Privacy Policy

Introduction

At Ripplet, we take your privacy seriously. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect, and share your personal information when you use the Ripplet mobile application.

1. Information We Collect

Account Information:

• University email address (for verification and communication)
• Full name
• Year in school (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior, Graduate)
• Major or field of study
• Profile photo (optional)
• Interests and hobbies you select
• Gender (optional, for filtering preferences)
• Bio or personal description (optional)

Location Information:

• Your device's GPS location (only when you grant permission)
• Approximate distance from Ripples (we do NOT share your exact coordinates with other users)
• Location preferences for filtering Ripples (e.g., within 1 mile, 5 miles, 10 miles)

Ripple and Activity Data:

• Ripples you create (title, description, location, time, participant limits, filters)
• Ripples you join or express interest in
• Attendance history and no-shows
• Filters you apply (gender preferences, distance, year preferences)

Communication Data:

• Messages sent through our chat feature
• Verification codes sent to your email
• Reports of inappropriate behavior or content

Device and Usage Information:

• Device type and operating system (iOS/Android)
• App version and crash reports
• Time spent in the app and features used
• IP address (for security and fraud prevention)

2. How We Use Your Information

Core Functionality:

• Verify your university student status through email verification
• Create and maintain your account
• Show your profile to other students at your university
• Match you with students who share your interests
• Display nearby Ripples based on your location
• Enable messaging between users who join the same Ripples

Personalization and Improvements:

• Recommend Ripples and users based on your interests and preferences
• Improve our matching algorithms
• Understand how users interact with the app to enhance features
• Fix bugs and improve app performance

Safety and Security:

• Monitor for inappropriate behavior and content
• Investigate reports of harassment or violations
• Prevent fake accounts and fraud
• Enforce our Terms of Service

Communication:

• Send you verification codes during sign-in
• Notify you about Ripples you've joined
• Send important updates about the service
• Respond to your support requests

3. How We Share Your Information

With Other Ripplet Users:

• Your name, photo, year, major, and bio
• Your selected interests
• Ripples you create (with location, time, and details you provide)
• Approximate distance from them (e.g., "1 mile away"—not your exact location)
• We do NOT share: Your email address, exact GPS coordinates, private messages with others, or any information you choose to keep private

Service Providers:

• Cloud hosting services (for storing data securely)
• Email delivery services (for sending verification codes)
• Analytics providers (to understand app usage and improve features)
• Customer support tools (to respond to your inquiries)
• These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and may only use it to provide services to Ripplet

Legal Requirements:

• Comply with legal obligations, court orders, or subpoenas
• Protect the safety of our users or the public
• Investigate fraud, security issues, or violations of our Terms
• Defend against legal claims

Business Transfers:

If Ripplet is acquired by or merges with another company, your information may be transferred to the new entity. We will notify you of any such change and its impact on your privacy.

4. Data Retention

• Active Accounts: Your profile and activity data remain while your account is active
• Deleted Accounts: When you delete your account, we remove your profile within 30 days. Some information may be retained longer for legal compliance
• Messages: Chat messages are stored as long as both users maintain accounts
• Safety Records: Records of violations or safety incidents may be retained longer to protect the community

5. Your Privacy Rights and Controls

Access and Update:

• View and edit your profile information at any time in the app
• Update your interests, photo, bio, and preferences
• Request a copy of your data by contacting us

Location Controls:

• Enable or disable location services through your device settings
• Adjust distance preferences for discovering Ripples
• Note: Disabling location will limit your ability to find nearby Ripples

Visibility and Privacy:

• Control who can see your profile through app settings
• Choose which interests to display publicly
• Report and block users who make you uncomfortable

Account Deletion:

• Delete your account at any time through the app settings
• Deletion removes your profile, Ripples, and messages within 30 days
• Some data may be retained for legal compliance and safety purposes

California Privacy Rights (CCPA):

If you're a California resident, you have additional rights including the right to know what personal information we collect, the right to delete your information, and the right to opt-out of data sales (note: we do NOT sell your personal information).

6. Data Security

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

• Encrypted data transmission (HTTPS/TLS)
• Secure cloud storage with access controls
• Regular security audits and updates
• Email verification for account access

However, no system is 100% secure. You are responsible for protecting your account by not sharing verification codes and reporting suspicious activity.

7. Children's Privacy

Ripplet is only for users 18 years and older. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18. If we discover that a user is under 18, we will delete their account immediately.

8. International Users

Ripplet is based in the United States. If you access Ripplet from outside the U.S., your information will be transferred to and stored in the United States, which may have different data protection laws than your country.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal reasons. We will notify you of significant changes through the app or via email. The "Last Updated" date at the top indicates when the policy was last revised.

10. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please contact us:

• Website: ripplet.app
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/ripplet-connect

For data access requests, deletion requests, or privacy concerns, please reach out through our official channels.

Acknowledgment

By using Ripplet, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and consent to the collection, use, and sharing of your information as described.