Questions & answers.
What is The Signal?
The Signal is a living globe of human presence. Every point of light on it is a real person who paid one dollar, chose their city, and wrote a single true sentence - their breath. It is permanent, non-commercial, and carries no advertising. Right now it holds 2 real lights from 2 cities, plus 0 memorial lights for people their loved ones have lost.
How much does it cost to join?
One dollar, once, for your light. No subscriptions and no recurring fees - the claim is a single permanent payment. Optional extras (memorial lights $10-100, bonds $2, flares $5, and AMP contributions) are one-time too, only if you ever choose them. We never auto-charge you.
Is The Signal free of ads and bots?
Yes. There is no advertising, no algorithmic feed, and no fake users. Every light is a verified human who paid to be there, which is what keeps the map honest.
What is a "breath"?
A breath is the one sentence you write when you claim your light. It is the single thing you want the world to know - permanently attached to your point on the globe.
Can I delete my light?
Yes. You can remove your light at any time from your settings, and it disappears from the globe and from every public page.
What is a memorial light?
A memorial light is a public tribute on The Signal for someone you have lost. It carries their name, optional birth and death years, a one-sentence remembrance, and a city. The light stays on the world map permanently, and it glows brighter each year on the anniversary of their passing. Memorial lights cost $10 (Candle), $50 (Engraved Plate, with a dedicated /memorial/[name] page), or $100 (Eternal Flame, with an anniversary cascade across the planet and a printable certificate).
Can I light a candle for someone I lost?
Yes. You do not need an account to light a memorial - it is open to anyone. You write their name, choose a city that mattered to them, add a one-sentence breath of who they were, and optionally include their birth and death years. The light is lit forever, and we send no marketing emails. You only need to confirm that you have the right to memorialize this person publicly.
How much does a memorial light cost?
Three tiers, all one-time payments: Candle is $10 (basic listing on the world map and in the in-memoriam registry), Engraved Plate is $50 (adds a longer breath, a dedicated /memorial/[name] page you can share, and a soft anniversary toast), Eternal Flame is $100 (adds a planet-wide anniversary cascade, eternal flame styling on the map, and a printable certificate). No recurring fees.
What happens on the anniversary?
On the anniversary of the person's passing, their memorial light glows brighter for the day, and a quiet message appears across the globe: "today we remember [name]". Eternal Flame memorials trigger a soft golden ripple from their city - an anniversary cascade visible to everyone watching. We never email surviving family unless you opt in.
Can a memorial light be removed?
Yes. Anyone can request removal via the memorial page (the "REQUEST REMOVAL" button). If you are a family member of the person memorialized and the buyer was not authorized, we remove the memorial within 24 hours and refund the payment in full. We review every request manually.
Where can I see all the memorial lights?
The in-memoriam registry at /in-memoriam is a public scroll of every memorial light, sorted by most recent. Each is a small card with the person's name, dates, city, breath, and who keeps it.
What is a pulse?
A pulse is a rare signal you can send across the globe to another light - a way to reach a stranger in another city. Each light can send one pulse a day, free of charge. There is no cost to send a pulse - the "$1 once" is only the initial claim.
What is a drift?
A drift is a free message that scatters from your light to five random lights around the world at once - one breath, five strangers. You can send one drift every 72 hours.
What is a bond?
A bond is a permanent arc of light between you and one other light on the globe. Once forged, the arc is visible on the map forever. A bond costs $2 once - a single payment to mark a connection between two souls.
What is a Signal Flare?
A Signal Flare is a supernova pulse seen briefly by everyone on the globe - your message radiates outward as a wave of light. Flares cost $5 and have a seven-day cooldown, so they remain rare. They are meant for moments that matter.
Can I get a refund?
Yes. We honor a 14-day refund window from purchase (EU Consumer Distance Selling Directive). After a refund, your light is removed from the globe. For memorial lights, refund + removal happens immediately on family-requested takedowns regardless of the 14-day window.
Is my data private?
Your name, city, and breath are public by design - that is the entire product. Your email (if you provided one) is private and never sold or shared. The internal database is encrypted at rest. We do not run third-party tracking, no advertising scripts, no analytics that profile you - only privacy-friendly aggregate stats. You can delete your light at any time, which also deletes your records.
How do I keep my light if I change browser or device?
When you claim a light, you receive a Frequency Key - a long secure string. Save it somewhere safe (a note, a password manager, a screenshot). On a new browser, paste it into "RETURN WITH KEY" to restore your light. You can also sign in with an email if you provided one.
Who created The Signal and how do I get in touch?
The Signal is an independent project, est. 2026. You can reach the team at [email protected].