Hearten Privacy Policy

Last Updated: August 6, 2025

Your trust means everything to us. At Hearten, we are committed to protecting your personal information and maintaining transparency about how we handle your data. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, store, and protect your information when you use our mobile app and related services (collectively, “Hearten,” “we,” “our,” or “us”).

By accessing or using Hearten, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you have any questions or concerns, contact us anytime at help@hearten.day.

Who This Policy Applies To

This Privacy Policy applies to all users of the Hearten mobile application and related services, regardless of location. However, your rights and choices may vary depending on the laws in your country, state, or region.

Information We Collect

To provide and improve our services, we collect the following types of information:

Account Information

Username or display name
Email address
Password (encrypted and stored securely)
Optional profile photo or bio

User-Generated Content

Video messages you create, upload, and share
Associated metadata (e.g., timestamps, video length, audio levels)

Note: We do not access, view, or store your videos beyond what is necessary to deliver them to your intended recipients or display them in your profile/feed according to your preferences.

Usage & Technical Data

App usage activity (e.g., message views, likes, reports, content flags)
Device and browser information (e.g., OS version, device type, IP address)
Crash logs, diagnostics, and performance data

Optional Information

Responses to surveys, feedback forms, or onboarding questionnaires
Information you choose to provide during user research or beta programs

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We may use cookies or similar technologies (where applicable) to gather information about your interactions with the app. This helps us improve performance, deliver personalized content, and monitor usage patterns. These tools do not access your videos or sensitive personal data.

How We Use Your Information

We use your data to:

Operate, maintain, and improve our app and features
Facilitate the creation, delivery, and display of your video messages
Personalize content, prompts, and recommendations
Provide user support and respond to inquiries
Send service-related communications (e.g., updates, confirmations, or security alerts)
Monitor app performance and diagnose bugs
Enforce our Community Guidelines and Terms of Service
Comply with legal and regulatory obligations

We do not use your personal video content for advertising or promotional purposes without your explicit consent.

Your Privacy & Content Choices

You have full control over your content and personal data:

Visibility: Your video messages are shared only as you choose—public, private, or with specific users.
Deletion: You can delete your content or your account at any time. Deleting your account will remove your personal information and content from our active systems, unless retention is required by law.
Access & Corrections: You can access, update, or correct your profile information through the app.

How We Share Information

We do not sell or rent your personal information. We only share it in the following circumstances:

With service providers who help us operate (e.g., cloud storage, infrastructure, analytics). These providers are contractually bound to confidentiality and data security obligations.
When you use third-party integrations (e.g., social media sharing). In such cases, their privacy policies will apply.
When legally required to comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or law enforcement requests.
In the event of a business transaction, such as a merger, acquisition, or asset sale. We will notify you if your information is transferred or becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy or as required by law. Deleted videos or accounts may persist temporarily in backup storage systems but will be purged on a regular schedule.

How We Protect Your Data

We use industry-standard security measures to protect your data, including:

Encryption during transmission (TLS/SSL)
Secure authentication and access controls
Encrypted storage of passwords and sensitive identifiers
Regular system monitoring and audits for vulnerabilities

No system is 100% secure. If you suspect unauthorized activity on your account, please notify us immediately at help@hearten.day.

Children’s Privacy

Hearten is not intended for users under the age of 13, or the minimum age required in your jurisdiction. We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal data from children without verified parental consent. If we learn that a child has submitted personal information without proper authorization, we will delete it promptly.

Your Rights & Choices

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

Access your personal data
Correct inaccurate information
Request deletion of your data
Object to or restrict certain data processing
Withdraw consent where applicable
Request data portability

You can exercise most of these rights directly through your account settings, or by contacting us at help@hearten.day. We will respond to valid requests in accordance with applicable law.

International Users

Hearten is operated from the United States. If you reside outside the U.S., your data may be transferred to, stored in, or processed in the U.S. or other countries where our service providers operate. We implement safeguards (such as contractual clauses) to protect international data transfers in accordance with local laws like the GDPR.

Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, or legal obligations. If the changes are material, we will notify you via the app or email. Your continued use of Hearten after an update constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact Hearten by email at help@hearten.day.