Terms of Service

1. About PTAL

PTAL (Passing Through A Lot) is a free, anonymous storytelling platform built for Zimbabweans. By using PTAL you agree to these terms. If you don't agree, please don't use the service.

2. Who can use PTAL

You must be at least 16 years old to create an account. PTAL deals with sensitive mental health content that is not appropriate for younger audiences. By creating an account you confirm that you meet this age requirement. We may remove accounts that we reasonably believe belong to under-16 users.

3. Anonymity is the point

We don't ask for your real name. Your stories and comments are posted under a randomly generated anonymous name. We hash IP addresses with a salt — we cannot, even if asked, link a story back to a specific person from our database alone.

That said, please don't include identifying details (names, ID numbers, photos, exact addresses) in your story content — anonymity protects you, but it can't undo what you publish.

4. What you can post

You can share your own experiences. You cannot post:

• Hate speech, harassment, or threats targeting any individual or group
• Content that identifies, accuses, or names a specific private individual
• Sexual content involving minors, in any form
• Calls to violence, self-harm encouragement, or methods of self-harm
• Spam, advertising, or content posted in bulk
• Material that infringes someone else's copyright or rights

All stories are reviewed by a human moderator before they appear in the public feed. We may remove anything that breaks these rules, and we may suspend accounts that repeatedly do so.

5. PTAL is not a medical or crisis service

PTAL does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Nothing on this platform should be taken as professional medical, psychological, or legal advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified professional for any condition or concern.

We are a place for stories and peer connection, not a substitute for professional help. If you are in immediate danger or having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please call the Zimbabwe Republic Police on 995 or see the helplines on our Crisis page.

Professionals listed on PTAL are independent practitioners. Any advice or communication you receive from them through this platform is between you and them — PTAL is not a party to that relationship and does not supervise or endorse their guidance.

6. Professionals listed on PTAL

Professionals in our directory have provided credentials that we have manually reviewed. We are not a regulator and do not employ them. PTAL does not guarantee any outcome of contact between you and a listed professional. Use your own judgement before engaging anyone listed.

7. Donations

Donations made through PayNow or PayPal go to the operating costs of PTAL (hosting, domains, email delivery, moderation tooling). Donations are voluntary and non-refundable except where required by law.

8. Service availability

We try to keep PTAL up at all times but do not guarantee uninterrupted access. We may change, suspend, or discontinue any part of the service at any time. We will give reasonable notice for major changes.

9. Liability

PTAL is provided "as is". To the maximum extent allowed by Zimbabwean law, we are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of the service.

10. Changes to these terms

We may update these terms from time to time. If we make material changes, we will post a notice on the platform. Continued use after changes means you accept the new terms.

11. Contact

Questions, concerns, or legal notices: hello@ptal.co.zw.