Applications / .sns / XI2694T-T84425 · published by ICANN 7 October 2026 · snapshot 2026-10-08

.sns

StandardActive

Existing registry operator, registrar or affiliate, as declared: Q12

Affiliate of XServer Inc. registrar with IANA ID 1557

§ 1 — Meaning of the string Q118·Q120

Established abbreviation for "social networking service": an online service through which people publish to, and follow, an audience. It is the standard term for such services across the major Asian markets and is used elsewhere.

/ˌesenˈes/

§ 2 — Mission and purpose Q133

The mission of .sns is to give a social presence an address that its owner controls. The string is the established abbreviation for ""social networking service"" - the services through which people and organisations publish to, and are followed by, an audience. It is the standard term for them across the major Asian markets and is used elsewhere. It is applied for and will be operated in that plain descriptive sense, as an open namespace.
Registrants fall into two groups. The first is everyone who maintains an audience across several services and wants one address that gathers it: independent creators, writers and bloggers, podcasters and musicians, artists and photographers, small and independent media, community organisers, associations, and businesses running an audience channel alongside their commercial site. The second is the ecosystem serving them: operators of social and community platforms, developers of clients, tools and integrations, agencies and community managers acting for others, and vendors of scheduling and analytics tools. Users are audiences and customers trying to reach the right account.
A social presence is scattered by construction. It sits across several services, each of which owns the relationship, sets the terms, and may change or withdraw them. The link printed on a card or spoken at the end of a video points at a platform rather than at the person behind it, and when a platform declines or a name is lost there, the audience has to be reacquired. A domain the owner controls is the durable part of that chain. name.sns is short, says what it leads to, and can be re-pointed as services rise and fall without the audience noticing.
The TLD is a descriptive namespace, not a register of verified or official accounts. The registry performs no verification and makes no representation that a registrant is the person or organisation whose name appears in a domain, or that any account reached through the TLD is authentic; this will be stated in the published registration policy and on the registry website. Rights are protected through the Sunrise and Trademark Claims periods required by Specification 7, and through the UDRP and URS thereafter.
General Availability will be open, with no eligibility restrictions and no reservation of the namespace to the applying entity or its affiliates. Distribution will be through ICANN-accredited registrars on published, non-discriminatory terms consistent with Specification 9, including any registrar affiliated with the applying entity, which will receive the same terms as every other. Technical operation is contracted to a pre-evaluated Registry Service Provider, and abuse mitigation follows the Mandatory Public Interest Commitments and the DNS abuse obligations of the Base Registry Agreement, with a published abuse point of contact.
The purpose is sustainable because the underlying behaviour outlasts the services that host it: audiences subscribe and publishers seek subscribers, through several successive generations of platform. An address of this kind is published where it is expensive to revise - printed material, third-party profiles, video descriptions already distributed - so letting it lapse breaks the audience relationship it exists to protect, and renewal is the ordinary outcome. The abbreviation is tied to no single platform, so the namespace neither depends on the fortunes of one service nor becomes obsolete when one declines. The applying entity belongs to an established hosting group with a direct channel to the registrants concerned, so awareness does not rest on paid acquisition alone. Registry operations are contracted to a pre-evaluated Registry Service Provider under a signed agreement, so the obligations of the Registry Agreement are met throughout ramp-up without depending on registration revenue alone.

§ 3 — Commitments and safeguards Q164–Q188

More trustworthy, consumer risk, regulated sector, government reporting, harm, government function Q164–Q169	No to each
Voluntary Safeguard PICs Q170·Q171	None · 90 applications in the round offer some
Registry Voluntary Commitments Q172·Q173	None · 5 do
Code of Conduct exemption requested Q185·Q188	No

§ 4 — All other published answers

Every other answer ICANN published for this application, in the order of the form. Contact details (Q17–Q24) are left to the ICANN record.

Q212Q4.2-1 - Provide the applying entity’s self-certification document, signed by the CEO, President, CFO and/or equivalent officer of the applying entity. If financial statements are provided by a Qualified Parent Entity (QPE), the CEO, President, CFO, and/or equivalent officer of the QPE must co-sign the certification document. The self-certification document must represent and warrant: SC4.2-1.1 - The applying entity and/or a QPE will fund the startup and long-term operation of all applied-for gTLD strings and (if applicable) currently operated gTLDs of a QPE. SC4.2-1.2 - The applying entity or QPE has at a minimum of US$50,000 plus 25% of the application base fee for each applied-for gTLD string in Cash and Cash Equivalents on the balance sheet of the provided financial statements, up to a maximum of US$300,000, designated to support the startup and operation of all of the applying entity’s applied-for gTLD strings. SC4.2-1.3 - The applying entity and/or its officers are bound by law in its jurisdiction to represent financial statements accurately and the applying entity is in good standing in that jurisdiction.

Q4.2-1 - Provide the applying entity’s self-certification document, signed by the CEO, President, CFO and/or equivalent officer of the applying entity. If financial statements are provided by a Qualified Parent Entity (QPE), the CEO, President, CFO, and/or equivalent officer of the QPE must co-sign the certification document. The self-certification document must represent and warrant: SC4.2-1.1 - The applying entity and/or a QPE will fund the startup and long-term operation of all applied-for gTLD strings and (if applicable) currently operated gTLDs of a QPE. SC4.2-1.2 - The applying entity or QPE has at a minimum of US$50,000 plus 25% of the application base fee for each applied-for gTLD string in Cash and Cash Equivalents on the balance sheet of the provided financial statements, up to a maximum of US$300,000, designated to support the startup and operation of all of the applying entity’s applied-for gTLD strings. SC4.2-1.3 - The applying entity and/or its officers are bound by law in its jurisdiction to represent financial statements accurately and the applying entity is in good standing in that jurisdiction.

Answered with a document. Attachments are not published by ICANN.

Q220Q5.1-1 - Provide the applying entity’s self-certification document, signed by the CEO, President, CFO and/or equivalent officer of the applying entity. The self-certification document must represent and warrant: SC5.1-1.1 - The applying entity will appropriately protect confidentiality of data and prevent unauthorized access to data and services. SC5.1-1.2 - The applying entity will maintain a mature, appropriately funded and staffed security program, following a recognized, modern security framework based on risk management (such as the ISO27000 series, COBIT, HITRUST CSF, legally required security frameworks, or equivalent). The security program must be in place prior to delegation, and exist through at least the period of the registry agreement. SC5.1-1.3 - The applying entity is aware of and has designed its systems and business to comply with the relevant privacy and security regulations for all countries in which it operates.

Q5.1-1 - Provide the applying entity’s self-certification document, signed by the CEO, President, CFO and/or equivalent officer of the applying entity. The self-certification document must represent and warrant: SC5.1-1.1 - The applying entity will appropriately protect confidentiality of data and prevent unauthorized access to data and services. SC5.1-1.2 - The applying entity will maintain a mature, appropriately funded and staffed security program, following a recognized, modern security framework based on risk management (such as the ISO27000 series, COBIT, HITRUST CSF, legally required security frameworks, or equivalent). The security program must be in place prior to delegation, and exist through at least the period of the registry agreement. SC5.1-1.3 - The applying entity is aware of and has designed its systems and business to comply with the relevant privacy and security regulations for all countries in which it operates.

Answered with a document. Attachments are not published by ICANN.

Q221Q5.2-1 - Provide the applying entity’s self-certification document, signed by the CEO, President, CFO and/or equivalent officer of the applying entity. The self-certification document must represent and warrant: SC5.2-1.1 - The applying entity will, no later than delegation of the Top Level Domain (TLD), establish a dedicated abuse point of contact responsible for addressing matters requiring expedited attention and providing a timely response to abuse complaints concerning any name registered in the TLD. SC5.2-1.2 - The applying entity will, no later than delegation of the TLD, establish, publish, and provide to ICANN the location of a mechanism for members of the public to submit reports of abuse in accordance with the current obligations of the Base RA and any Consensus Policies. SC5.2-1.3 - The applying entity has developed proposed measures for removal of orphan glue records for names removed from the zone when provided with evidence in written form that the glue is present in connection with malicious conduct (see Specification 6). SC5.2-1.4 - The applying entity has or will have at time of delegation, established policies for handling complaints regarding abuse. Such policies are to be maintained and posted publicly so that anyone can review the policies via the Internet and any other means deemed appropriate by the applying entity. The applying entity’s policies at a minimum should contain appropriate confirmation of the receipt of the abuse report, the process of review of the report, and actions that will be taken if the applying entity confirms the report is legitimate. SC5.2-1.5 - The applying entity understands that DNS Abuse is Phishing, Malware, Botnets, Pharming and Spam (when used to deliver other forms of DNS Abuse). The applying entity understands and is prepared to contribute to the mitigation or disruption of DNS Abuse in domains in the TLD zone. SC5.2-1.6 - The applying entity’s abuse response capabilities are resourced appropriately to ensure a timely and adequate investigation and response to reports of DNS Abuse. This includes capabilities to receive and evaluate evidence of DNS Abuse in reports, and to take action to stop or disrupt the DNS Abuse. SC5.2-1.7 - The applying entity is prepared to conduct periodic scans of its zone to identify if domains are being used to perpetrate DNS Abuse, and to maintain statistical reports of the scans, the findings, and actions taken.

Q5.2-1 - Provide the applying entity’s self-certification document, signed by the CEO, President, CFO and/or equivalent officer of the applying entity. The self-certification document must represent and warrant: SC5.2-1.1 - The applying entity will, no later than delegation of the Top Level Domain (TLD), establish a dedicated abuse point of contact responsible for addressing matters requiring expedited attention and providing a timely response to abuse complaints concerning any name registered in the TLD. SC5.2-1.2 - The applying entity will, no later than delegation of the TLD, establish, publish, and provide to ICANN the location of a mechanism for members of the public to submit reports of abuse in accordance with the current obligations of the Base RA and any Consensus Policies. SC5.2-1.3 - The applying entity has developed proposed measures for removal of orphan glue records for names removed from the zone when provided with evidence in written form that the glue is present in connection with malicious conduct (see Specification 6). SC5.2-1.4 - The applying entity has or will have at time of delegation, established policies for handling complaints regarding abuse. Such policies are to be maintained and posted publicly so that anyone can review the policies via the Internet and any other means deemed appropriate by the applying entity. The applying entity’s policies at a minimum should contain appropriate confirmation of the receipt of the abuse report, the process of review of the report, and actions that will be taken if the applying entity confirms the report is legitimate. SC5.2-1.5 - The applying entity understands that DNS Abuse is Phishing, Malware, Botnets, Pharming and Spam (when used to deliver other forms of DNS Abuse). The applying entity understands and is prepared to contribute to the mitigation or disruption of DNS Abuse in domains in the TLD zone. SC5.2-1.6 - The applying entity’s abuse response capabilities are resourced appropriately to ensure a timely and adequate investigation and response to reports of DNS Abuse. This includes capabilities to receive and evaluate evidence of DNS Abuse in reports, and to take action to stop or disrupt the DNS Abuse. SC5.2-1.7 - The applying entity is prepared to conduct periodic scans of its zone to identify if domains are being used to perpetrate DNS Abuse, and to maintain statistical reports of the scans, the findings, and actions taken.

Answered with a document. Attachments are not published by ICANN.

Q121As per Section 3(d) of Specification 11 of the Base Registry Agreement, a registry operator of a “generic string” may not impose eligibility criteria for registering names in the TLD that limit registrations exclusively to a single person or entity and/or that person’s or entity’s “Affiliates” (as defined in Section 2.9(c) of the Registry Agreement). “Generic String” means a string consisting of a word or term that denominates or describes a general class of goods, services, groups, organizations or things, as opposed to distinguishing a specific brand of goods, services, groups, organizations or things from those of others. Confirm that the applied-for string is not a “generic string” in which the applying entity intends to limit registrations exclusively to a single person or entity.

As per Section 3(d) of Specification 11 of the Base Registry Agreement, a registry operator of a “generic string” may not impose eligibility criteria for registering names in the TLD that limit registrations exclusively to a single person or entity and/or that person’s or entity’s “Affiliates” (as defined in Section 2.9(c) of the Registry Agreement). “Generic String” means a string consisting of a word or term that denominates or describes a general class of goods, services, groups, organizations or things, as opposed to distinguishing a specific brand of goods, services, groups, organizations or things from those of others. Confirm that the applied-for string is not a “generic string” in which the applying entity intends to limit registrations exclusively to a single person or entity.

true

Q222If the applying entity wishes to provide any additional information or supporting materials that the applying entity believes may be of interest to the public or relevant to the application, please include them here.

If the applying entity wishes to provide any additional information or supporting materials that the applying entity believes may be of interest to the public or relevant to the application, please include them here.

The applying entity applies for this string solely for its established descriptive meaning as the abbreviation for ""social networking service"". The application asserts no association with, sponsorship by, or endorsement from any social platform, product, institution, organisation or party known by the same abbreviation in any other field, and the applying entity claims no exclusive rights in it.
The TLD will be operated as an open namespace. The string is a generic term within the meaning of Section 3(d) of Specification 11, and registrations will not be limited to the applying entity, its affiliates, or their customers. Where a registrar affiliated with the applying entity distributes the TLD, it will do so on the terms published to all ICANN-accredited registrars, and no exemption from Specification 9 is sought.
The applying entity further wishes to record that the registry will state publicly that registration confers no verification, authentication or endorsement of any registrant or of any account reached through the TLD, and that it intend to maintain a published abuse point of contact for reports concerning registrations in the TLD.

Q223By submitting this Application, the applying entity confirms that it is submitting this Application with a good faith (“bona fide”) intent to operate the gTLD for which it has applied, and that the applying entity has read and understands the provisions of Section 5.2.3.1 Prohibited Communications and Activities of the Applicant Guidebook regarding the New gTLD Program rules prohibiting certain communications and activities to prevent parties from privately resolving string contention among themselves.

By submitting this Application, the applying entity confirms that it is submitting this Application with a good faith (“bona fide”) intent to operate the gTLD for which it has applied, and that the applying entity has read and understands the provisions of Section 5.2.3.1 Prohibited Communications and Activities of the Applicant Guidebook regarding the New gTLD Program rules prohibiting certain communications and activities to prevent parties from privately resolving string contention among themselves.

true

Q224By submitting this Application, the applying entity confirms that it has read and understands the provisions of Section 5.2.3.1 Prohibited Communications and Activities of the Applicant Guidebook regarding the New gTLD Program rules prohibiting certain communications and activities to prevent parties from privately resolving string contention among themselves.

By submitting this Application, the applying entity confirms that it has read and understands the provisions of Section 5.2.3.1 Prohibited Communications and Activities of the Applicant Guidebook regarding the New gTLD Program rules prohibiting certain communications and activities to prevent parties from privately resolving string contention among themselves.

true