// We do not sell your data. We do not share your coordinates with other users.
01 — Overview
This Privacy Policy describes how Coderholics Ltd ("we", "us", or "our") collects, uses, and safeguards information when you use the helloStranger mobile application ("the App"). helloStranger lets you discover and chat with real people physically nearby.
By using the App, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the App.
02 — Information We Collect
Location
We collect your device's precise GPS location. This is used to show you people nearby and to compute distance for the discovery feature. Your location is stored separately from your public profile and is never made directly readable by other users — nearby users only ever see a computed distance (e.g. "500m away"), never your coordinates. Location may be collected while the app is open or briefly backgrounded, to keep your presence accurate for people browsing nearby.
Account & Profile Information
- Name, email address, and password (via Firebase Authentication)
- Profile photo
- Bio, age, gender/sex, interests, and other profile details you provide
Messages
Chat messages you send to other users are stored so conversations persist across sessions. Messages are only visible to participants in that conversation.
Identity Verification
To help confirm profiles belong to real people, the App performs an on-device liveness check using your camera. This uses on-device face detection only — the photo or video captured during this check is never uploaded, stored, or transmitted anywhere. Only the resulting pass/fail result is saved to your profile.
Purchases & Subscriptions
The App offers optional premium subscriptions (wider discovery range, higher chat limits). On iOS, purchases are processed entirely by Apple through StoreKit/In-App Purchase — we never see your payment details. On Android, purchases are processed by Paystack; we send Paystack your email address and a reference identifier to complete the transaction, but we do not store or have access to your card or bank details. We store only the resulting subscription status and expiry date.
Device & Diagnostic Information
- A push notification token, used to deliver notifications about new messages
- Crash logs, collected via Firebase Crashlytics, to help us fix bugs
Blocking & Reports
If you block or report another user, we store a record of that action to enforce it and to review reports for safety purposes.
03 — What We Don't Do
- We do not use advertising SDKs or build advertising profiles.
- We do not sell your personal data to third parties.
- We do not share your precise location with other users — only a computed distance.
04 — Third-Party Services
We use the following third-party services to operate the App:
- Firebase (Google) — Authentication, Cloud Firestore (database), Cloud Storage (photos), Cloud Messaging (push notifications), Cloud Functions, and Crashlytics. Governed by Google's Privacy Policy.
- Apple — In-App Purchase / StoreKit for subscription payments on iOS.
- Paystack — payment processing for subscription payments on Android. Governed by Paystack's Privacy Policy.
05 — Your Controls
- You can pause your visibility to other users at any time from within the App.
- You can block or report any user.
06 — Account & Data Deletion
You can permanently delete your account and associated data at any time:
- In the App — go to Profile > Delete Account. This immediately and permanently removes your profile, profile photo, and location data, and deletes your login credentials.
- Without the App (e.g. if you no longer have access to your device) — email us at support@coderholics.co.uk with the email address or name associated with your account, and we will delete it on your behalf within 30 days.
Some records — such as reports filed against your account, or messages you sent that remain in other users' chat history — may be retained after deletion where necessary for safety, moderation, or legal compliance.
07 — Data Retention
We retain your data for as long as your account is active. See the Account & Data Deletion section above for how to remove your data.
09 — Children's Privacy
helloStranger is not intended for use by anyone under the age required by the App's age rating. We do not knowingly collect data from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
10 — Changes to This Policy
We may update this 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 App after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
11 — Contact
For any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, or to exercise your data rights, please contact us at support@coderholics.co.uk.