Privacy Policy

Last Updated: July 11, 2025

Welcome to ReadTogether! We are committed to protecting the privacy of our users, especially children. This Privacy Policy explains how ReadTogether ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, discloses, and protects personal information from users of our iOS application and related services (collectively, the "Service"). Our Service is designed for children aged 3-8 to help them learn to read and develop related skills. This policy is designed to comply with the U.S. Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and Apple's App Store guidelines for children's apps.
Please read this policy carefully. By using the Service, parents or legal guardians ("Parents") consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy on behalf of themselves and their child or children using the Service (each a "Child"). If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please do not use the Service.

1. Information We Collect

We are committed to data minimization, collecting only the information that is reasonably necessary to provide and improve our Service, personalize the learning experience, and ensure safety.

1.1 Information Provided by Parents

During account setup, we collect the following information directly from Parents:
  • Parent Account Information: We collect a Parent's email address to communicate with you about the Service, and to obtain verifiable parental consent as required by COPPA.
  • Child Profile Information: We ask Parents to provide a first name or nickname for the Child and the Child's birth month and year. We recommend using only a first name or nickname to protect your Child's privacy. The Child's age is used to verify they are age-appropriate for our Service, to comply with COPPA, and to personalize the learning content. We do not require a Child's last name or other contact information.

1.2 Information Collected from the Child's Use of the Service

With a Parent's verifiable consent, we collect the following information through a Child's interaction with the Service:
  • In-App Activity and Usage Data: We automatically collect data about how the Child interacts with the Service. This includes details about the books accessed, features used, time spent on activities, and progress in educational exercises. This usage data helps us understand learning progress, personalize content, and improve the app's design and features.
  • Device and Technical Information: We collect technical information to ensure the Service functions correctly and to diagnose problems. This includes device type, operating system version, app version, a unique user ID generated for your account, IP address, and diagnostic data like crash logs. In accordance with COPPA, any persistent identifiers (like a user ID or IP address) are used only to support the internal operations of the Service, such as maintaining security and analyzing app performance. This data is not used for behavioral advertising or tracking across other apps or websites.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
  • To Provide and Operate the Service: To set up and maintain your account, authenticate users, and enable core app functionalities.
  • To Personalize the Learning Experience: To use the Child's age and usage data to tailor content, adjust difficulty, and suggest appropriate books and activities.
  • To Communicate with Parents: To use the Parent's email address to send service-related communications, such as consent requests, notifications about a Child's progress, and important app updates.
  • To Improve and Analyze our Service: To analyze aggregated, de-identified usage data to understand which features are popular, identify areas for improvement, and fix technical issues.
  • To Ensure Safety and Security: To monitor for and prevent fraud or misuse of the Service, enforce our terms, and protect the safety of our users.
We do not use your or your Child's personal information for third-party advertising, nor do we build profiles of children for any commercial purpose.

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell personal information. We only share personal information in the following limited circumstances:
  • Service Providers: We may share information with trusted third-party companies that help us operate the Service, such as cloud hosting providers (e.g., Amazon Web Services). These providers are contractually obligated to protect the information and are prohibited from using it for their own purposes.
  • Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, such as in response to a subpoena or court order.
  • Protection of Rights and Safety: We may share information if we believe it is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of our users, our company, or the public.
  • Business Transfers: If we are involved in a merger or acquisition, user information may be transferred to the new entity, which will be required to honor the commitments in this Privacy Policy. We will notify you of such a change.

4. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as is reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected or as required by law. Parent and Child account information is retained as long as the account is active. If an account is deleted, we will securely delete this personal information after a short grace period. Usage and technical data are deleted or anonymized when it is no longer needed.

5. Children's Privacy and COPPA Compliance

Our Service is directed to children under 13, and we comply fully with COPPA. Key aspects of our compliance include:
  • Age Verification: We use a neutral age-gate to identify users who are children under 13.
  • Verifiable Parental Consent: We obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting any personal information from a Child.
  • Parental Control: We provide Parents with the ability to review, update, delete, and/or manage their Child's personal information, as detailed in the next section.
  • Data Minimization: We do not condition a Child's participation in an activity on them providing more information than is reasonably necessary.
  • No Third-Party Advertising: Our app does not contain third-party advertising or tracking.

6. Parents' Rights and Choices

As a Parent, you have the following rights regarding the information we collect about your Child:
  • Right to Review: You can request to review the personal information we have collected from your Child.
  • Right to Delete: You can request that we delete the personal information we have collected from your Child.
  • Right to Refuse Further Collection: You can, at any time, refuse to permit our further collection or use of your Child's personal information.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at the email address below. Be aware that a request to delete personal information may result in the termination of your account, as the information is necessary to provide the Service. We will respond to all parental requests in a timely manner and in accordance with applicable law.

7. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will provide prominent notice, for example, via an in-app notification or an email to Parents. If we propose to use personal information in a materially different way, we will obtain new parental consent before implementing the changes.

8. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at: readtogether.ai@gmail.com. We take your privacy seriously and are committed to working with you to address any concerns.