Adult-platform business / Non-explicit editorial
AfterDarkBrief

A reader's journal of subscriptions, privacy & account controls

18+ readership

Plain-language reference

The terms behind the controls.

Fourteen definitions to help read a platform brief, a checkout or an account setting with fewer assumptions.

Access period

The time during which a particular purchase or membership permits access. It may continue after renewal is disabled.

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Account closure

Ending an account relationship. Its consequences can differ from cancelling a subscription or requesting data erasure.

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Age assurance

Methods used to establish whether a person meets an age condition. The exact method and applicable requirements can vary.

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Auto-renewal

A recurring arrangement that authorizes another charge unless the applicable conditions or cancellation state stop it.

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Billing model

The rules governing when a membership is charged and what happens when it changes or ends.

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Chargeback

A payment-dispute process through a payment provider. It is separate from a platform’s refund and cancellation controls.

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Consent documentation

A record of permission for a defined use. It is different from ownership of copyright and may have platform-specific requirements.

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Creator

The person or entity offering a membership or work through a platform. The platform and creator can have distinct responsibilities.

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Data retention

Keeping information for a stated period or purpose. Account closure does not necessarily erase every record.

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One-off purchase

A particular transaction distinct from a recurring membership. Read its own price and access conditions.

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Proration

An adjustment based on a portion of a billing period. Do not assume a platform provides it for a tier change.

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Renewal date

The date associated with a future recurring payment. A payment can be processing near that date.

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Subscription tier

A level of membership with a stated price and benefits. Switching can change both payment and access.

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Two-factor authentication

A login control using an additional factor beyond a password. Its protection does not establish the reliability of a purchase.

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