Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how Shouht ("we", "us", or "our") collects, uses, discloses, and protects your information when you use our mobile application and website (collectively, the "Service").

By using Shouht, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

• Account Information: Email address, display name, username, password, date of birth, and profile picture
• Phone Number: Your phone number for account verification via SMS or Firebase Phone Number Verification on Android, which may retrieve your verified phone number from your SIM/mobile carrier with your consent
• Profile Information: Bio, avatar, banner image, and customization preferences
• Content: Shouhts, replies, messages, and any other content you post
• Communications: Messages you send to other users and feedback you provide to us

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Location Data: Your precise location when you enable location services, used to show nearby Shouhts and users
• Device Information: Device type, operating system, and unique device identifiers
• Usage Data: How you interact with the app, including features used and time spent
• Log Data: IP address, browser type, pages visited, and timestamps

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve the Service
• Display location-based content and nearby users
• Send push notifications (if enabled) about nearby activity
• Process transactions and manage subscriptions
• Communicate with you about updates, security, and support
• Enforce our Terms of Service and protect user safety
• Analyze usage patterns to improve user experience
• Provide gamification features (XP, levels, achievements, streaks)

4. Location Data

Shouht is a location-based service. When you enable location services:

• We collect your precise location to show you nearby content and users
• Your approximate location may be displayed to other users (you can control visibility in settings)
• Location is used to calculate the range of your Shouht notifications when you spend Rizz
• You can disable location services at any time through your device settings

We do not sell your precise location data to third parties.

5. Information Sharing

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

• With Other Users: Your profile information, Shouhts, and activity are visible to other users according to your privacy settings
• Service Providers: We use third-party services for hosting, analytics, and payment processing
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law or to protect our rights and safety
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure password hashing
• Regular security audits and updates
• Access controls and authentication measures

However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. You can delete your account at any time through the app settings, which will remove your personal information from our active systems.

Specific retention periods:

8. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
• Deletion: Delete your account and personal data
• Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
• Opt-out: Disable notifications and location tracking

To exercise these rights, contact us through the app or visit your account settings.

9. Children's Privacy

Shouht is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we discover that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we will delete it promptly.

10. Third-Party Services

Our Service may contain links to third-party websites or services that are not operated by us. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

We use the following third-party services:

• Google OAuth: For sign-in authentication. Google receives your basic profile information when you choose to sign in with Google.
• Firebase (Google): For phone number verification by SMS and Android Firebase Phone Number Verification, push notifications, and app security (reCAPTCHA). Firebase may receive your phone number, device/SIM verification signals, and device push tokens.
• Stripe: For payment processing. Stripe processes your payment information directly; we only receive confirmation of successful transactions and subscription status.
• OpenStreetMap/CartoDB/Self-hosted tiles: For map display. These services may receive location coordinates for map rendering.
• Google AdMob/AdSense: For displaying advertisements to non-premium users. See Section 14 for more details on advertising.

For more information about how these services handle your data, please refer to their respective privacy policies.

11. Push Notifications

With your permission, we may send push notifications about:

• Nearby Shouhts when users spend Rizz to reach you
• Replies to your Shouhts and messages
• New followers and mentions
• Gamification achievements and streaks

You can manage notification preferences in the app settings.

12. Advertising

Shouht displays advertisements to eligible users who do not have a Premium subscription. We use Google AdMob (mobile) and Google AdSense (web) to serve advertisements.

Information Used for Advertising

Our advertising partners may collect and use information when permitted by your consent choices and device settings, including:

• Advertising identifiers when provided by your operating system and allowed by your settings
• IP address and approximate location
• Device information (type, OS version)
• Ad interaction data (impressions, clicks)

Opting Out of Personalized Ads

You can opt out of personalized advertising by:

• Subscribing to Shouht Premium
• Disabling Advertising Cookies in your cookie preferences
• Enabling Do Not Sell in your privacy settings
• Using a browser that sends a Global Privacy Control signal, which we treat as a Do Not Sell opt-out on the web
• Using your device's ad tracking settings (iOS: Settings → Privacy → Tracking; Android: Settings → Privacy → Ads)
• Using Google AdMob privacy choices when they are shown in the mobile app
• Visiting Google's Ad Settings at adssettings.google.com

Even if you opt out of personalized advertising, you may still see non-personalized or contextual ads unless you have Premium.

13. California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA):

• Right to Know: Request disclosure of categories and specific pieces of personal information collected
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information
• Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate personal information
• Right to Opt-Out: Opt out of sharing of personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising
• Right to Non-Discrimination: Exercise your rights without discriminatory treatment

We do not sell your personal information as defined under the CCPA.

For complete details about your California privacy rights and how to exercise them, please see our California Privacy Notice.

14. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience, remember your preferences, and serve relevant advertisements. On the web, Google Consent Mode starts with advertising and analytics storage denied and updates only after your preferences are known. Types of cookies we use include:

• Essential Cookies: Required for authentication, security, and core functionality
• Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
• Advertising Cookies: Used by our advertising partners to serve relevant ads (for non-premium users)

Shouht does not show a first-visit cookie banner. You can manage cookie preferences through settings when signed in, by enabling Do Not Sell, by using Global Privacy Control in supported browsers, through device ad settings, or by adjusting your browser settings.

For complete details about our use of cookies, please see our Cookie Policy.

15. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

16. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

• Email: [email protected]
• In-App: Settings → Account → Privacy Requests