Effective Date: September 29, 2025
1. Introduction
Welcome to The Talk Lounge. Your privacy is important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your data, including updates related to user engagement features, analytics, search engine indexing, and advertising.
2. Information We Collect
We collect the following information:
- Personal Information: Name, email address, username, and password.
- Engagement Data: Points earned, badges, referral history, activity logs (e.g., comments, shares, reading history).
- Technical Data: IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, timestamps.
- Cookies & Tracking: Cookies or local storage used to remember preferences, leaderboard status, saved articles, sessions, and referral links.
- Emails & Communications: Opt-in status, notifications, newsletters, leaderboard digests, referral alerts.
- Analytics & Advertising Data: Data collected by Google Analytics, Facebook Meta Pixel, Yandex Metrica, Bing Webmaster Tools, and Google AdSense, including page views, clicks, device, and user behavior for site optimization and personalized advertising.
3. How We Use Your Data
Your data is used to:
- Provide, maintain, and personalize your experience (points, memberships, saved content).
- Send notifications, email digests, referral alerts, and breaking news alerts (if opted in).
- Analyze site usage to improve content and user experience via analytics tools (Google Analytics, Yandex Metrica, Bing, Facebook Meta Pixel).
- Deliver targeted advertising via AdSense and other ad platforms.
- Prevent abuse/fraud (detecting fake referrals or point manipulation).
- Notify search engines (Google, Bing, Yandex) automatically when new or updated blog posts are published for faster indexing.
4. Data Sharing & Third Parties
We do not sell personal data. We may share your information with trusted third parties for:
- Email Delivery Providers: To send notifications and newsletters.
- Hosting & Analytics Providers: To maintain and analyze site performance (Google Analytics, Yandex, Bing, Facebook Meta).
- Advertising Providers: For targeted advertising (Google AdSense, other ad networks).
All third parties are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for specified purposes. We may also share anonymized or aggregated data for reporting or business insights.
5. Data Retention
Data is retained as long as necessary to provide services or as required by law. Users may request deletion of their account and associated data by contacting us at legal@thetalklounge.com.
6. Your Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the right to:
- Access your data.
- Correct inaccurate data.
- Delete your data.
- Withdraw consent or opt-out of marketing/notification emails.
- Object to certain data processing activities (analytics or advertising).
To exercise these rights, contact us at legal@thetalklounge.com.
7. Cookies & Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and tracking tools to:
- Remember preferences and site settings.
- Track user interactions for engagement and analytics.
- Deliver personalized ads through Google AdSense and other networks.
- Monitor website performance via Google Analytics, Yandex Metrica, Bing Webmaster Tools, and Facebook Meta Pixel.
You can manage or disable cookies via your browser or our Cookie Policy page.
8. Search Engine Crawling & Indexing
To improve content visibility, we automatically notify major search engines (Google, Bing, Yandex) when new or updated blog posts are published. This ensures timely indexing of content for search results.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Any changes will be posted here with an updated “Effective Date.” Continued use of the site constitutes acceptance.
10. Contact Us
For questions or privacy concerns:
Email: legal@thetalklounge.com