Terms of Service

The service

The Little While is a private online journal for parents: you write entries — words, photos, and videos — on the web, and optionally receive a gentle daily prompt by text and reply to it by text. The web journal is the core service and does not require SMS. You must be 18 or older and a US resident to use it, and if you opt into texts, the phone number you verify must be your own.

Your trial and subscription

Every account starts with a 14-day free trial, no card required. After that, keeping the daily prompts requires a paid plan ($9.99/month or $79/year). You can cancel anytime from Settings — your subscription runs through the period you paid for.

If your trial ends or you cancel, your journal does not disappear. You keep full access to read, search, edit, and export everything you saved. We only pause the daily prompts.

Your content is yours

Everything you put into The Little While — texts, photos, videos, entries — remains yours. You grant us only the limited license needed to store, process, display, and enhance it for you. We claim no other rights, and the license ends when you delete your content or account.

You're responsible for what you upload: it should be yours to share and lawful. We may remove content or close accounts that abuse the service or other people.

Text messaging terms (optional)

Text messaging is optional and is not a condition of purchase or of using The Little While. Only if you check the SMS consent box and verify your number do you agree to receive recurring journal prompts and service messages at that number (about one per day, plus your replies and occasional service notices). Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency is approximately one message per day. Reply STOP to cancel all texts, HELP for help. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.

AI features

Prompts are generated by AI and might occasionally miss the mark — text ANOTHER for a new one. Photo enhancement is automated and best-effort; we always keep your original. AI features depend on third-party providers and may change.

What we promise (and what we can't)

We work hard to keep The Little While reliable and your memories safe, including backups. But we provide the service "as is" — we can't guarantee uninterrupted service or that every text is delivered (carriers sit between us and you). To the maximum extent the law allows, our total liability is limited to what you paid us in the past 12 months.

Please keep your own copies of irreplaceable photos and videos too. We're a journal, not your only backup — belt and suspenders.

Ending things

You can delete your account anytime in Settings, which permanently removes your data. We can suspend or close accounts that violate these terms, with notice when reasonable.

Changes, law & contact

If these terms change in a way that matters, we'll notify you before it takes effect. These terms are governed by the laws of the United States and the State of Utah. Questions? hello@thelittlewhile.com.