Privacy Policy

The Next Chapter (“we,” “us,” “our,” or “the App”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have.

By creating an account or using The Next Chapter, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Account information: name, email address, and password (or Google account information if you sign in with Google).
• Profile information: profile photo, location/city, interests, bio, and other details you choose to add to your profile.
• Content you create: events you host, circles (community groups) you create or join, photos you upload, discussion posts, reviews, and messages you send to other members.
• Payment information: if you subscribe to a paid plan, our payment processor (Stripe) collects your payment card details directly. We do not store your full card number on our servers.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Usage data: pages you visit, features you use, and how you interact with the App.
• Device and log data: IP address, browser type, device information, and access times.
• Location data: if you enable location services or search for events near you, we collect approximate or precise location to show relevant events and circles (via Google Maps/Places).

1.3 Information from Third Parties

• If you sign up or log in using Google, we receive basic profile information (name, email, profile photo) as authorized by you through Google’s sign-in process.
• Our payment processor Stripe shares limited transaction information with us (e.g., subscription status, payment confirmation) — not your full card details.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Create and manage your account.
• Enable you to create and join circles, host and attend events, and connect with other members.
• Process subscription payments and manage your billing.
• Send you transactional emails (e.g., account verification, password resets, event confirmations, receipts).
• Show you relevant events and circles based on your location and interests.
• Maintain the safety and integrity of the platform, including reviewing reports of inappropriate content or behavior.
• Improve and develop new features for the App.
• Communicate with you about updates, security alerts, and support requests.

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

3. How We Share Your Information

We share information only in the following circumstances:

• With other members: your profile information, and content you post (events, circle activity, discussion posts, reviews), is visible to other members as part of the App’s core functionality. You control what you share on your profile.
• Service providers: we share information with trusted third parties who help us operate the App, including:
  • Supabase (database hosting and authentication)
  • Stripe (payment processing)
  • Resend (transactional email delivery)
  • Google (Maps/location services and sign-in)
  • Vercel (application hosting)
  These providers only receive the information necessary to perform their function and are contractually obligated to protect it.
• Legal requirements: we may disclose information if required by law, to protect our rights, or to protect the safety of our members or the public.
• Business transfers: if The Next Chapter is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change.

4. Your Choices and Rights

• Access and update: you can view and update most of your profile information directly within the App’s account settings.
• Delete your account: you may request deletion of your account by contacting us. Some information may be retained as required by law or for legitimate business purposes (e.g., billing records).
• Communication preferences: you may opt out of non-essential emails; we will still send essential transactional emails (e.g., password resets, receipts) related to your account.
• Location services: you can disable location access through your device settings at any time; some features may be limited as a result.

If you are located in a jurisdiction with specific data protection rights (such as the EEA/UK or California), you may have additional rights, including the right to request a copy of your data or object to certain processing. Contact us using the information in Section 9 to exercise these rights.

5. Data Security

We use industry-standard measures to protect your information, including encrypted connections (HTTPS), secure authentication practices, and access controls. However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you services. If you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within a reasonable period, except where retention is required for legal, tax, or legitimate business purposes (such as billing history).

7. Children’s Privacy

The Next Chapter is not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we learn that we have collected information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete it.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify you by updating the “Last updated” date above and, where appropriate, through the App or by email. Continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

9. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, contact us at: support@nextchapter.social