The Industries With The Longest Terms And Conditions

The Industries with
The Longest Terms and Conditions

The internet is accessed by 4.66 billion active users and with that, the world has seen a huge digital shift in industries moving online. Online companies can protect themselves with terms of service (TOS), also known as terms and conditions and terms of use (TOU). This serves as an agreement between the website and its users.

It is of common knowledge and admission that terms and conditions are most likely skimmed past or not read at all. As a website’s terms can change without notice, online users should be wary of them. But how long would it take to read the terms of websites we use every day? And given the population’s average reading age of below eleven, how likely are we to understand it?

Using a combination of tools, the digital PR experts at Reboot investigated how long it takes to read a website’s terms and conditions and also analyzed their reading age.

Table of Contents:

Which Terms and Conditions Take the Longest to Read?

Dating

How Long It Takes to Read the Terms and Conditions: 

The dating industry has the longest terms and conditions with an average of 7,569 words – the equivalent of a 58-minute read.

We can reveal that Grindr not only has the longest terms and conditions within the dating industry, but it is also among the longest of all the other websites analysed in our study. It would take the average reader 1 hour and 51 minutes to read their terms and conditions, which is 14,462 words long, and if read every day that’s a massive 676 hours (28 days and four hours per year)!

On the other hand, Badoo’s terms and conditions have 4,818 words – nearly three times shorter than Grindr. Considering Badoo users spend an average of 90 minutes per day on the app, a 37-minute read of their terms and conditions isn’t too long.

Reading Age Required to Understand the Terms and Conditions:

The Ts and Cs of the dating industry were calculated to be grade level 13, which means that the terms of use’s complexity can be understood by 18 to 19-year-olds – the same as their minimum joining age requirement.

WEBSITE	READING AGE (YEARS)	GRADE LEVEL	TOTAL WORDS	TIME TO READ	TIME TO READ PER YEAR (READ EVERY DAY)
Grindr	18-19	13	14,462	1 hr 51 minutes	676 hrs 28 minutes
Bumble	19-20	14	8,242	1 hr 3 minutes	385 hrs 41 minutes
OkCupid	19-20	14	7,759	1 hr	363 hrs 11 minutes
Her	18-19	13	6,733	52 minutes	315 hrs 7 minutes
Eharmony	16-17	11	6,693	52 minutes	313 hrs 18 minutes
Match	18-19	13	6,368	49 minutes	298 hrs 5 minutes
Tinder	18-19	13	5,473	42 minutes	256 hrs 7 minutes
Badoo	18-19	13	4,818	37 minutes	225 hrs 42 minutes
Average	18-19	13	7,569	58 minutes	354 hrs 12 minutes

 

Fashion

How Long It Takes to Read the Terms and Conditions: 

With 5,036 words in terms and conditions on average, fashion websites rank as the second longest to read – typically 39 minutes. It is reported that by 2025, fashion e-commerce will be worth $1003.5 billion! So, with a trending online shift, consumers will be spending more time visiting their favorite apparel websites rather than in-store. Reboot can reveal it would take the average reader nine days and 20 hours per year if they read the terms and conditions of these websites every day.

Arcadia’s Zara has the longest terms of use of all fashion websites in our study, taking an average of 1 hour and 3 minutes to read the 8,223-word long document. In comparison to Grindr’s 28 days, it would take readers only 16 days if they read the terms every day of the year.

Popular with the likes of Kylie Jenner, Fashion Nova’s terms and conditions take the least amount of time to read, taking just 18 minutes to read the 2,397-word Ts and Cs from start to finish – 3.4 times shorter than Zara.

Reading Age Required to Understand the Terms and Conditions:

The average reading age for fashion websites stands at 17 to 18 years old, which is grade level 12. Despite the fact that people of all ages are influenced by fashion, it seems the complexity of words used doesn’t take the younger generation into consideration – especially retailers like Fashion Nova (reading age of 22 to 23), and Forever 21 and Pretty Little Thing  (reading age of 19 to 20).

WEBSITE	READING AGE (YEARS)	GRADE LEVEL	TOTAL WORDS	TIME TO READ	TIME TO READ PER YEAR (READ EVERY DAY)
Zara	17-18	12	8,223	1 hr 3 minutes	385 hrs 5 minutes
Forever21	19-20	14	6,979	54 minutes	326 hrs 41 minutes
Depop	15-16	10	6,197	48 minutes	290 hrs 11 minutes
Boohoo	16-17	11	6,029	46 minutes	282 hrs 16 minutes
ASOS	14-15	9	3,875	30 minutes	181 hrs 17 minutes
Pretty Little Thing	19-20	14	3,700	29 minutes	173 hrs 23 minutes
H&M	15-16	10	2,890	22 minutes	135 hrs 3 minutes
Fashion Nova	22-23	17	2,397	18 minutes	111 hrs 56 minutes
Average	17-18	12	5,036	39 minutes	235 hrs 44 minutes

 

Social Networking

How Long It Takes to Read the Terms and Conditions: 

Following closely in third, the terms and conditions for social networking websites average 4,754 words in length, and have an average reading time of 37 minutes. This equates to nearly nine days a year if read every day.

TikTok’s terms and conditions are 7,605 words long, which takes the average reader nearly one hour to read. As the most downloaded app of 2020, that’s a lot of reading!

On the other hand, Pinterest places last with the least amount of reading time for their Ts and Cs. A total of 2,974 words means readers have an easy 23 minutes of reading.

Reading Age Required to Understand the Terms and Conditions:

Another industry supposedly becoming more child-friendly is social media. Nevertheless, an average reading age of 18 to 19 years states differently.

In fact, despite Tiktok having a minimum joining age of 13, their terms and conditions are one of the most complex of all websites analyzed in our study, with a reading age of 20 to 21 years old.

WEBSITE	READING AGE (YEARS)	GRADE LEVEL	TOTAL WORDS	TIME TO READ	TIME TO READ PER YEAR (READ EVERY DAY)
Tiktok	20-21	15	7,605	59 minutes	355 hrs 53 minutes
Twitch	21-22	16	6,631	51 minutes	310 hrs 15 minutes
Twitter	18-19	13	5,470	42 minutes	256 hrs 7 minutes
Snapchat	16-17	11	4,434	34 minutes	207 hrs 27 minutes
LinkedIn	17-18	12	4,094	32 minutes	191 hrs 38 minutes
Facebook	18-19	13	3,485	27 minutes	163 hrs 2 minutes
Instagram	18-19	13	3,340	26 minutes	156 hrs 21 minutes
Pinterest	17-18	12	2,974	23 minutes	139 hrs 19 minutes
Average	18-19	13	4,754	37 minutes	222 hrs 30 minutes

 

Job Websites

How Long It Takes to Read the Terms and Conditions: 

Terms and conditions on employment websites take the fourth longest to read, according to our study. The job-searching process can be stressful and time-consuming but, fortunately, the average reading time stands at 34 minutes for the average terms and conditions length of 4,423 words.

If users were to read the terms of service every day for a year, they can expect it to take eight days and 16 minutes!

Monster (7,304 words) and Glassdoor (7,158 words) rank first and second respectively as the job sites with the most amount of words, taking the average reader 56 and 55 minutes to read.

In last place is Reed, with their terms taking 13 minutes to read due to their low word count of 1,684.

Reading Age Required to Understand the Terms and Conditions: 

Job websites have an average reading age of 19 to 20 years, which is recognized as a grade 14.

Interestingly, Reed’s terms not only take the least amount of time to read, but their reading age is also the easiest with a grade level of 11 – this means 16 to 17-year-olds are able to understand it easily. Monster is the most complex as its reading age is targeted towards 21 to 22-year-olds with a grade level of 16 – five grades higher than their competitor, Reed!

 

WEBSITE	READING AGE (YEARS)	GRADE LEVEL	TOTAL WORDS	TIME TO READ	TIME TO READ PER YEAR (READ EVERY DAY)
Monster	21-22	16	7,304	56 minutes	341 hrs 53 minutes
Glassdoor	19-20	14	7,158	55 minutes	335 hrs 12 minutes
Indeed	20-21	15	6,121	47 minutes	286 hrs 32 minutes
CV Library	18-19	13	4,865	37 minutes	227 hrs 31 minutes
Total Jobs	18-19	13	3,000	23 minutes	140 hrs 32 minutes
JobSite	18-19	13	2,942	23 minutes	137 hrs 29 minutes
Apply4U	20-21	15	2,309	18 minutes	108 hrs 17 minutes
Reed	16-17	11	1,684	13 minutes	79 hrs 5 minutes
Average	19-20	14	4,423	34 minutes	207 hrs 4 minutes

 

Children’s Education

How Long It Takes to Read the Terms and Conditions:

In fifth place are children’s education websites with a reading time of 20 minutes and spanning at an average of 2,558 words. It would take nearly five days a year if read every day.

The School Run’s terms have 5,012 words which would take the average reader 39 minutes to read. By comparison, Topmark (three minutes), Tate Kids (four minutes), and Oxford Owl (eight minutes) impressively have a reading time of under ten minutes, making it short and snappy for users.

Reading Age Required to Understand the Terms and Conditions:  

With the lowest reading grade level, children’s education websites consist of a word complexity suited to ages 17 to 18 years (grade level 12) – a stark contrast to elementary and secondary school reading ages.

On the other hand, BBC Bitesize and Tate Kids, both endorsed by the UK government, have the lowest reading grade level and are easily read by 13 to 15 years olds.

 

WEBSITE	READING AGE (YEARS)	GRADE LEVEL	TOTAL WORDS	TIME TO READ	TIME TO READ PER YEAR (READ EVERY DAY)
The School Run	18-19	13	5,012	39 minutes	234 hrs 49 minutes
BBC Bitesize	13-14	8	3,964	31 minutes	185 hrs 33 minutes
Blockly Games	20-21	15	3,903	30 minutes	182 hrs 30 minutes
National Geographic Kids	19-20	14	2,877	22 minutes	134 hrs 27 minutes
TED-Ed	17-18	12	2,764	21 minutes	129 hrs 35 minutes
Oxford Owl eBook Library	19-20	14	1,042	8 minutes	48 hrs 40 minutes
Tate Kids	14-15	9	524	4 minutes	24 hrs 20 minutes
Topmarks	17-18	12	377	3 minutes	17 hrs 39 minutes
Average	17-18	12	2,558	20 minutes	119 hrs 41 minutes

 

Banking

How Long It Takes to Read the Terms and Conditions:

On average it takes readers 18 minutes to read a banking website’s terms and conditions, consisting of around 2,368 words. We use banking apps and websites daily, so if a user reads the Ts and Cs every day for a year, it would take them a total of four days and 15 hours.

The banking website with the longest terms and conditions is Natwest with 3,442 words (27 minutes). However, Tesco Bank takes the least amount of time to read with 1,605 words – which takes around 12 minutes to read.

Reading Age Required to Understand the Terms and Conditions: 

The banking sector’s reading age averages 19 to 20 years, which isn’t surprising due to the industry’s complex nature. However, it has the same reading age as the fashion industry – where you’re more likely to see younger users.

Lloyds Bank scores a reading grade level of 12 (17 to 18 years), making it the lowest of all the websites analysed and the easiest to understand.

WEBSITE	READING AGE (YEARS)	GRADE LEVEL	TOTAL WORDS	TIME TO READ	TIME TO READ PER YEAR (READ EVERY DAY)
Natwest	19-20	14	3,442	27 minutes	161 hrs 13 minutes
Royal Bank of Scotland	21-22	16	2,929	23 minutes	136 hrs 53 minutes
Barclays	18-19	13	2,721	21 minutes	127 hrs 9 minutes
JPMorgan Chase & Co.	20-21	15	2,574	20 minutes	120 hrs 27 minutes
HSBC	18-19	13	2,072	16 minutes	96 hrs 44 minutes
First Direct	19-20	14	1,860	14 minutes	87 hrs
Lloyds TSB	17-18	12	1,739	13 minutes	81 31 minutes
Tesco Bank	19-20	14	1,605	12 minutes	74 hrs 50 minutes
Average	19-20	14	2,368	18 minutes	110 hrs 43 minutes

 

HOME/CAR INSURANCE

HOW LONG IT TAKES TO READ THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

In last place is home and car insurance companies, with their terms and conditions taking the least amount of time to read. The industry averages a low 13 minutes to read (1,682 words) – that’s nearly five times shorter than the dating industry!

Direct Line (2,259 words) and AXA (2,224 words) have the longest terms and conditions to read, both 17 minutes. By comparison, Aviva (1,136 words), John Lewis (1,152 words), and Age Co (1,183 words) have the lowest reading time of nine minutes.

READING AGE REQUIRED TO UNDERSTAND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

The home and car insurance industry has an average reading grade level of 14, which means it is understood by 19 to 20-year-olds. However, as an incredibly important sector for all home and car users, this means that the average reading population will not be able to understand well.

WEBSITE	READING AGE (YEARS)	GRADE LEVEL	TOTAL WORDS	TIME TO READ	TIME TO READ PER YEAR (READ EVERY DAY)
Direct Line	18-19	13	2,250	17 minutes	105 hrs 15 minutes
AXA	17-18	12	2,224	17 minutes	104 hours 2 minutes
Churchill	18-20	13	2,005	15 minutes	93 hours 41 minutes
Admiral	19-20	14	1,897	15 minutes	88 hrs 49 minutes
Tesco Bank	19-20	14	1,605	12 minutes	74 hrs 50 minutes
Age Co	19-20	14	1,183	9 minutes	55 hrs 22 minutes
John Lewis Finance	19-20	14	1,152	9 minutes	54 hours 9 minutes
Aviva	21-22	16	1,136	9 minutes	52 hours 56 minutes
Average	19-20	14	1,682	13 minutes	78 hrs 38 minutes

 

Methodology: