Beside is built on regulated US and Canadian telecom infrastructure. To keep the platform safe, compliant, and reliable, certain categories of messages are strictly prohibited - regardless of your industry or intent.
Before sending any message, ensure it complies with the Terms of Service and the restrictions below.
Prohibited messaging categories
High-risk financial services
Messaging related to high-risk or regulated financial products is not allowed. This includes:
Payday loans, short-term high-interest loans, new loan solicitations, student loans
Cryptocurrency, stock trading and investment platforms
Third-party loans (e.g., auto, mortgage), third-party lead generation services
Affiliate lending and marketing, deceptive marketing practices
Debt collection, forgiveness, consolidation, reduction, or relief services
Credit/debt repair, health insurance solicitation, tax relief programs
Companies, NGOs, or political campaigns that buy, sell, or share consumer information
📌 Note: A business can send messages about its own debt collection efforts if the recipient has opted in. However, third-party debt collectors cannot use SMS for debt collection.
"Get rich quick" schemes and MLM
Messages promoting high-risk financial opportunities or misleading job offers are not allowed, including work-from-home programs, risky investment opportunities, pyramid schemes, mystery shopping programs, and multi-level marketing (MLM) recruitment.
Illegal substances and restricted products
Messages about the sale, promotion, or distribution of regulated substances are prohibited, including cannabis and CBD (prohibited in both the US and Canada, regardless of legality in specific states), fireworks, kratom, vapes and e-cigarettes, and paraphernalia products.
⚠️ Important: Cannabis, CBD, kratom, or drug paraphernalia businesses cannot use SMS/MMS messaging on Beside in the US or Canada - regardless of message content or purpose (even for two-factor authentication).
Prescription drugs
Messaging related to the sale or promotion of any prescription-only medication is not allowed. This applies to all drugs that cannot be sold over the counter in the US or Canada.
Gambling and betting
Messaging related to gambling, betting, and related activities is not permitted, including casino apps, gambling websites, sweepstakes, 50/50 raffles, and betting and sports picks.
📌 Note: Gambling-related traffic is prohibited in the US and Canada on all number types (Toll-Free, Local Numbers).
S.H.A.F.T. categories
The following content is restricted under industry-wide S.H.A.F.T. rules:
Sexually explicit content, including the promotion of or engagement in sexual services
Hate speech or discriminatory content
Alcohol*
Firearms
Tobacco, vapes, or e-cigarettes
📌 Alcohol exception: Alcohol-related messaging is only allowed on Toll-Free, Short Code, and Long Code numbers in the US if proper age verification procedures are in place.
Fraud, spam and phishing
Messages intended to deceive, defraud, or manipulate recipients are strictly prohibited, including phishing attempts, spam (unsolicited bulk messaging), and any content designed to defraud recipients.
Enforcement and consequences
Beside takes compliance seriously to ensure a safe and lawful messaging environment. If your messages violate these policies:
First violation: you will receive a warning explaining the issue
Repeated or severe violations: your account may be permanently banned
FAQ
My business is legal in my state - why can't I use Beside for messaging?
My business is legal in my state - why can't I use Beside for messaging?
Beside operates on US and Canadian telecom infrastructure with carrier-level restrictions. Some businesses that are legal at the state level (like cannabis dispensaries) are still prohibited from using SMS/MMS on telecom networks. This is a carrier restriction, not a Beside policy.
Can I use Beside for appointment reminders in a restricted industry?
Can I use Beside for appointment reminders in a restricted industry?
If your business falls under a prohibited category (cannabis, gambling, etc.), you cannot use Beside for any SMS/MMS messaging - even for appointment reminders or two-factor authentication. The restriction applies to all message types, not just promotional content.
What happens if I accidentally send a restricted message?
What happens if I accidentally send a restricted message?
First-time violations typically result in a warning. If the violation is severe or repeated, your account may be suspended or permanently banned. Beside reviews violations on a case-by-case basis.
How do I know if my business type is allowed on Beside?
How do I know if my business type is allowed on Beside?
Review the prohibited categories listed above. If your business doesn't fall into any of those categories, you can use Beside for messaging. If you're unsure, reach out via the in-app chat before sending messages.