How it works
Social media platform Terms of Service documents are 20,000–40,000 words long and updated without notification. Violations can result in account bans, content removal, or demonetisation — but almost no creator reads the full ToS. The Platform Terms Summarizer provides plain-language summaries of the key creator-relevant clauses across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, and Pinterest — with the most important restrictions and monetisation rules highlighted.
Key clauses summarised per platform: - Content ownership: do you retain rights to content you upload? (Varies significantly by platform) - Monetisation eligibility: minimum follower/subscriber thresholds, country restrictions, prohibited content categories for ads - Prohibited content categories: nudity, hate speech, health misinformation, political advertising, dangerous challenges - Data the platform collects about you: what behavioural data is gathered and how it's used - Account termination rights: what actions give the platform the right to terminate your account without notice or appeal - Arbitration clause: whether you've waived your right to sue and agreed to binding arbitration
Why this matters for creators: YouTube's monetisation policy bans ads on content about firearms, prescription drugs, and controversial political topics — even if the content is educational. Instagram's terms grant Meta a license to use your content in advertising. TikTok's creator fund terms include a clause allowing the platform to reduce payouts without notice. These are facts buried in 30,000 words of legalese.
Note: this summariser provides educational summaries, not legal advice. Consult a lawyer for specific questions about your content and agreements.
Privacy: this tool displays static summary data. No personal data is collected.
Frequently Asked Questions
- On most platforms, yes — to a limited extent. Instagram's terms grant Meta a worldwide, royalty-free license to use your content to 'provide and improve the Instagram Services' — which courts have interpreted to include advertising. TikTok's terms include a broad content license for platform promotion. YouTube's terms grant Google a similar license for operating the service. Most platforms' terms allow promotional use of public content for the platform's own marketing. Review the 'License to Your Content' section of each platform's ToS for the specific scope.
- This varies significantly by platform. Instagram: deleted content is removed from public display within 30 days, but Meta states in their ToS that content may persist in backup systems for 'a reasonable period'. YouTube: deleted videos are removed within 24–48 hours and cease to be publicly accessible. TikTok: deleted content is removed from the platform, but TikTok's ToS states they may retain metadata. For all platforms, content shared by other users (screenshots, downloads, reposts) persists independently of your account deletion.
- YouTube's advertiser-friendly content guidelines demonetise or limit monetisation on content covering: controversial or sensitive political topics, firearms and weapons even in educational contexts, depictions of tobacco or drug use, adult content (even non-explicit), content involving tragedy or conflict (news coverage may receive reduced ads), and content using profanity (particularly in the title or thumbnail). Content can be published but receive no ads, limited ads (family-safe ads only), or age-gating — each reduces revenue significantly.
- In the US, most social media ToS contain binding arbitration clauses that require disputes to be resolved through private arbitration rather than in court, and waive the right to class action lawsuits. Courts have generally enforced these clauses. However, some US states (California, in particular) have consumer protection laws that limit the enforceability of certain arbitration clauses. The EU's consumer protection regulations provide additional rights that override platform ToS in many cases. If you have a significant legal dispute with a platform, consult a lawyer familiar with platform liability law in your jurisdiction.