Terms of Service

PopKic Terms of Service

Last Updated: 2025/11/20

General Terms – All Users
1. Your Relationship With Us

Welcome to PopKic (the "Platform"), a social media platform provided by PopKic (Pty) Ltd or one of its affiliates ("PopKic", "we", "us" or "our").

You are reading the terms of service (the "Terms"), which govern the relationship between you and us and set forth the terms and conditions by which you may access and use the Platform and our related websites, services, applications, products, and content (collectively, the "Services"). For purposes of these Terms, "you" and "your" means you as the user of the Services.

The Terms form a legally binding agreement between you and us. Please take the time to read them carefully.

2. Accepting the Terms

By accessing or using our Services, you confirm that you can form a binding contract with PopKic, that you accept these Terms, and that you agree to comply with them. Your access to and use of our Services is also subject to our Privacy Policy and Community Guidelines, which are incorporated herein by reference. By using the Services, you consent to the terms of the Privacy Policy.

If you access or use the Services from within a jurisdiction for which there are separate supplemental terms, you also hereby agree to those supplemental terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not access or use our Services.

You can accept the Terms by accessing or using our Services. You understand and agree that we will treat your access or use of the Services as acceptance of the Terms from that point onwards.

3. The PopKic Ecosystem: Scores, Currency, and Points

A fundamental aspect of our Services is the PopKic ecosystem, which includes your Reputation Score, Contribution Score, Badges, Pop Coins, and Pop Points.

A. Reputation Score

Your Reputation Score is a dynamic measure based on your interactions, adherence to Community Guidelines, and peer validation. It directly influences your access to platform features. You acknowledge that the calculation of your Reputation Score is automated and based on our proprietary algorithms, and you agree not to attempt to manipulate this score.

B. Contribution Score

Your Contribution Score reflects the value you add to the platform through activities like creating content, fact-checking, and valid reporting. It unlocks opportunities to earn rewards. You agree that the determination of what constitutes a "valuable contribution" is at our sole discretion.

C. Badges

Badges are awarded based on achievements, Reputation, and Contribution. They signal your standing to other users and may grant access to specific features. We reserve the right to award or revoke Badges at our discretion.

D. Pop Coins

Pop Coins are the proprietary digital currency of the PopKic platform.

  • Nature of Pop Coins: Pop Coins are not financial instruments, securities, or e-money. They are a proprietary utility with no inherent monetary value. They represent a limited license to use a feature of the Platform.
  • Value Fluctuation: The "value" of Pop Coins, as reflected in their exchange rate with fiat currency or other digital assets, is dynamic and is driven by the platform's overall health, user engagement, and demand for value-add services. You acknowledge and agree that this value may fluctuate significantly and that you may lose the fiat value you spent to acquire Pop Coins.
  • Purchasing and Selling: You may be able to buy Pop Coins from us or sell them to us or other users, subject to separate terms and applicable laws. We do not guarantee any liquidity or a specific value for your Pop Coins.

E. Pop Points

Pop Points are the consumable product required to perform certain actions on the Platform, such as posting content.

Pop Points can be earned organically, gifted by other users, or purchased using Pop Coins.

All purchases of Pop Coins and Pop Points are final and non-refundable, except as required by applicable law.

4. Your Account with Us

To access our Services, you must create an account. You must provide accurate and up-to-date information and maintain the confidentiality of your password. You are solely responsible for the activity that occurs under your account.

We reserve the right to disable your user account at any time, including if you have failed to comply with these Terms, or if activities occur on your account which, in our sole discretion, would damage the Services, infringe on any rights, or violate any laws.

5. Your Access to and Use of Our Services

Your access to and use of the Services is subject to these Terms and all applicable laws and regulations. In addition to other prohibitions, you may not:

  • Use the Services for any unauthorized commercial purpose.
  • Attempt to manipulate, exploit, or game the Reputation Score, Contribution Score, Badge, Pop Coin, or Pop Point systems.
  • Use automated scripts, bots, or other methods to interact with the Services or collect information.
  • Use the Services to upload, transmit, or store content that is illegal, harmful, defamatory, obscene, or in violation of our Community Guidelines.
  • Interfere with the proper working of the Services or bypass any measures we use to restrict access.
6. Intellectual Property Rights

We respect intellectual property rights and ask you to do the same. As a condition of your access, you agree not to use the Services to infringe on any intellectual property rights.

7. Content

A. PopKic Content

All content provided by us on the Services ("PopKic Content") is owned or licensed by us. You may not use PopKic Content for any purpose not expressly permitted by these Terms.

B. User-Generated Content

  • You retain ownership of the content you create and share on the Platform ("User Content").
  • By submitting User Content, you grant PopKic a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to use, modify, reproduce, distribute, and display your User Content. This license is for the limited purpose of operating, developing, providing, promoting, and improving the Services and researching and developing new ones. This includes using your User Content to calculate Scores, facilitate the platform economy, and power value-add services.
  • You are solely responsible for your own User Content and the consequences of posting or publishing it. You represent and warrant that you have all necessary rights to grant us this license.
8. Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability

THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. WE DO NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, POPKIC SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, RESULTING FROM:

  • YOUR ACCESS TO OR USE OF OR INABILITY TO ACCESS OR USE THE SERVICES;
  • THE CONDUCT OR CONTENT OF OTHER USERS OR THIRD PARTIES ON OR THROUGH THE SERVICES;
  • ANY UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS, USE, OR ALTERATION OF YOUR CONTENT OR TRANSMISSIONS;
  • THE FLUCTUATION IN, OR LOSS OF, PERCEIVED VALUE OF POP COINS.
9. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless PopKic, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, disputes, demands, liabilities, damages, losses, and costs and expenses, arising out of or in any way connected with (i) your access to or use of the Services, (ii) your User Content, or (iii) your violation of these Terms.

10. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms, their subject matter and their formation, are governed by the laws of South Africa. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration under the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (AFSA) rules.

11. Age Limit

The Services are only for people 13 years old and over (with additional limits that may be set forth in Supplemental Terms). By using the Services, you confirm that you are over the relevant age specified herein. If we learn that someone under the relevant age is using the Services, we will terminate that user's account.

12. Changes to the Terms

We may amend these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes, for example, via a service notification or email. Your continued access or use of the Services after the changes become effective constitutes your acceptance of the new Terms.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us at: legal@popkic.com

Supplemental Terms – Jurisdiction-Specific
South Africa

If you are using our Services in South Africa, the following additional terms apply:

  • Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA): Our processing of your personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy and POPIA. You have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator.
  • Consumer Protection: Nothing in these Terms is intended to waive or limit any rights you may have under the Consumer Protection Act, 2008, to the extent such rights cannot be lawfully limited or excluded.