🔒 Privacy Policy
Effective Date: August 1, 2025
Last Updated: October 19, 2025
1. Information We Collect
- Account Information: Name, email address, password, ZIP code, and profile details.
- Location Data: ZIP code provided during registration or profile updates, used to personalize item availability and friend suggestions.
- Item Listings: Descriptions, images, and metadata related to items you post.
- Messaging Data: Messages sent between users, including timestamps and read status.
- Gamification Data: Points, badges, ranks, and activity logs related to engagement.
- Usage Data: IP address, browser type, device information, and interaction logs.
- Moderation Logs: Flags, audit trails, and system-generated alerts for abuse prevention.
2. How We Use Your Information
- To operate and improve the BuddyAvenue platform.
- To facilitate borrowing, lending, messaging, and friend interactions.
- To personalize your experience, including badge feedback, rank progression, and ZIP-based suggestions.
- To tailor search results, item listings, and friend recommendations based on your ZIP code.
- To enforce our Terms of Service and prevent misuse.
- To support moderation, abuse detection, and audit logging.
- To communicate with you about your account, activity, or support inquiries.
3. Sharing of Information
- We do not sell your personal data.
- We may share data with service providers who help us operate the platform (e.g., hosting, analytics).
- We may disclose information if required by law or to protect our rights and users.
- We may share anonymized or aggregated data for research and platform improvement.
4. Cookies & Tracking
We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance user experience, analyze traffic, and remember preferences. You can manage cookie settings in your browser.
5. Data Security
We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data, including encryption, access controls, and audit logging. However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure.
6. Message Retention & Soft Deletion
- Messages may be retained until both sender and receiver delete them.
- Soft-deleted messages are hidden from view but may remain in the system for moderation or audit purposes.
- Friend messages and item messages follow separate retention logic based on context.
7. Your Rights
- You may access, update, or delete your personal information by logging into your account.
- You may update your ZIP code or location preferences in your account settings.
- You may request data export or account deletion by contacting support.
- Deleted accounts may retain audit logs for abuse prevention and legal compliance.
8. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Major changes may be announced via dashboard alerts or email.
