Privacy Policy

WhyNot ("we," "our," or "us") operates the WhyNot mobile application (the "App"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our App. Please read this policy carefully. By using WhyNot, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information that you provide directly to us, as well as information collected automatically when you use our App.

Information You Provide

• Account Information: Phone number (used for verification), name, age, location (city), profile photos, and bio
• Profile Details: Gender, sexual orientation, religion, and relationship status (all optional)
• Social Links: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter usernames (optional)
• User Content: Plans you create, messages in group chats, reviews and ratings you leave for other users
• Friend Connections: Friend requests and friend lists

Information Collected Automatically

• Location Data: With your permission, we collect your device's location to show nearby plans and calculate distances. We only access location when the app is in use.
• Device Information: Device type, operating system, and app version for diagnostics and support
• Usage Data: App interactions, features used, and crash reports to improve the App experience
• Push Notification Tokens: To deliver notifications about plans, messages, and friend requests
• Advertising Identifiers: With your consent (via App Tracking Transparency on iOS), we collect your device's advertising identifier (IDFA on iOS, GAID on Android) to measure the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns and attribute app installs to specific ads. You can opt out at any time through your device settings.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Create and manage your account
• Verify your identity via phone number OTP
• Display your profile to other users
• Show plans near your location
• Enable group chat communication between plan participants
• Calculate and display reliability scores based on attendance
• Send push notifications for plan updates, join requests, messages, and reminders
• Enable friend connections and co-hosting features
• Measure the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns and attribute app installs
• Improve, personalize, and optimize the App
• Monitor and analyze usage trends and preferences
• Detect, prevent, and address technical issues, fraud, and abuse

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

• With Other Users: Your profile information (name, age, location, photos, bio, and optional details) is visible to other WhyNot users. Plan details and group chat messages are visible to plan participants.
• Service Providers: We use Supabase for backend infrastructure and data storage, Expo for push notifications, and PostHog for anonymous analytics. These providers process data on our behalf and are bound by contractual obligations to protect your data.
• Advertising Partners: With your consent, we share device advertising identifiers and app activity data (such as app installs and events) with Meta (Facebook) to measure and optimize our advertising campaigns. This data is used solely to understand how users discover WhyNot through our ads. We do not serve third-party ads within the App.
• Legal Compliance: We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, or legal process, or to protect the rights, safety, and property of WhyNot, our users, or others.

4. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored securely using Supabase, which provides industry-standard encryption for data at rest and in transit. We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

Profile photos are stored in secure cloud storage with access controls. Authentication is handled via phone number verification with one-time passwords (OTP).

While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your data, no method of electronic storage or transmission is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you with our services. If you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal data within 30 days, except where we are required to retain certain information for legal obligations, dispute resolution, or enforcement of our agreements.

Chat messages associated with plans are retained for 90 days after a plan ends, then automatically deleted. Reviews and ratings are anonymized upon account deletion.

6. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: You can view your personal data within the App at any time through your profile
• Correction: You can update your profile information at any time through the Edit Profile screen
• Deletion: You can delete your account and all associated data directly from the App (Profile → Danger Zone → Delete Account). This action is permanent and cannot be undone.
• Location: You can disable location permissions at any time through your device settings. Some features may be limited without location access.
• Notifications: You can manage push notification preferences through your device settings
• Ad Tracking: On iOS, you can control ad tracking through the App Tracking Transparency prompt or in Settings → Privacy → Tracking. On Android, you can reset or opt out of your advertising ID in Settings → Privacy → Ads.
• Data Portability: You may request a copy of your personal data by contacting us

7. Children's Privacy

WhyNot is not intended for use by anyone under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we discover that we have inadvertently collected data from a minor, we will delete that information promptly. If you believe a child under 18 has provided us with personal data, please contact us immediately.

8. Third-Party Services

Our App may contain links to third-party services (such as Instagram, LinkedIn, and other social media platforms linked from user profiles). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third-party services. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you access through WhyNot.

We use the following third-party services:

• Supabase: Backend infrastructure, database, authentication, and file storage
• Expo: Push notification delivery and app updates
• PostHog: Anonymous product analytics (no personal data is shared)
• Sentry: Error tracking and crash reporting (no personal data is shared)
• Google Maps: Location search and map display
• Meta (Facebook) SDK: Advertising campaign measurement and install attribution. Collects device advertising identifiers and app event data with user consent. See Meta's Privacy Policy for details on how Meta processes this data.

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from those in your jurisdiction. By using WhyNot, you consent to such transfers. We ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy within the App and updating the "Effective Date" at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

12. Delete Your Account

You can permanently delete your WhyNot account and all associated data directly from this page. This process requires verification of your phone number to confirm your identity.