Terms of Service
Effective Date: 01/01/2026
Last Updated: 01/10/2026
1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using Sob-Story (the “Platform”), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”). If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not access or use the Platform.
These Terms apply to all visitors, registered users, and contributors.
Definitions:
“Sob-Story,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to the Sob-Story platform and its operators.
“Platform” refers to sob-story.com and any related features, subdomains, or services.
“Content” includes user-generated posts, comments, replies, profile information, and articles.
2. Nature of the Platform (No Therapy or Medical Services)
Sob-Story is an online community and educational platform intended to facilitate discussion, personal reflection, and access to general psychological information.
Sob-Story does not provide medical, psychiatric, psychological, or therapeutic services.
Nothing on this Platform constitutes medical advice, mental health treatment, diagnosis, or a substitute for professional care.
The presence of advertisements, affiliate links, or sponsored content does not alter the non-therapeutic, non-clinical nature of the Platform.
Content provided through:
• Community posts
• Comments or replies
• Articles or research summaries
• Moderation actions or messages
is offered for informational and educational purposes only.
Crisis Resources
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, thoughts of self-harm, or thoughts of harming others, seek immediate help from a qualified professional or emergency services.
• United States: Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
• Emergency Services: Dial 911 or your local emergency number
• Outside the United States: Contact your local emergency services or a trusted mental health provider
Sob-Story is not equipped to provide crisis intervention or emergency response.
3. Articles and Educational Content
The Articles section includes summaries and interpretations of psychological research written for general educational purposes.
Although some content may be authored by individuals with formal training in psychology, including a Master of Science in Psychology, this does not create a therapist-client, clinician-patient, or professional relationship between you and Sob-Story or its contributors.
Research summaries:
• Are simplified for accessibility
• May not apply to all individuals or situations
• Should not be used to make personal medical or treatment decisions
4. User Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years old to use the Platform.
By using Sob-Story, you represent that:
• You are legally able to enter into these Terms
• You are not prohibited from using the Platform under applicable law
5. User Conduct and Community Standards
Users agree to engage respectfully and responsibly. The following are strictly prohibited:
• Harassment, hate speech, threats, or abuse
• Encouraging self-harm, suicide, or harm to others
• Providing medical, legal, or clinical advice as authoritative
• Misrepresenting credentials or professional authority
• Illegal activity or promotion of illegal conduct
• Doxxing or sharing private, identifying, or confidential information
• Any sexual content involving minors
• Spam, solicitation, scams, or malicious activity
Sob-Story reserves the right to remove content or restrict access at its sole discretion to maintain a safe and constructive environment.
6. User-Generated Content
You retain ownership of content you submit; however, by posting on Sob-Story, you grant the Platform a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to display, distribute, reproduce, adapt, and moderate that content in connection with operation of the Platform.
You are solely responsible for the content you post.
Sob-Story does not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy of user-generated content.
7. Public Visibility of Content
Certain areas of the Platform may be publicly accessible and viewable by non-members, including through search engines.
By posting content on Sob-Story, you acknowledge and agree that:
• Your posts may be publicly visible
• Your content may be indexed, cached, archived, copied, or shared by third parties
• Sob-Story cannot guarantee removal of content from third-party platforms once indexed
You are responsible for the information you choose to share and should not post content you consider private, confidential, or personally identifying.
8. Moderation, Account Suspension, and Termination
Sob-Story is a moderated platform. Moderation actions may include:
• Content removal
• Account suspension or termination
• Limiting posting or participation privileges
Sob-Story may suspend or terminate accounts at any time, with or without notice, for violations of these Terms or to protect the Platform and its users.
Access to the Platform is not guaranteed, and Sob-Story is not responsible for loss of content resulting from moderation or termination.
9. Privacy and Data Practices
Your use of the Platform is governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains how Sob-Story and its third-party partners collect, use, and protect information, including through cookies and advertising technologies.
By using the Platform, you consent to the data practices described in the Privacy Policy.
10. Intellectual Property
All platform content not generated by users—including branding, logos, design elements, site layout, and original articles—is the intellectual property of Sob-Story or its licensors and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used without prior written permission.
11. Advertising, Sponsored Content, and Third-Party Advertising Services
Sob-Story may display advertising, affiliate links, sponsored content, and third-party advertisements, including ads served by external advertising networks such as Google AdSense.
Advertising Format and Placement
Sob-Story intends to use primarily contextual display advertisements, meaning:
• Ads are selected based on page content rather than individual user posts or emotional expression
• Ads are not intentionally personalized based on sensitive mental health disclosures
• Ads are placed only in designated non-expressive areas, such as:
– The end of articles
– Static informational pages
– Designated site sections
Advertisements are not intentionally displayed within:
• Forum discussion threads
• Comments or replies
• User-generated expression spaces
• Crisis resources or emergency guidance areas
While Sob-Story makes reasonable efforts to restrict ad placement to these areas, we do not control the specific advertisements shown and cannot guarantee that all ads will be appropriate for all audiences.
Third-Party Advertising Technology
Third-party advertising partners may use cookies, web beacons, device identifiers, or similar technologies to:
• Deliver advertisements
• Measure ad performance
• Limit repeated display of the same ads
These technologies may collect non-personally identifiable information about your visits to this and other websites. Sob-Story does not control these technologies or the data collected by third-party advertisers.
No Endorsement or Professional Implication
• Advertisements and sponsored content do not constitute medical, psychological, therapeutic, or professional advice
• Sob-Story does not endorse, verify, or guarantee any third-party product, service, claim, or outcome
• Any interaction, transaction, or reliance on advertised content is solely between you and the advertiser
Sponsored and Affiliate Content
Sob-Story may include:
• Affiliate links in articles or resource pages
• Sponsored articles or sections, clearly labeled as such
Affiliate or sponsorship relationships do not influence moderation decisions, community standards, or the availability of user-generated content.
12. Copyright Complaints (DMCA)
Sob-Story respects intellectual property rights.
If you believe content on the Platform infringes your copyright, please contact [email protected] with:
Identification of the copyrighted work
Identification and location of the allegedly infringing content
Your contact information
A statement of good-faith belief that the use is unauthorized
A statement made under penalty of perjury that the information is accurate and you are authorized to act
13. Disclaimer of Warranties
Sob-Story is provided “as is” and “as available.”
We make no warranties regarding:
• Accuracy or completeness of content
• Continuous or error-free operation
• Security, reliability, or availability
• Suitability for any particular purpose
Use of the Platform is at your own risk.
14. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Sob-Story shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages arising from use of the Platform, including but not limited to emotional distress, loss of data, lost profits, or reliance on information provided.
15. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Sob-Story, its operators, and affiliates from any claims, damages, liabilities, and expenses arising from:
• Your use of the Platform
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of another party
16. Changes to These Terms
Sob-Story may update these Terms at any time. Continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.
17. Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Tennessee, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.
18. Third-Party Services and External Links
The Platform may contain links to third-party websites, services, or applications, including advertisers, analytics providers, and payment processors.
Sob-Story does not control and is not responsible for the content, policies, or practices of third-party services. Your interactions with third-party services are governed by their own terms and privacy policies.
Use of third-party services is at your own risk.
19. Contact
For questions regarding these Terms, please contact:
[email protected]