Privacy Policy

Your privacy matters to us. This policy explains what information Gothgirls collects, how we use it, and your rights regarding your data.

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Information We Collect

Account Information

When you create an account, we collect:

• Email address — Used for account verification, password resets, and important notifications
• Username — Your chosen display name, visible to other users
• Password — Stored as a secure hash (we never store or see your actual password)

Profile Information

You may optionally provide:

• Display name
• Bio / about text
• Avatar image

Content You Create

We store the content you post, including:

• Posts (text, links, and images)
• Comments and replies
• Votes (upvotes and downvotes)
• Saved posts
• Reports you submit

Automatically Collected Information

When you use Gothgirls, we automatically collect:

• IP address (for security and abuse prevention)
• Browser type and version
• Pages visited and time spent
• Referring URL

How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide the service — Display your posts, comments, and profile to other users
• Authenticate you — Verify your identity when you log in
• Send notifications — Alert you to replies, mentions, and important updates
• Moderate content — Enforce our community rules and content policy
• Prevent abuse — Detect spam, bots, and malicious activity
• Improve the platform — Understand usage patterns to make Gothgirls better

Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information only in these cases:

• With your consent — When you explicitly agree to share information
• Legal requirements — When required by law, subpoena, or legal process
• Safety — When necessary to prevent harm, investigate violations, or protect rights
• Service providers — With trusted third parties who help us operate the platform (e.g., hosting, email delivery), bound by confidentiality agreements

Data Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your data:

• Passwords are hashed using bcrypt with a cost factor of 12
• All connections use HTTPS/TLS encryption
• Database access is restricted to authorized services only
• We regularly review and update our security practices

Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access your data — View all information associated with your account
• Update your data — Edit your profile, email, and other account information
• Delete your account — Request permanent deletion of your account and associated data
• Export your data — Request a copy of your data in a portable format

To exercise these rights, visit your account settings or contact us at privacy@gothgirls.net.

Cookies

Gothgirls uses cookies for:

• Session management — Keeping you logged in
• Preferences — Remembering your settings (theme, sort order)

We do not use advertising cookies or third-party tracking cookies.

Children’s Privacy

Gothgirls is not intended for users under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has created an account, please contact us immediately.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify users of significant changes via email or a prominent notice on the platform. Continued use of Gothgirls after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact

For privacy-related questions or requests:

• Email: privacy@gothgirls.net
• Use the contact form on the platform