Terms & Conditions

These Terms & Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of HiddenDMs at hiddendm.com (the "Service"), operated by Lachlan Wainwright, based in Australia ("we", "us", "our"). By using the Service, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

1. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to use HiddenDMs. By using the Service, you confirm that you meet this requirement and have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms.

2. The Service

HiddenDMs is a free tool that helps you test whether a cold Instagram direct message (DM) to one of our assigned test accounts lands in normal Message Requests or in Hidden Requests. After detection, we may reply in the same Instagram thread with your result and general outreach guidance.

HiddenDMs is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Instagram or Meta Platforms, Inc. Instagram is a trademark of Meta. We do not speak for Instagram or Meta, and they are not responsible for the Service.

3. How checks work

To run a check, you provide a public Instagram username, complete a short survey on your first check, and are assigned a test account. You must send exactly one message from that Instagram account using your normal cold opener. We detect where the message landed and may respond in that thread.

Returning users with the same username may skip repeat onboarding, subject to pool availability shown in the Service.

4. Your Instagram account

You may only use HiddenDMs for an Instagram handle that you own or control. Because you must send the test DM yourself from that account, you confirm you have access to it and authority to use it for this test. You must not run checks on behalf of others without their explicit permission, and you must not misrepresent whose account is being tested.

We never ask for your Instagram password or login credentials.

5. Test message content

The test DM you send is processed so we can run your check. That includes reading and storing the message text, related metadata, and the detection outcome. Do not include sensitive personal information in your test message unless you are comfortable with it being processed for this purpose. See our Privacy Policy for details.

6. Results and limitations

A check result reflects how Instagram handled your specific test message to our specific test account at that moment in time. We believe the result is reliable enough for you to use as a practical signal about your outreach deliverability.

However, results are not a lifetime guarantee. Deliverability can change based on your account health, message copy, sending patterns, recipient settings, platform updates, and other factors outside our control. A single clear result does not guarantee that all future DMs will behave the same way, and a hidden result does not guarantee that every DM you send will be hidden.

7. Guidance and advice disclaimer

Any tips, roadmaps, pacing suggestions, warm-up advice, or "next steps" we provide are general marketing and outreach guidance based on common patterns we observe. They are not a validated, guaranteed, or scientifically proven process. Outcomes vary by account, niche, offer, volume, and platform behaviour.

This guidance is not professional, legal, financial, or technical advice. You are solely responsible for your outreach decisions, compliance with applicable laws, and how you act on any result or suggestion. You use any guidance at your own risk.

8. Instagram and third-party platform risks

Using Instagram for cold outreach, running deliverability tests, and interacting with third-party tools may carry risks, including account restrictions, reduced reach, message filtering, loss of access to features, or other enforcement action by Instagram or Meta.

Instagram's rules, algorithms, and inbox behaviour can change at any time without notice. We do not control Instagram and cannot prevent account actions taken by Meta. You are solely responsible for ensuring your use of Instagram complies with Meta's terms, policies, and applicable law. We are not liable for any account restriction, ban, shadowban, lost outreach, lost revenue, or reputational harm arising from your use of Instagram or the Service.

9. Check availability

Everyone starts with 2 free checks. There is no monthly reset while we measure demand. You may unlock up to 4 checks total through:

• Sign-in bonus: one-time +1 check when you sign in with email and link your Instagram handle to your dashboard
• Referral bonus: +1 check when one referred friend runs their first check through your referral link (maximum one referral bonus per account)

Each check uses a different test account from our pool (currently 4 active accounts). We may change limits or add capacity as the Service evolves. Current limits are shown in your signed-in dashboard.

10. Accounts and dashboard

Optional dashboard access requires you to sign up with email and password, then link your Instagram handle once. You are responsible for keeping your login credentials secure. You must not link a handle you do not own or control.

Dashboard access is protected by authentication. We do not expose check history, referral links, or account balances to anyone who only knows your Instagram username.

11. Communications

Instagram messages. As part of the check experience, we may send you one or more Instagram DMs from our test accounts, including your result, general guidance, and follow-up messages. These are part of the Service you request when you run a check.

Email. If you create an account or provide an email address, we may send service-related messages (such as account notices or check-related updates). We may also send marketing or product emails about HiddenDMs and related offerings. You can unsubscribe from marketing emails using the link in those messages or by contacting us.

12. Acceptable use

You agree not to:

• use the Service if you are under 18
• test an Instagram handle you do not own or control without permission
• send multiple test messages for the same assignment
• abuse, spam, scrape, reverse engineer, or attempt to disrupt the Service
• interfere with our test accounts, detection systems, or infrastructure
• access another user's dashboard or data without authorisation
• use the Service for unlawful, deceptive, or harmful purposes
• misrepresent your identity or affiliation with HiddenDMs or Meta

We may suspend or revoke access if we reasonably believe you have misused the Service.

13. Future paid features

The Service is currently free for standard checks within published limits. We may introduce paid plans, subscriptions, or other paid features in the future. If we do, we will publish separate pricing and payment terms, and your use of paid features will be subject to those terms as well as these Terms.

14. Disclaimer of warranties

The Service is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, whether express, implied, or statutory, including any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, and non-infringement. We do not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or that results or guidance will meet your expectations.

15. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Lachlan Wainwright and HiddenDMs will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages, or for any loss of profits, revenue, business, goodwill, data, outreach opportunities, Instagram account standing, or anticipated savings, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts, or modifies any consumer guarantee, right, or remedy that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law or other applicable law.

16. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Lachlan Wainwright from claims, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable legal costs) arising from your misuse of the Service, your breach of these Terms, your Instagram activity, or your violation of any law or third-party rights.

17. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page will change when we do. Continued use of the Service after changes take effect means you accept the updated Terms. Material changes may also be communicated through the Service or by email where appropriate.

18. Governing law and disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of Queensland, Australia, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. If a dispute arises, please contact us first and give us a reasonable opportunity to resolve it informally. If we cannot resolve the dispute informally, you agree that the courts of Queensland, Australia will have exclusive jurisdiction, subject to any non-excludable rights you may have under consumer protection laws in your country of residence.

19. Privacy

Our Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and share information when you use HiddenDMs. By using the Service, you acknowledge that you have read it.

20. Contact

Questions about these Terms:

• Email: lachie@hiddendm.com
• Instagram: @usehiddendms