Privacy / Terms - Unvarnished

Effective Date: [Insert Date]
Last Updated: [Insert Date]

Introduction

Welcome to Unvarnished (“we,” “us,” or “our”), accessible at unvarnished.media. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and use our services, including browsing threads, creating an account, authoring threads, and posting comments. Please read this policy carefully. By accessing or using the site, you agree to the terms described here.

Information We Collect

Information you provide directly:

Account information: When you register as an Author, we collect your name, email address, username, and password.
Profile information: Authors may provide a bio, which can include bold, italic, and linked text.
Content submissions: When you create a thread or add quotes, we collect the thread title, thesis, hashtags, quote text, source URLs, commentary, and any other fields you complete.
Comments: When you post comments on published threads, we collect the content of those comments along with associated metadata (timestamp, username).

Information collected automatically:

Analytics data: We use Google Analytics (GA4) or a similar analytics service to collect anonymized usage data, including page views, scroll depth, source clicks, full-quote expansions, and other engagement events.
Log data: Our servers may automatically record information such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, and timestamps.
Cookies: We may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to maintain sessions, remember preferences, and gather analytics. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings.

How We Use Your Information

We use collected information to:

Operate, maintain, and improve the Unvarnished platform
Process author account registrations and manage authentication (login, password reset)
Facilitate the thread authoring and editorial review workflow (draft → pending review → published)
Display author profile cards alongside published threads
Moderate comments and enforce anti-spam measures
Analyze site usage to understand reader engagement (e.g., thread completion rate, source click-through rate)
Communicate with you about your account or submissions, including admin notifications when a thread is submitted for review

How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share information in the following circumstances:

Public content: Published threads, author profile cards, and comments are publicly visible by design.
Service providers: We may share data with third-party vendors who help us operate the site (e.g., hosting, analytics), subject to contractual privacy obligations.
Legal requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request.
Business transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the successor entity.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. If you delete your account, we will remove or anonymize your personal data within a reasonable timeframe, except where retention is required by law.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. This includes encrypted connections (SSL/TLS), secure password storage, and regular security monitoring.

Your Rights and Choices

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

Access the personal data we hold about you
Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
Delete your personal data (subject to legal retention obligations)
Opt out of analytics tracking by adjusting your browser or cookie settings
Withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at [insert email address].

Children’s Privacy

Unvarnished is not directed at individuals under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us and we will promptly delete it.

Third-Party Links

Threads on Unvarnished include source URLs linking to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party site you visit.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact:

Unvarnished
Email: [insert email]
Website: unvarnished.media