Privacy Policy

Words of Culture ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your data when you use our website at wordsofculture.com and our mobile applications.

By using Words of Culture, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

1. Information we collect

We collect the following types of information:

• Account information — your name and email address when you create an account
• Usage data — which quotes you save, share, or interact with; which countries you mark as visited on your travel map
• Device information — your device type, operating system, and browser for technical support purposes
• Analytics data — how you navigate the app, which features you use, and how long you spend on each screen

We do not collect your location, payment card details (these are handled securely by Apple, Google, or Stripe), or any sensitive personal data.

2. How we use your information

We use your information to:

• Provide and improve the Words of Culture service
• Personalise your experience — for example, showing quotes relevant to your saved preferences
• Send you notifications if you have opted in (daily quotes, new content alerts)
• Respond to your support enquiries sent to support@wordsofculture.com
• Understand how our app is used so we can improve it
• Process referral codes for our refer a friend programme

3. Data sharing

We do not sell your personal data to third parties. We may share limited data with:

• Firebase (Google) — for secure account authentication and data storage
• Vercel — for hosting our website and web application
• Analytics providers — aggregated, anonymised usage data only

All third-party providers are required to handle your data in compliance with applicable data protection laws.

4. Community leaderboard and travel map

If you use the travel map feature, the countries you mark as visited may be visible to other Words of Culture users on the community leaderboard. Your display name (not your email) is used. You can disable this in your account settings at any time.

5. Data retention

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we will delete your personal data within 30 days, except where we are required to retain it by law.

6. Your rights (UK GDPR)

As a user based in the United Kingdom or European Union, you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")
• Object to or restrict how we process your data
• Data portability — receive your data in a readable format
• Withdraw consent for marketing at any time

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at legal@wordsofculture.com.

7. Cookies

Our website uses essential cookies required for the site to function, and optional analytics cookies to help us understand how the site is used. You can manage your cookie preferences in your browser settings or through our in-app analytics toggle.

8. Children's privacy

Words of Culture is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

9. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes via email or an in-app notification. Continued use of Words of Culture after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.