Introduction

Welcome to Connectly ("we," "our," or "us"). We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our social networking platform.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide to Us

We collect information that you voluntarily provide when you:

• Register for an account: Username, email address, password
• Create content: Posts, comments, likes, photos, and other content you share
• Complete your profile: Bio, profile picture, interests
• Communicate with us: Support requests, feedback, and correspondence
• Use interactive features: Messages, notifications preferences

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use Connectly, we automatically collect certain information:

• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Usage Data: Pages viewed, features used, time spent on platform, click patterns
• Location Data: General location based on IP address (not precise geolocation)
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: See Section 6 for more details

1.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information from third-party services if you:

• Sign up or log in using third-party authentication (e.g., Google OAuth)
• Connect your account with other social media platforms
• Interact with our platform through third-party integrations

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

2.1 To Provide and Maintain Our Service

• Create and manage your account
• Provide platform features and functionality
• Process your posts, comments, and interactions
• Personalize your experience

2.2 To Improve and Develop Our Service

• Analyze usage patterns and trends
• Develop new features and improvements
• Conduct research and analytics
• Test and optimize platform performance

2.3 To Communicate with You

• Send account-related notifications and updates
• Respond to your inquiries and support requests
• Send important service announcements
• Provide information about new features (with your consent)

2.4 To Ensure Security and Prevent Fraud

• Detect and prevent security threats
• Monitor for suspicious activity
• Enforce our Terms and Conditions
• Protect against abuse and unauthorized access

2.5 To Comply with Legal Obligations

• Respond to legal requests and court orders
• Comply with applicable laws and regulations
• Protect our legal rights and interests

3. How We Share Your Information

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

3.1 With Other Users

Information you choose to make public (posts, comments, profile information) is visible to other users according to your privacy settings.

3.2 With Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in:

• Hosting and infrastructure services
• Email delivery services
• Analytics and performance monitoring
• Customer support tools

3.3 For Legal Reasons

We may disclose your information if required by law or in good faith belief that such action is necessary to:

• Comply with legal obligations
• Protect and defend our rights or property
• Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing
• Protect personal safety of users or the public

3.4 Business Transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

4. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide you with our services
• Comply with legal obligations
• Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements

When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal data within 30 days, except where we need to retain it for legal or regulatory purposes.

5. Your Privacy Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

5.1 Access and Portability

You can access and download your personal data at any time through your account settings.

5.2 Correction

You can update and correct your personal information through your profile settings.

5.3 Deletion

You can request deletion of your account and associated data by contacting us or using the account deletion feature.

5.4 Objection and Restriction

You can object to certain processing of your data and request restrictions on how we use your information.

5.5 Opt-Out of Marketing

You can opt out of receiving marketing communications by updating your notification preferences or clicking "unsubscribe" in our emails.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Remember your preferences and settings
• Authenticate you when you log in
• Analyze how you use our platform
• Improve platform performance and user experience

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may affect your ability to use certain features of our platform.

Types of Cookies We Use:

• Essential Cookies: Required for platform functionality
• Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand platform usage
• Security Cookies: Protect against fraudulent activity

7. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal data, including:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure password hashing (Argon2)
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Access controls and authentication measures
• Security monitoring and logging

8. Children's Privacy

Connectly is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

If we become aware that we have collected personal data from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws that are different from your country's laws.

When we transfer your data internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

10. Third-Party Links

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites and services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by:

• Posting the updated policy on this page
• Updating the "Last Updated" date
• Sending an email notification for significant changes

Your continued use of Connectly after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

We will respond to your inquiry within 30 days.