Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 7, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how Shiny Melon ("we", "us"), operated by [Legal entity name — required], collects, uses, and shares information when you use our website at shinymelon.com and related services (the "Service"). Because our Service is directed to children, please read the Children's Privacy section carefully.

1. Who this policy is for

Shiny Melon is intended to be used by children under the supervision of a parent, legal guardian, or teacher. Accounts are intended to be created and managed by an adult (a parent, guardian, or educator) who is responsible for the child's use of the Service.

2. Information we collect

Information you give us

• Account information: an email address and password when an account is created, and an optional display name or buddy nickname. Passwords are handled by our authentication provider and are not visible to us.
• Content you create: the worksheets you save ("favorites") and your virtual buddy (its species, the nickname you choose, and its progress).
• Messages you send us: if you email us, we receive your message and email address.

Information collected automatically

• A free-download counter: a small cookie on your device counts how many worksheets you've downloaded before signing up. It is not tied to your identity.
• Sign-in session: when you log in, our authentication provider stores a session token in your browser so you stay signed in.
• Basic server logs: like most websites, our hosting provider may record standard technical information (such as IP address and browser type) for security and reliability.

What we do not collect or do

• We do not use third-party advertising, ad networks, or cross-site tracking.
• We do not use behavioral analytics or marketing pixels (e.g. Google Analytics, Meta Pixel).
• We do not sell or rent personal information.
• We do not ask children for more personal information than is reasonably necessary to use the Service.

3. How we use information

• To provide the Service — save your worksheets, run your buddy, and keep you signed in.
• To operate, secure, and improve the Service and prevent abuse.
• To respond to your questions and send essential account emails (for example, email confirmation or password reset).

4. Children's Privacy (COPPA)

We take the privacy of children seriously and design the Service to collect as little personal information from children as possible. Consistent with the U.S. Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA):

• Accounts are intended to be created by a parent, guardian, or teacher, who provides the email address and supervises the child's use.
• The only personal information associated with a child's use is the account email (provided by the adult) and any optional display name or buddy nickname. We do not require a child's real name, and we ask that nicknames not include personal details.
• We do not condition a child's participation on disclosing more information than is reasonably necessary.
• We do not knowingly use children's information for advertising or share it with third parties except the service providers needed to run the Service (see How we share).

Parental rights

A parent or guardian may, at any time, review the personal information we hold about their child, ask us to correct or delete it, and refuse to allow further collection or use. To make a request, contact us at hello@shinymelon.com and we will verify the request and respond promptly. Deleting the account removes the associated personal information as described in Data retention.

[If you intend to allow children to create accounts directly without an adult, COPPA generally requires verifiable parental consent first — confirm your consent model with counsel and update this section and the signup flow accordingly.]

5. Cookies and similar technologies

We use only the cookies and local storage needed to run the Service: a sign-in session (so you stay logged in) and the free-download counter described above. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies. You can clear these at any time in your browser settings, though signing in again will create a new session.

6. How we share information

We share information only with the service providers that help us run the Service, and only as needed:

• Authentication & database (Supabase): stores account credentials, sessions, and your account data (favorites, buddy).
• Content database & hosting providers: host the worksheet library and serve the website.

These providers are permitted to use the information only to provide services to us. We may also disclose information if required by law, to protect our rights or users' safety, or in connection with a business transfer. We do not sell personal information.

7. Data retention

We keep account information for as long as the account is active. When an account is deleted, we delete the associated personal information within a reasonable period, except where we must retain limited records to comply with legal obligations or resolve disputes. The free-download counter lives only on your device.

8. Security

We use reputable providers and reasonable technical measures to protect information. No method of transmission or storage is perfectly secure, but we work to safeguard your data and to limit access to it.

9. Your choices and rights

Depending on where you live (for example, under GDPR or the CCPA), you may have the right to access, correct, delete, or export your personal information, and to object to or restrict certain processing. To exercise these rights, contact us at hello@shinymelon.com. You may also delete your account at any time from your account settings.

10. International users

The Service is operated from [country/jurisdiction]. If you use it from elsewhere, your information may be processed in countries with different data-protection laws than your own.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will change the "Last updated" date above and, for material changes, take reasonable steps to notify account holders.

12. Contact us

Questions or requests? Email hello@shinymelon.com or write to [Operator legal name and mailing address — required for COPPA].

See also our Terms of Service.