Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

Shout Social Media is operated by Shout Social Media Ltd, a company registered in the United Kingdom. For any privacy question, or to exercise your data rights, contact us at admin@shoutsouthend.co.uk.

2. Information we collect

We collect the following categories of data, only as needed to run the features you use:

Account & profile data

Name, email address, phone number (if you use phone sign-in), date of birth (used to confirm you are 18+), gender, photos, bio, interests, and preferences you enter.

Location data

• Approximate and precise location (foreground) — used to show you on the live map, find people and businesses near you, and populate discovery.
• Background location — collected only if you switch on "Crossed Paths" or "Boost Notifications", and only after you accept an in-app prominent disclosure explaining this. Background location powers Crossed Paths (showing people you have been near) and proximity boost alerts, even when the app is closed. It is used only for those features. You can turn it off at any time in Settings, or by revoking the permission in Android/iOS system settings.

Camera & photos

If you take or choose profile/onboarding photos, or capture images in the App. We access the camera only when you invoke it and use the system photo picker for gallery selection.

Microphone / audio

If you record a voice "Shout" or voice reply.

Messages & content

Messages, shouts, events, hangouts, and other content you create in the App.

Device & technical data

Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) push token, app version, and basic diagnostic/analytics events (via Firebase Analytics). We do not collect or use an Advertising ID.

3. How we use your information

• To create and manage your account and verify you are 18 or older.
• To provide core features: discovery, live map, Crossed Paths, live broadcasts, messaging, events, hangouts, business pages, boosts, and orders.
• To send you notifications you have enabled.
• To keep the community safe (moderation, blocking, and handling reports).
• To operate, secure, and improve the App.

4. Foreground service (Android)

When you start a live broadcast on the map, the App runs an Android foreground service so your location keeps updating while the app is in the background. While it runs, an ongoing notification ("You're live on the map") is shown, and the service stops as soon as you end the broadcast.

5. How we share information

We do not sell your personal data. We share it only with:

• Other users, limited to what your privacy settings expose (e.g. profile, live map presence, Crossed Paths).
• Service providers who process data on our behalf, principally Google Firebase (Authentication, Firestore, Cloud Storage, Cloud Messaging, Analytics) and Google Maps Platform.
• Authorities, where required by law.

6. Data retention

• Background-location samples used for Crossed Paths are retained for up to 48 hours.
• Account and content data is retained while your account is active.
• When you delete your account, we delete your user record, content, and stored photos.

7. Your rights and choices

• Permissions: you can grant or revoke camera, microphone, location, and notification permissions at any time in system settings.
• Location features: Crossed Paths and Boost Notifications can be turned off in the App under Privacy & Safety.
• Access / export / deletion: email admin@shoutsouthend.co.uk to request your data. You can also delete your account and all associated data from within the App (Settings → delete account).
• Depending on your location, you may have rights under UK GDPR / GDPR or other laws to access, correct, or erase your data.

8. Children

Shout Social Media is strictly for users 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect data from anyone under 18, and we verify date of birth during onboarding.

9. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by the "Last updated" date above.

10. Contact

Shout Social Media Ltd
Email: admin@shoutsouthend.co.uk