Privacy Policy for Kindred

Last updated: June 2026

Kindred ("we", "our", "the app") is an anonymous stranger chat application. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding that information.

1. Information We Collect

Kindred does not require account creation, email addresses, phone numbers, or any personally identifiable information to use the app.

We collect the following limited information:

• Device Identifier: A unique identifier generated by your device, used solely to enforce community safety rules (such as temporary or permanent bans for repeated violations of our community guidelines).

• Profile Tags (Optional): Information you voluntarily provide during onboarding, such as your field of study/profession, personality traits, interests, and what you're looking for in a conversation. This is used only to help match you with compatible users.

• Gender (Optional): You may optionally specify your gender and choose whether to display it to chat partners.

• Ratings and Reports: When you rate or report another user, this information is stored and associated with the relevant device identifier to maintain community trust and safety.

2. Information We Do NOT Collect

• We do not collect your name, email address, phone number, or any government-issued identification.

• We do not require account registration or login.

• We do not access your contacts, photos, or other personal files on your device.

3. Chat Messages

Messages exchanged between users are transmitted in real-time and are not permanently stored. Chat sessions and their associated messages are automatically deleted from our systems shortly after a conversation ends (typically within minutes), in accordance with our app's ephemeral chat design.

4. How We Use Your Information

The limited information we collect is used solely to:

• Match you with compatible conversation partners based on your stated interests and preferences

• Enforce community safety through our reporting and ban system

• Calculate and display reputation indicators (ratings and community trust scores)

• Maintain and improve the functioning of the app

We do not sell, rent, or share your information with third parties for advertising or marketing purposes.

5. Data Storage and Security

Data is stored securely using Google Firebase Firestore, a cloud database service with industry-standard security practices. While we take reasonable measures to protect your information, no method of electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Age Requirement

Kindred is intended for users aged 18 and older. By using this app, you confirm that you meet this age requirement. We do not knowingly collect information from individuals under 18 years of age.

7. Content Moderation

Kindred includes community-driven moderation features, including user reporting and rating systems, to help maintain a safe and respectful environment. However, we cannot guarantee that all content shared by users will be appropriate or safe. Users are encouraged to report any inappropriate behavior immediately using the in-app reporting feature.

8. Your Rights

Since Kindred does not require account creation and does not store persistent chat history, there is no traditional "account data" to request or delete. Your device identifier and associated profile data can be reset by reinstalling the app or clearing app data, which will generate a new identifier and disassociate you from previous reputation data.

9. Children's Privacy

Kindred is not intended for use by children under 18. We do not knowingly collect any information from children. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete such information promptly.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be reflected with an updated "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact us at:

Email: [your contact email here]

This Privacy Policy applies solely to the Kindred mobile application and does not apply to any third-party services, websites, or applications that may be linked to or from Kindred.