Texts from Yala

Yala is an app for making plans with people you already know. It has two kinds of text message, and this page is about both. Nothing here is marketing, and Yala never sells or shares your number.

How you opt in

You opt in inside the app, on the signup screen, before any message is sent. There is one field on that screen and it is your phone number. Directly under it, before you can go on, it says:

Your number is only used to find friends you already know. Nobody can search you by it.

We’ll also text you about plans you can see. No more than five a day. Reply HELP for help, STOP to stop. Message and data rates may apply.

By carrying on you’re agreeing to our ya.la/terms and ya.la/privacy.

Tapping Send me a code on that screen is the opt-in. In the words the carriers ask for: by entering your phone number and continuing past that screen, you agree to receive SMS from Yala at the number you gave, and you agree that these messages may be sent using an automated system.

Consent is never bought, rented, borrowed from another service, or taken from anybody but the person holding the phone.

What you get

Sign-in codes

Yala has no password. When you sign in it texts you a six-digit code. You get one each time you ask for one, and never otherwise.

Nudges about your own plans

When something happens on a plan you can see, Yala tries to reach you with a push notification. If your device cannot be reached, and only then, the same nudge is sent to your number instead. They look like this:

• Yala: Alex asked to join your plan tonight. ya.la/p/ab12cd Get the app: ya.la/app Reply STOP to stop.
• Yala: Jamie joined your plan Dinner out. ya.la/p/ab12cd Get the app: ya.la/app
• Yala: New message in Movie night. ya.la/p/ab12cd Get the app: ya.la/app

How often

No more than five nudges in a day, to any one number, and none between 10PM and 8AM in your own time zone. Most people get far fewer, because a nudge is only ever sent when a push notification could not be. Sign-in codes are sent only when you ask for one and are not counted in the five.

Getting help

Reply HELP to any message and you get: Yala: For help, visit ya.la/support or write help@ya.la. Reply STOP to opt out of SMS, START to subscribe. Msg&data rates may apply. You can also just email help@ya.la and a person will reply. There is no queue and no chatbot.

Stopping

Reply STOP to any message and the nudges stop. So do STOPALL, UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, QUIT and OPTOUT. You get one last message confirming it, and then nothing. Reply START to have them back.

You can also turn them off inside the app under You, without texting anything. Stopping nudges does not stop sign-in codes, because without those you cannot get into your account.

Rates

Message and data rates may apply. Yala does not charge you for texts; your carrier may. Message frequency varies within the limits above.

Your number

Yala uses your number to sign you in, to let friends who already have it find you, and to send the messages described on this page. It is not sold, not rented, and not shared with anybody for their own marketing. The privacy page says exactly what is stored and how to make it go away; the terms say the rest.

Yala is operated by Yala, 1501 Lincoln Blvd #1053, Venice, CA 90292. Questions about texts: help@ya.la.