Terms of Service

Behind the Shades ("we," "us," the "Service") is an anonymous AI-powered emotional support companion. We are not a licensed therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, doctor, lawyer, or any other licensed professional. Nothing shared with the Service is medical, legal, or psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and the Service is not a substitute for professional care.

If you are in immediate danger, in crisis, or considering harming yourself or others, please contact emergency services right away: 911, or call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or text HOME to 741741.

You must be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction) to use Behind the Shades. By using the Service, you confirm that you meet this requirement and that you are using the Service for your own personal, non-commercial healing journey.

We do not ask for your real name. We encourage you to leave out information that could identify you or anyone else. Conversations may be processed by AI providers to generate responses. Please do not share information you do not want processed by an AI system.

Healing begins when you let what you've carried come out. You are encouraged to speak honestly about your pain, anger, fear, shame, grief, confusion, and the hardest parts of your story. Raw, uncensored emotional expression about your own experience is welcomed here.

Free expression about your inner world is different from the conduct listed in our Acceptable Use Policy, which is part of these Terms. Please read it.

We do our best to make Behind the Shades safe, kind, and available — but we provide it without warranties of any kind. AI responses can be wrong, incomplete, or unintentionally hurtful. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not liable for any decisions you make based on conversations with the Service, or for any indirect or consequential harm arising from its use.

We may pause or end access for anyone who uses the Service in ways that violate the Acceptable Use Policy, that put others at risk, or that misuse the space in ways inconsistent with its healing purpose.

We may update these Terms as the Service grows. When we do, we'll update the date at the top. Continued use after changes means you accept the updated Terms.

Questions about these Terms or the Acceptable Use Policy can be sent through the channels listed on our About page.