Privacy Policy

Last updated: January 28, 2026

We are committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use the WatchParty mobile application.

1. Introduction

WatchParty ("we," "our," or "us") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting it through our compliance with this policy. This policy describes the types of information we may collect from you or that you may provide when you use the WatchParty mobile application (the "App") and our practices for collecting, using, maintaining, protecting, and disclosing that information.

WatchParty is a real-time sports watch-party platform that enables users to join virtual rooms to discuss live sporting events, read sports news articles, follow their favorite teams, and connect with other sports fans.

2. Information We Collect

We collect several types of information from and about users of our App, including:

2.1 Account Information

When you register for an account, we collect:

Basic Profile Data: Your name, email address, username, and profile picture (obtained via Google Sign-In or manually provided).
Profile Customization: Additional information you choose to provide, such as your display name, bio, and location.
Sports Preferences: Your favorite teams and sports selections used to personalize your experience.
Account Metadata: Account creation date, last update timestamps, and account status information.

2.2 User-Generated Content

We collect content you create and share on the App, including:

Chat Messages: Messages you post in watch party rooms during live events.
Reactions: Emoji reactions you add to messages from other users.
User Reports: Reports you submit about other users or content.

2.3 Usage and Activity Data

We automatically collect information about how you interact with our App:

Room Participation: Which rooms you join, when you join and leave, how long you stay, and your participation activity (messages sent, reactions given).
Session Information: How you discovered rooms (home feed, notifications, deep links, etc.), session duration, and activity patterns.
Article Engagement: Which articles you read, time spent reading, scroll depth, and sharing activity.
Navigation Data: Screen views, feature usage, and in-app navigation patterns.
Authentication Events: Login, logout, and signup activities.

2.4 Device and Technical Information

Device Identifiers: Unique device identifiers provided by Firebase Installation services.
Device Details: Operating system type and version, device model, and app version.
Network Information: IP address and general location information derived from IP.
Push Notification Tokens: Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) tokens used to deliver push notifications to your device.

2.5 Engagement and Scoring Data

We calculate engagement metrics based on your activity to improve our service:

Engagement Scores: Calculated based on room participation, message activity, reactions, article reading, and app usage frequency.
Engagement Tiers: Classification levels (such as super_fan, engaged, casual, or dormant) based on your overall engagement.
Activity Streams: Records of your achievements, badges earned, and milestone completions.

3. How We Use Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

3.1 Providing and Improving the Service

To operate, maintain, and provide the features and functionality of the App.
To personalize your experience, including recommending rooms, articles, and content based on your favorite teams and interests.
To enable real-time chat functionality during live sporting events.
To display live scores and event information relevant to your interests.
To award badges and achievements based on your participation and engagement.

3.2 Communications

To send push notifications about rooms going live, event reminders, and updates about teams you follow.
To notify you when other users mention you, reply to your messages, or react to your content.
To send party invitations and friend requests from other users.
To provide important service announcements and updates.

3.3 Safety and Moderation

To enforce our Terms of Service and community guidelines.
To review and act on user reports of inappropriate content or behavior.
To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents.
To maintain the safety and integrity of our community.

3.4 Analytics and Improvement

To understand how users interact with our App and identify areas for improvement.
To analyze usage patterns and trends to enhance features and user experience.
To monitor app performance and diagnose technical issues.
To develop new features and services based on user behavior and preferences.

4. Analytics & Performance Monitoring

We use analytics and performance monitoring tools to understand and improve the App:

4.1 Firebase Analytics

We use Firebase Analytics to collect aggregated usage data, including:

App opens, session duration, and screen views.
Feature usage patterns and user flows.
Demographic information (age ranges, interests) in aggregate form.
Conversion events such as account creation and team selections.

4.2 Firebase Crashlytics

We use Firebase Crashlytics to monitor app stability:

Crash reports and error logs to identify and fix technical issues.
Device state information at the time of crashes.
Stack traces and diagnostic data to improve app reliability.

4.3 Firebase Performance Monitoring

We monitor app performance metrics including:

App startup time and screen rendering performance.
Network request latency and success rates.
Custom performance traces for critical features.

4.4 Internal Analytics

We maintain internal analytics systems to track:

Daily active users and engagement metrics.
Room participation statistics and peak usage times.
Article readership and content performance.
User engagement scoring for service improvement.

5. Push Notifications

We use Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) to deliver push notifications to your device:

5.1 Types of Notifications

Room Notifications: Alerts when rooms for your favorite teams are about to go live or are currently active.
Event Reminders: Reminders 30 or 60 minutes before events you may be interested in.
Social Notifications: Alerts when someone mentions you, replies to your message, or reacts to your content.
Invitations: Notifications about party invites and friend requests.
Live Score Updates: Real-time score updates for games you're following.

5.2 FCM Token Collection

To deliver push notifications, we collect and store your device's FCM token. This token is a unique identifier that allows us to send notifications specifically to your device. FCM tokens are refreshed periodically and we update our records accordingly.

5.3 Notification Preferences

You can customize your notification preferences in the App settings, including:

Enabling or disabling all push notifications.
Choosing notification scope (all events, favorite teams only, or custom selections).
Controlling notifications for reactions, mentions, and new messages.
Setting reminder timing preferences.

7. Third-Party Services

Our App integrates with the following third-party services:

7.1 Firebase (Google)

We use various Firebase services provided by Google:

Firebase Authentication: For secure user authentication and account management.
Cloud Firestore: For storing user data and app content.
Firebase Cloud Messaging: For push notification delivery.
Firebase Analytics: For usage analytics and insights.
Firebase Crashlytics: For crash reporting and stability monitoring.
Firebase Performance Monitoring: For app performance tracking.

Firebase services are subject to Google's Privacy Policy. You can learn more at https://policies.google.com/privacy.

7.2 Google Sign-In

If you choose to sign in with Google, we receive your basic profile information (name, email, and profile picture) from Google. We do not have access to your Google account password.

7.3 Sports Data Providers

We obtain sports event information, schedules, and scores from third-party sports data providers to power our watch party rooms and live updates.

9. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information:

Encryption: Data is encrypted in transit using TLS/SSL protocols.
Access Controls: We limit access to personal information to authorized personnel who need it to perform their job functions.
Secure Infrastructure: Our services are hosted on secure cloud infrastructure with industry-standard security certifications.
Security Rules: We implement database security rules that restrict data access based on user authentication and authorization.
Regular Monitoring: We monitor our systems for security vulnerabilities and potential threats.

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. Data Retention

We retain your information for different periods depending on the type of data:

10.1 Account Information

We retain your account information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you services. If you request account deletion, we follow the process described in Section 12.

10.2 Chat Messages

Chat messages in rooms are retained for the duration of the room's lifecycle. Rooms are typically deleted 7 days after they close. Messages in deleted rooms are permanently removed.

10.3 Analytics Data

Aggregated analytics data may be retained indefinitely as it does not contain personally identifiable information. Individual-level analytics events are retained according to Firebase's data retention policies.

10.4 Notification Data

Push notification tokens are retained while your account is active and updated when refreshed. Notification history and sent reminders are cleaned up after 7 days.

11. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (see Section 12 for details).
Data Portability: Request a copy of your data in a machine-readable format.
Opt-Out: Opt out of certain data processing activities, such as push notifications.
Restriction: Request that we restrict processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.

You can exercise many of these rights directly through the App settings. For data download requests, you can submit a request through the App, and we will process it within 24 hours.

To exercise rights not available through the App, please contact us using the information in Section 16.

12. Account Deletion

You can request deletion of your account through the App settings. Here's what happens when you request deletion:

12.1 Archive Period

After you request deletion, your account enters a 30-day archive period. During this time, your account is deactivated but your data is preserved. You can contact us to restore your account during this period.

12.2 Data Anonymization

After the archive period, we permanently process your deletion:

Your profile information is removed from public view.
Your chat messages are anonymized (attributed to "Deleted User").
Your reactions and mentions are removed from messages.
Your participation records are removed from rooms.
Your notification tokens and preferences are deleted.

12.3 Data We May Retain

Even after deletion, we may retain certain information:

Anonymized or aggregated data that cannot identify you.
Information necessary to comply with legal obligations.
Records of your deletion request for our legal records.

13. Children's Privacy

Our App is not intended for children under 13 years of age (or the applicable age of consent in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately. If we learn we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without verification of parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information.

14. International Data Transfers

Our App is operated from the United States. If you are located outside the United States, please be aware that information you provide to us may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate.

By using the App, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries outside your country of residence, which may have different data protection rules than your country.

15. Changes to Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by:

Posting the new Privacy Policy on this page with an updated "Last updated" date.
Sending you an in-app notification or push notification about the changes.
Requiring your acknowledgment of significant changes before continuing to use the App.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Your continued use of the App after we post changes constitutes your acceptance of those changes.

16. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

By email: privacy@watchpartyapp.co
For general support: support@watchpartyapp.co

We will respond to your inquiry within a reasonable timeframe and work to address your concerns.