Privacy Policy for Shine Social

Last Updated: November 15, 2025

1. Information We Collect

When you use Shine Social, we collect:

• Account Information: Name, username, email, age, location (town/state), gender, relationship status
• Referral Information: Referral codes used to join and codes you generate
• Content: Posts, photos, videos, messages, and comments you create
• Usage Data: How you interact with the app (likes, shares, friend connections, blocks, reports)
• Device Information: Basic device type and app version for technical support

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide and improve the Shine Social service
• Connect you with friends and show relevant local content
• Ensure safety and prevent abuse through our moderation system
• Send important updates about your account
• Respond to support requests
• Manage referral systems and community growth

3. Information Sharing

Your information is shared:

• With Friends: Your profile and posts marked for friends are visible to your accepted friends
• Locally: Posts marked as "Local" are visible to other users in your town
• Anonymous Posts: When posting anonymously, your identity is hidden from other users
• Blocking: When you block someone, they cannot see your content or contact you, and you won't see theirs
• Shared Posts: When you share a post via direct message, the recipient can view it in their messages

We do NOT:

• Sell your personal information to third parties
• Share your data with advertisers
• Track you across other websites or apps

4. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored securely using:

• Supabase: Industry-standard PostgreSQL database with encryption
• Cloud Storage: Images and videos stored with secure access controls
• Firebase: App infrastructure for future features
• Encryption: All data transmitted between your device and our servers is encrypted

5. Your Rights and Controls

You have complete control over your data:

• Access: View your profile information at any time
• Update: Edit your profile and posts
• Delete Content: Remove individual posts at any time
• Block Users: Prevent specific users from seeing your content or contacting you
• Unfriend Users: Remove friends from your friend list
• Report Content: Flag posts and users that violate our terms - we respond within 24 hours and take immediate action
• Share Posts: Send posts to friends via direct messages
• Delete Account: Permanently delete your account and all associated data (Settings → Delete Account)

6. Children's Privacy

Shine Social is intended for users aged 13 and older. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13. If we discover a user is under 13, we will delete their account immediately.

7. Data Retention

• Posts remain visible in your profile until you delete them
• Posts appear in community feeds for 24 hours after posting
• Messages are stored until you delete your account
• Deleted posts are removed immediately from public view but may remain in backups for up to 30 days
• When you delete your account, all your data is permanently removed within 30 days

8. Third-Party Services

We use these trusted services:

• Supabase: Database and authentication (Privacy Policy)
• Firebase: App infrastructure (Privacy Policy)
• We do not use analytics or advertising services that track you

9. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you're a California resident, you have the right to:

• Know what personal data we collect
• Request deletion of your data
• Opt-out of data sales (we don't sell data)

10. International Users

Shine Social is based in the United States. By using our service, you consent to your data being transferred to and processed in the United States, where data protection laws may differ from those in your country.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy. When we do, we'll update the "Last Updated" date. Significant changes will be announced in-app. Continued use of Shine Social after changes means you accept the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

Questions about privacy? Contact us at:

Email: shinesocial.app@gmail.com

We'll respond within 48 hours.