Winksi is a micro-location social network (and is not a dating application) provided by HEKOM DOOEL. By accessing or using the Winksi service, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the service.
Private messages between users are not end-to-end encrypted.
2.1. Ownership: Users retain full copyright and ownership of all content they create and upload to the service.
2.2. License to Winksi: By using Winksi, you grant Winksi a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license, sub-licensable solely to our service providers for the purpose of operating the service, to host, store, display inside the app, process for safety and moderation, and operate the Winksi service. This license ends when you delete your account. However, you acknowledge that copies of your data may persist if required for legal compliance or as part of a submitted moderation report.
2.3. Content Visibility: Winksi does not host a public feed. User profiles and content are not publicly available, not viewable by non-users, and not indexed by search engines. Visibility is strictly restricted to eligible users within the app based on age group and Point of Interest (POI) interactions, as detailed in Section 7. Users are solely responsible for all content they share on the platform.
Eligibility: Private messaging is available only between mutually-connected users within the same age group (16–17 or 18+).
Message Routing and Storage: Messages may be temporarily retained on our backend systems until delivery confirmation is received from the recipient's device, or until expiration (up to 10 days). After delivery confirmation or expiration, ordinary message data is deleted from our backend systems. Delivered messages are stored on the recipient's device and automatically delete after 30 days.
No Encryption: Messages are not end-to-end encrypted.
Moderation Limitation and Safeguards: To protect user privacy, Winksi does not retain delivered private message content on its servers in the ordinary course. However, when a user reports a conversation, a snapshot of the reported messages is captured from the reporting user's device and stored on our servers as moderation evidence. Reported message snapshots are retained for up to 45 days; associated report metadata is retained for up to 1 year. This content is used solely for safety and moderation. Winksi further mitigates abuse through upstream safeguards: messaging is restricted to mutually-connected, same-age-group users; users may block connections at any time; and accounts may be suspended based on behavioral signals.
Notification metadata (e.g., recipient ID, timestamp, and message length, but not message content) is processed for push delivery and is deleted shortly after successful delivery. FCM tokens are used solely for push notification functionality.
Winksi uses location data to fetch points of interest (POIs) around you and display content relevant to your proximity. Winksi does not continuously broadcast your exact GPS location to other users. However, because the app lets eligible users discover others connected to the same POI or POI history, it may enable users to infer that another user is or was near a location. Location data is temporarily stored for active session functionality and is not retained long-term or used for tracking purposes.
Self-Reported and Unverified Location: POI pins are based on location data reported by your device and are self-declared. Winksi does not verify physical presence at any Point of Interest, and users may pin to a POI without being physically present, including through inaccurate, mock, or falsified location data. You must not rely on a pin as proof of another user's actual location. Winksi is not responsible for inaccurate, falsified, or spoofed location information submitted by users.
Winksi displays ads via Google AdMob. By using Winksi, you acknowledge that AdMob may collect certain data, including device identifiers and coarse location. Ad personalization is managed entirely by Google, and we utilize consent management platforms to ensure compliance. Winksi does not link this advertising data to your user identity, nor does it sell user data. Users in the 16–17 age group receive only non-personalized advertising.
Minimum Age: You must be 16 years of age or older to use Winksi. Underage accounts will be immediately terminated.
Age Accuracy: Providing false age information may result in account termination.
Age Groups: Winksi strictly separates users into two distinct age groups: 16–17 and 18+. Users in different age groups cannot view each other's profiles, interact, or exchange messages.
Profile Visibility (Current POI & History): The only information visible to others is your profile thumbnail, display name, bio, and age group. This visibility is strictly governed by the following rules:
Connections (Winks): Connections are established only when two eligible users mutually "wink." If an existing connection between users later falls across different age groups (e.g., one turns 18), the connection is automatically and permanently removed.
Prohibited Conduct: Users must not upload illegal, offensive, or infringing content, use profane language, or impersonate others.
Blocking: You may block up to 200 accounts at one time. If your block limit is reached, you must unblock an existing account to block a new one.
Suspension: Winksi reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.
Winksi helps you discover and connect with other people, but Winksi does not conduct background checks on users, does not verify user identities, and does not verify any user's physical presence at a location. You are solely responsible for your own safety and judgment when communicating with other users and when deciding whether to meet anyone in person. You interact with other users at your own risk. Winksi is not responsible or liable for the conduct of any user, whether online or offline, or for any harm arising from interactions between users.
Users may delete their profile at any time via the app settings. When an account is deleted, all associated data is removed from live systems, except where retention is required by applicable law or legal preservation obligations.
Winksi is provided "as-is". HEKOM DOOEL is not liable for user behavior, user content, service outages, or actions by third-party services. Liability is limited to the maximum extent permitted by the laws of North Macedonia. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits our liability where it would be unlawful to do so, including for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, or fraudulent misrepresentation.
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless HEKOM DOOEL, its affiliates, and employees from claims arising out of your use of the service or violation of these Terms.
These Terms are governed by the laws of North Macedonia. You agree to attempt informal resolution by contacting winksi.app@gmail.com for 30 days prior to initiating legal action. Unresolved disputes will be exclusively resolved in the competent courts of Skopje, North Macedonia.
We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify users of material changes. Continued use after changes means acceptance of the updated Terms.