Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

EconTeen ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform and services.

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

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

• Phone Number: Required for account creation, text message notifications, and identity verification
• Username: Optional display name for leaderboards and social features
• Savings Data: Amount you report saving each day
• Goals: Financial goals you set within the app
• Contacts: If you choose to sync contacts to find friends (stored as one-way hashed values)

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

• Usage Data: Your activity on the platform (saves, streaks, milestones)
• Device Information: Device type, operating system, browser type
• IP Address: For security and fraud prevention
• Cookies: Session cookies for authentication

2.3 Third-Party Data

• Plaid: For winner verification only (identity verification, no data stored permanently)
• Twilio: SMS delivery service for daily text reminders
• Google reCAPTCHA: For spam and bot prevention

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Send daily text message reminders
• Track your savings progress and streaks
• Calculate leaderboard rankings
• Award raffle entries and distribute prizes
• Connect you with friends who also use EconTeen
• Prevent fraud and abuse
• Improve our services
• Comply with legal obligations

4. Information Sharing

4.1 We DO NOT Sell Your Data

We will never sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

4.2 We Share Information With:

• Twilio: To send text messages (they only see your phone number and message content)
• Plaid: Only when you win a prize and need identity verification (temporary, not stored)
• Partner Credit Unions: Only if you explicitly opt-in to their services
• Law Enforcement: If required by law or to protect rights and safety

4.3 Public Information

The following may be visible to other users:

• Your username (if you choose to set one)
• Your leaderboard rank
• Your total savings amount (if you enable public profile)

Your phone number is NEVER made public.

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures:

• Encrypted connections (HTTPS)
• Password hashing (bcrypt)
• Phone number hashing for contact discovery (SHA-256)
• Secure database with prepared statements (SQL injection protection)
• Limited employee access to user data
• Regular security audits

However, no system is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but take all reasonable precautions.

6. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of your data
• Delete: Request deletion of your account and data
• Correct: Update inaccurate information
• Opt-Out: Stop receiving text messages (reply STOP)
• Object: Object to data processing for specific purposes

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@econteen.com

7. Data Retention

We retain your data:

• Active accounts: As long as your account is active
• Deleted accounts: Anonymized data may be retained for analytics (no personally identifiable information)
• Legal requirements: We may retain certain data to comply with legal obligations

8. Children's Privacy

EconTeen is designed for teens aged 13-19.

We comply with COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act):

• We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13
• If we discover a user under 13, we will delete their account immediately
• Parents can contact us to request account deletion: parents@econteen.com

9. SMS/Text Message Terms

By providing your phone number, you consent to receive:

• Daily savings reminder texts
• Streak notifications
• Prize winner notifications
• Important account updates

Message frequency: Approximately 1 message per day

Message & data rates may apply. Check with your carrier.

To opt-out: Reply STOP to any message

For help: Reply HELP or email help@econteen.com

10. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies for:

• Authentication: Keep you logged in
• Preferences: Remember your settings
• Analytics: Understand how users interact with our platform

You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but this may limit functionality.

11. Third-Party Links

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Please review their privacy policies separately.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by:

• Posting the new policy on this page
• Updating the "Last Updated" date
• Sending a text message notification (for material changes)

Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

13. State-Specific Rights

California Residents (CCPA)

You have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act:

• Right to know what data we collect
• Right to request deletion
• Right to opt-out of data "sales" (we don't sell data)
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights

Nevada Residents

You have the right to opt-out of data sales. We do not sell data.