Terms & Conditions

Program Participation

The Program provides peer support only. It is not a medical, mental health, therapeutic, or crisis service. Participation is open to individuals who meet our Program criteria.

By joining the Program, you agree to:

• Participate voluntarily and engage in respectful check-ins with your oPPal at least two times per week
• Communicate honestly about your needs and feelings
• Maintain the privacy and confidentiality of your matched oPPal participant
• Communicate with your matched oPPal participant via the channel oPPal provides at the time of your match — either a proxy SMS number that masks both parties' real phone numbers, or, where you have actively consented, by direct exchange of phone numbers (see "SMS Messaging" below for details on each)
• Provide monthly feedback to oPPal, Inc. to help us improve the Program
• Contact your healthcare provider for any medical or mental health concerns
• In an emergency, call 911 or your local emergency services — oPPal is not an emergency service

Little oPPal Responsibilities

As a Little oPPal, you agree to:

• Not request medical, psychological, or professional advice or emergency support from your Big oPPal
• Treat your Big oPPal with respect and appreciation for their time and experience
• Notify oPPal if you need to pause or end your participation

Big oPPal Responsibilities

As a Big oPPal, you agree to:

• Share your experience with compassion, and within your personal boundaries
• Not provide medical, psychological, or professional advice or emergency support of any kind
• Notify oPPal if concerns arise with your Little oPPal match

Not a Medical Service

Neither oPPal nor its participants are licensed medical professionals, therapists, or counselors. Nothing shared through the Program constitutes medical, psychological, or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency or mental health crisis, call 911 or contact a qualified healthcare provider immediately.

You agree not to rely on any information from another participant as professional advice.

Limitation of Liability

By participating in oPPal, you agree not to hold oPPal, Inc. liable for any medical, emotional, or other outcomes related to your participation in the Program. oPPal does not monitor, supervise, or guarantee any aspect of participant interactions. oPPal does not screen, verify, train, or endorse its participants. All participation is at your own risk and provided on an "as is" basis without any warranties, including, without limitation, express or implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.

You understand and agree that to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, oPPal will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or exemplary damages.

Your Information

Your personal information is kept confidential and shared only with your matched oPPal and the internal oPPal team as needed to operate the Program. Your data will never be sold or used for commercial purposes without your consent. For full details, see our Privacy Policy.

Leaving the Program

You may leave the program at any time, for any reason, by contacting us at [email protected]. oPPal, in its sole discretion, may also end your participation if program boundaries are violated or if concerns arise that cannot be resolved. Any suspected fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity that may be grounds for termination of your participation in the Program may be referred to appropriate law enforcement authorities. oPPal may also in its sole discretion and at any time discontinue any part of its Program, with or without notice. You agree that any termination by oPPal of your participation in the Program may be effected without prior notice. Further, you agree that oPPal will not be liable to you or any third party for any termination of your participation in the Program.

SMS Messaging

Once matched, oPPal facilitates communication between you and your matched oPPal in one of two forms — proxy SMS or direct exchange of phone numbers. The form available for your match is disclosed at the moment of match confirmation, and you actively consent before any communication channel is opened.

Proxy SMS

• Messages are routed through a proxy phone number provided by oPPal. By confirming your match in the oPPal portal, you consent to receive SMS messages through this proxy system.
• Standard message and data rates may apply.
• You may opt out of SMS at any time by replying STOP. Opting out ends SMS communication for your current match.
• For help, reply HELP or contact [email protected].
• oPPal uses Twilio, Inc. to deliver proxy SMS messages. Message content is processed by Twilio solely to route delivery.

Communications Outside the Platform

Where matched oPPals communicate via direct phone-number exchange or any channel outside oPPal's infrastructure, those communications are between the participants directly. oPPal does not facilitate, monitor, or take responsibility for the content, conduct, frequency, or consequences of communications occurring outside the platform.

You agree to communicate with your matched oPPal in good faith, in line with the Program's peer-support purpose, and consistent with the responsibilities outlined above. Behavior that would violate these terms within oPPal's platform is similarly unacceptable in direct communications.

If you have a concern about your matched oPPal — including communications occurring outside the platform — you can report it through the oPPal portal or by contacting us at [email protected]. Because oPPal does not see direct communications, your report is the primary signal we have for concerns. We will review reports, may pause matching, and may end the match relationship in our system; however, we cannot retrieve messages, contact your matched oPPal on your behalf, or stop direct communications between you and another participant.

Changes to These Terms

We may update these terms as the Program evolves. When we do, we will revise the effective date at the top of this page. Continued participation after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.

Contact Us

If you have questions about these terms, reach out at [email protected].