Privacy Policy

Hi there! This Privacy Policy explains how Peanut Study Buddy ("we," "us," or "our"), operated by Hyunsung Shin, collects, uses, and protects your information when you use our mobile application and website (together, the "Service").

We care about your privacy and are committed to being transparent about how we handle your data. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at hyundevelops@gmail.com.

1. Information We Collect

Account Information

When you create an account, we collect your email address and display name. You may also choose a hamster avatar and customize your profile.

Study Session Data

We collect data about your study sessions, including timer durations, session history, streaks, and rewards you've earned. This data powers features like friend streaks, badges, and study statistics.

Social Data

When you connect with friends or join virtual study rooms, we store your friend connections and study room participation to enable these social features.

Device Information

We collect device identifiers for push notifications, as well as your device type and operating system version, to ensure the app works correctly on your device.

Usage and Analytics Data

We collect information about how you interact with the app, including feature usage patterns and crash logs, to help us improve the experience.

Waitlist Data

If you sign up for our waitlist through our website, we collect your email address and the date and time you signed up. This data is stored securely using Google Firebase.

2. How We Use Your Information

• Providing and operating the Service, including study timers, rooms, streaks, and rewards
• Enabling social features like friend connections and shared study sessions
• Sending push notifications (study reminders, streak alerts, friend activity)
• Improving the app experience based on usage patterns
• Communicating with you about updates, new features, and your account
• Responding to your support requests

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We never have, and we never will.

We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

• Service providers: We use Google Firebase for authentication, database, and hosting. Your data is processed according to Google's Privacy Policy.
• Social features: Your display name and avatar are visible to your friends and other users in your study rooms. Your email address is never shared with other users.
• Legal requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, regulation, or legal process.

4. Data Security

Your data is stored on Google Firebase and Google Cloud infrastructure. All data is encrypted in transit using HTTPS/TLS. We implement reasonable security measures to protect your information, but no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

5. Children's Privacy

Peanut Study Buddy is designed for students aged 13 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13.

If you are under 13, please do not use the Service or provide any personal information. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will delete that information promptly.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us at hyundevelops@gmail.com so we can take appropriate action.

6. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Delete your account and all associated data
• Opt out of push notifications through your device settings
• Opt out of marketing communications at any time
• Request a copy of your data in a portable format

To exercise any of these rights, please email us at hyundevelops@gmail.com. We will respond within 30 days.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you with the Service. If you delete your account, we will delete your personal data within 30 days, except where we are required to retain it by law.

Waitlist email addresses are retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion.

8. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services to operate the app:

• Google Firebase — Authentication, database, cloud functions, and hosting. Google Privacy Policy
• Apple — App distribution via the App Store. Apple Privacy Policy

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make significant changes, we will notify you through the app or by email. Your continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy. We encourage you to review this page periodically.