1. Introduction

The Link ("we," "us," or "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use the Platform at connecttolink.com.

By using The Link, you consent to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Platform.

2. Information We Collect

Information you provide directly:

• Account information: name, email address, phone number, date of birth
• Profile information: interests, bio, location preferences, platform connections
• Activity data: activities you create, join, or interact with
• Communications: messages sent through the Platform's group chat and direct messaging features
• Waitlist information: name, email, city, and zip code submitted through our waitlist form

Information collected automatically:

• Device information: browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Usage data: pages viewed, features used, time spent on the Platform
• Location data: approximate location based on IP address or zip code you provide (we do not track precise GPS location without your explicit consent)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Create and manage your account
• Personalize your activity feed based on your age group, interests, and location
• Connect you with relevant activities and other users near you
• Facilitate group chats and messaging between activity participants
• Send you updates about the Platform, including beta launch notifications
• Improve and develop the Platform's features and user experience
• Enforce our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines
• Respond to your inquiries and provide customer support

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

• With other users: Your profile information, interests, and activity participation are visible to other users as part of the Platform's core functionality
• Service providers: We may share data with third-party services that help us operate the Platform (e.g., hosting, analytics, email delivery)
• Legal requirements: We may disclose information when required by law, regulation, or legal process
• Safety: We may share information when we believe it's necessary to prevent harm, fraud, or violations of our terms

5. Third-Party Platform Connections

The Link allows you to optionally connect external platforms such as Xbox, Steam, Strava, Spotify, and Discord. When you connect these accounts, we may access limited profile information from those platforms to display on your Link profile. We do not store your login credentials for any third-party platform.

Each third-party platform has its own privacy policy, which we encourage you to review.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you services. If you request account deletion, we will remove your personal data within 30 days, except where we are required to retain it for legal or operational purposes.

Waitlist submissions are retained until the beta launch period concludes or until you request removal.

7. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request deletion of your personal information
• Object to or restrict certain processing of your data
• Request a copy of your data in a portable format

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at [contact email].

9. Children's Privacy

The Link is not intended for users under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If we become aware that we have collected data from a user under 16, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.

10. Cookies and Tracking

The Platform may use cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience, remember preferences, and analyze usage patterns. You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

12. Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your personal data, contact us at [contact email].