Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly to us and information generated through your use of the app.

Account Information

• Name and display name
• Email address
• Profile photo
• Username and bio

Content You Create

• Events you post, including titles, descriptions, photos, dates, and locations
• Messages sent via direct messages, group chats, and event chats
• Tap In stories, photos, and reactions
• RSVPs and attendance records

Location Information

• Location data you provide when creating events (address or place name)
• Approximate location, only when you grant permission, for finding nearby events

Contacts

• If you grant permission, we access your device contacts solely to help you find friends already on FriendZone and to send SMS invitations to those who aren't. We do not store your contact list on our servers.

Device & Usage Data

• Device type and operating system
• Push notification tokens
• App usage data (screens viewed, features used)
• IP address and general location derived from it

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Create and maintain your account
• Show you events from people you follow
• Enable social features: following, messaging, RSVPs, and Tap Ins
• Send push notifications for activity relevant to you (new followers, RSVPs, messages)
• Send event reminders you've opted into
• Help you find friends using your contacts (with your permission)
• Improve and develop the app
• Respond to your support requests
• Enforce our Terms of Service and keep the community safe

We do not sell your personal data to third parties. We do not use your data for targeted advertising.

3. Sharing Your Information

We share your information only in the following circumstances:

• With other users: Your profile, events, and public activity are visible to your followers and, where applicable, all FriendZone users.
• Service providers: We use trusted third-party services to operate the app (e.g., cloud hosting, push notifications via Expo, SMS via Twilio). These providers only process data on our behalf.
• Legal requirements: We may disclose information if required by law or to protect the rights and safety of FriendZone and its users.
• Business transfers: If FriendZone is acquired or merged, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

4. Data Storage & Security

Your data is stored securely on servers hosted in the United States. We use industry-standard measures including encrypted connections (HTTPS), secure session management, and access controls to protect your information.

No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We take reasonable steps to protect your data, but we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Photos and media you upload are stored in Google Cloud Storage with restricted access and time-limited signed URLs for delivery.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we delete your profile, events, messages, and associated data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law.

Tap In stories expire automatically after the duration you select (1–4 hours). Expired Tap Ins are permanently deleted within 24 hours.

6. Your Rights & Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: You can view and update your profile information at any time within the app.
• Deletion: You can delete your account from Settings → Account → Delete Account. This permanently removes your data.
• Notifications: You can manage push notification preferences in your device settings or within the app.
• Contacts: You can revoke contact access at any time through your device settings. This will not affect your existing account.
• Location: You can revoke location access at any time through your device settings.
• Portability: To request a copy of your data, contact us at the address below.

If you are located in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, you may have additional rights under the GDPR. Contact us to exercise these rights.

7. Children's Privacy

FriendZone is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we will delete it promptly.

8. Third-Party Services

FriendZone integrates with the following third-party services:

• Apple Sign-In & Google Sign-In: For authentication. Governed by Apple's and Google's respective privacy policies.
• Google Maps & Places API: For location search and event cover photos.
• Expo Push Notifications: For delivering push notifications to your device.
• Twilio: For sending SMS invitations when you invite friends.
• Google Cloud Storage: For storing photos and media you upload.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make significant changes, we will notify you through the app or via email. Continued use of FriendZone after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

The "Last updated" date at the top of this page reflects when the most recent changes were made.

10. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please reach out: