Provision record
Whatnot · Whatnot Terms of Service · View original document ↗

Class Action Waiver

High severity Medium confidence Explicit document language Common · 206 of 352 platforms
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Document Record

What it is

The agreement requires users and Whatnot to bring any claims only in an individual capacity, prohibiting participation in class action or representative action proceedings.

This analysis describes what Whatnot's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

This clause, in conjunction with the mandatory arbitration provision, requires all claims to proceed individually, which may affect the practical ability of users to pursue low-value claims where individual arbitration costs may be disproportionate to potential recovery.

Interpretive note: Enforceability of class action waivers in consumer contracts varies by jurisdiction; state law challenges may limit enforcement in California and other states with active consumer protection frameworks.

Recent Activity

This document changed recently

High Jun 24, 2026

The updated terms establish mandatory arbitration as the exclusive dispute resolution mechanism for influencers, replacing direct court access in California and Australia. Under the revised language, any dispute with Whatnot must proceed through arbitration under the main Terms of Service, which includes a class action waiver. This means influencers cannot bring class or collective claims and cannot access court proceedings except where the main Terms of Service explicitly permits. The practical effect is that individual influencers seeking to resolve disagreements with Whatnot over payments, account suspension, content disputes, or contractual interpretation must use arbitration rather than litigation.

View change record →
Medium Jun 18, 2026

The updated terms establish a formal Creator Program for Australian users that defines how creators can submit content for potential monetary or credit rewards. Creators grant Whatnot a one-year, non-exclusive, worldwide license to use submitted videos across paid and organic social media, television, and other platforms, while retaining ownership of the original content. The terms require creators to clearly disclose any material connection to Whatnot, including consideration or free products received, in a form specified by Whatnot and compliant with Australian advertising standards and the AANA Code of Ethics.

View change record →
High Jun 16, 2026

Australian sellers using Whatnot are now required to resolve all disputes through arbitration rather than through Australian courts. The updated terms state that disputes will be resolved exclusively under the main Terms of Service arbitration provisions, removing the previous option to bring legal action in Los Angeles courts or pursue jury trials. The terms no longer include language allowing court proceedings, except where the main Terms of Service expressly permit.

View change record →

Clause Stability Mostly Stable

1
Change
3
Months Monitored
May 8, 2026
First Seen
May 22, 2026
Last Seen
This clause type exists across 2555 other provisions on other platforms.
This clause has changed once in 3 months of monitoring.

Change history

modified Jul 22, 2026

Previous version had separate Mandatory Arbitration and Class Action Waiver provisions; current version consolidates them into a single provision with added emphasis on "IMPORTANT NOTICE" and explicit mention of "mass arbitration procedures" and jurisdictional exceptions.

View full change record →
modified May 30, 2026

Removed the arbitrator consolidation language and completely eliminated the jury trial waiver clause from this provision.

View full change record →

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

The agreement requires each user to bring claims only on an individual basis, not as part of a class or representative action. This applies to all disputes covered by the arbitration provision.

What you can do

⚠️ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
  • Opt Out of Arbitration
    Within 30 days
    The class action waiver is part of the arbitration provision. To opt out of both the arbitration clause and the class action waiver, submit written opt-out notice to Whatnot within 30 days of agreeing to the Terms of Service.

How other platforms handle this

Chegg Medium

If, however, this Class Action Waiver is deemed invalid or unenforceable with respect to a particular Dispute...neither you nor Chegg will be entitled to arbitration of such Dispute.

Tinder Medium

the arbitration provider, National Arbitration and Mediation ("NAM"), shall not accept or administer any demand for arbitration and shall administratively close any arbitration unless the Party bringing such demand for arbitration can certify in writing that the terms...were fully satisfied.

Wise Medium

Neither you nor we may elect arbitration of any claims seeking only individualized relief asserted by you or us in small claims court, so long as the action remains in that court and is not removed or appealed de novo...

See all platforms with this clause type →
▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
CLASS ACTION WAIVER. YOU AND WHATNOT AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION.

Excerpt from Whatnot's Terms of Service

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (regulatory & governance intelligence)

1.

Insight

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Enforcement risk, jurisdiction flags, contract triggers, and due diligence action items.

Applicable agencies

  • Federal Trade Commission (ftc)
    Oversees unfair or deceptive business practices and can investigate companies that mislead consumers about data collection, sharing, or use.
    Who can file: Anyone affected by the company's practices (US or international)
    What you need: Your account details, a timeline of relevant events, and a description of the specific issue
    What to expect: Complaints inform FTC enforcement priorities and investigations but do not result in individual resolution or compensation
    File a complaint →
  • State Attorney General
    State AGs in California, New York, Texas, and other states can investigate violations of state consumer protection and privacy laws, including CCPA (California), SHIELD Act (New York), and equivalents.
    Who can file: Residents of states with comprehensive privacy laws — primarily California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and Utah
    What you need: Evidence of the violation, explanation of how your state rights were affected, and your account or contact information with the company
    What to expect: Outcomes vary by state. May result in investigation, enforcement action, or requirement for the company to change practices. No direct individual compensation in most cases.

    Search "[your state] attorney general consumer complaint" to find your state's direct complaint form

Applicable regulations

FAA
United States Federal

Provision details

Document information
Document
Whatnot Terms of Service
Entity
Whatnot
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 21, 2026
Last verified
May 21, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-006740
Document ID
CA-D-00731
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
edfabe18c30c0c9dfe08867c3872885e0d963241db8222ec0afffc7bd4e70e0c
Analysis generated
May 21, 2026 00:01 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Whatnot
Document: Whatnot Terms of Service
Record ID: CA-P-006740
Captured: 2026-05-21 00:01:17 UTC
SHA-256: edfabe18c30c0c9d…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/whatnot/whatnot-terms-of-service/provision/CA-P-006740/class-action-waiver/
Accessed: Aug. 12, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Whatnot's Class Action Waiver clause do?

This clause, in conjunction with the mandatory arbitration provision, requires all claims to proceed individually, which may affect the practical ability of users to pursue low-value claims where individual arbitration costs may be disproportionate to potential recovery.

How does this clause affect you?

The agreement requires each user to bring claims only on an individual basis, not as part of a class or representative action. This applies to all disputes covered by the arbitration provision.

How many platforms have this type of clause?

ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 206 platforms. See the full comparison.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Whatnot?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Whatnot.