Privacy Policy
Your privacy is important to us. Here's how we handle your data.
Our Commitment to Privacy
At Instant Scare, we believe in horror stories, not horror stories about data collection. We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we handle your information.
This privacy policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, and how we protect it.
Information We Collect
Account Information
When you create an account, we collect minimal information necessary for the service to function:
- Email address (for authentication only)
- Username (for identification on stories)
- Display name (optional, for your profile)
- Profile picture (optional, uploaded by you)
- Bio (optional, up to 280 characters)
Content You Create
When you write and publish stories, we store:
- Story content and metadata
- Publication status and timestamps
- View counts (for your analytics)
Technical Data
We automatically collect basic technical information to keep the service running:
- IP address (for security and spam prevention)
- Browser type and version
- Device information
- Pages visited and time spent
How We Use Your Information
We use your information only for essential service functions:
- To provide and maintain the Instant Scare service
- To authenticate your account and secure your data
- To display your stories and profile information
- To prevent abuse and ensure platform safety
- To comply with legal obligations
What We Don't Do
- ✗ We don't sell your personal data to anyone, ever.
- ✗ We don't use third-party advertising that tracks you across the web.
- ✗ We don't share your data with marketers or data brokers.
- ✗ We don't build detailed profiles about your reading habits.
Data Security
We take reasonable measures to protect your information:
- Secure HTTPS encryption for all data transmission
- Encrypted password storage using industry standards
- Regular security updates and monitoring
- Access controls to limit who can view your data
Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Access your personal data
- Update or correct your information
- Delete your account and all associated data
- Download your content
- Request a copy of your data
To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information below.
Children's Privacy
Instant Scare is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected such information, we will delete it promptly.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify users of significant changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date.