Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

SafeSpace ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting the privacy of all our users, especially children. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard information when you use our platform. SafeSpace is designed for users aged 8-17 and complies with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

2. Information We Collect

Information Provided During Registration

• First and last name
• Username (chosen by the user)
• Email address
• Date of birth (for age verification and COPPA compliance)
• Gender (optional)
• Password (stored securely using encryption)

For Children Under 13

• Parent/guardian name and email address (for consent purposes)

Information Generated Through Use

• Posts, comments, and messages created on the platform
• Course progress and completion data
• Points earned and avatar customization choices
• Friend connections and group memberships

3. How We Use Information

We use collected information to:

• Create and manage user accounts
• Provide the social learning experience (courses, posts, messaging)
• Verify age and obtain parental consent when required
• Moderate content to maintain a safe environment
• Track course progress and award points/badges
• Send important account-related notifications
• Improve our platform and services

4. Information Sharing

We do not sell, trade, or rent personal information to third parties. We may share information only in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: With trusted third-party services that help us operate the platform (e.g., hosting, payment processing via Stripe)
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or to protect safety
• Parental Requests: Parents may request access to their child's data

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

• Passwords are encrypted using bcrypt hashing
• All data transmission is encrypted via HTTPS/SSL
• CSRF protection on all form submissions
• Content filtering and moderation systems
• Regular security reviews and updates

6. Children's Privacy (COPPA)

We take children's privacy seriously. For users under 13:

• We require verifiable parental consent before activating the account
• We collect only the minimum information necessary
• Parents can review, modify, or delete their child's information at any time
• Parents can revoke consent and have their child's data deleted

See our full COPPA Compliance page for details.

7. Cookies

SafeSpace uses essential session cookies to keep you logged in and maintain your preferences. We do not use advertising cookies or third-party tracking cookies. No personally identifiable information is stored in cookies.

8. Data Retention

We retain account data for as long as the account is active. When an account is deleted, we remove personal information within 30 days. Anonymized data may be retained for analytics purposes. Read notifications are automatically cleaned up after 30 days.

9. Your Rights

You (or your parent/guardian) have the right to:

• Access and review your personal information
• Request corrections to your data
• Request deletion of your account and data
• Opt out of non-essential communications

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. For material changes affecting children's data, we will notify parents via email.