changes to the Service

We may modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Service at any time. We'll provide reasonable notice for significant changes.

10. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

No Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING:

• Accuracy or reliability of AI responses
• Fitness for a particular purpose
• Non-infringement
• Uninterrupted or error-free operation

Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

• Indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
• Loss of data, profits, or revenue
• Decisions made based on AI-generated content
• Third-party actions or content

OUR TOTAL LIABILITY SHALL NOT EXCEED $100 OR THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from:

• Your use of the Service
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of others

12. Third-Party Services

Tangents integrates with third-party services (Firebase, Google Gemini, LiveKit, Unsplash). Your use of these services is subject to their respective terms and policies. We are not responsible for third-party services or their content.

13. Dispute Resolution

Informal Resolution

If you have a dispute, please contact us at alexsteinapple@gmail.com first. We'll try to resolve it informally.

Arbitration

If we can't resolve the dispute informally, you agree to resolve it through binding arbitration, not in court. This means:

• Disputes will be resolved by a neutral arbitrator
• You waive your right to a jury trial
• You waive your right to participate in class actions

Exceptions

You may bring small claims court actions, and we may seek injunctive relief for intellectual property violations.

14. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.

15. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by:

• Updating the "Last Updated" date
• Sending an in-app notification
• Requiring acceptance for significant changes

Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

16. Termination

By You

You may stop using the Service and delete your account at any time by contacting us at alexsteinapple@gmail.com.

By Us

We may suspend or terminate your access if:

• You violate these Terms
• Your use harms the Service or other users
• Required by law

Effect of Termination

Upon termination, your right to use the Service ends immediately. We may delete your data in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full effect.

18. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Tangents regarding the Service.

19. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us:

• Email: alexsteinapple@gmail.com
• Legal Inquiries: alexsteinapple@gmail.com

By using Tangents, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service.