Privacy Policy

At The Draftling, we are deeply committed to protecting the privacy of all our users, especially the young writers who share their voices on our platform. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and how we keep it safe.

1. Information We Collect

We only collect the minimum amount of personal information necessary to run our website, communicate with contributors, and publish articles safely.

• For Writers Under 13: We collect only a first name (or chosen pen name), age, and a parent or guardian's contact information (email address or phone number).
• For Writers Aged 13 to 21: We collect a first name, last name, age, and a preferred contact method (either their own email/phone or a parent/guardian's contact info).
• For Newsletter Subscribers: We collect only your email address.

2. Public Display of Information

To maintain a safe online environment, we strictly limit the information visible to the public:

• Writers Under 13: Published articles will only display the writer's first name (or pen name) and age (e.g., "Alex, Age 10"). Last names and direct contact details are never published.
• Writers 13 and Older: Published articles will display the writer's full name and age, unless the writer explicitly requests to use a pen name or first name only.

3. Analytics and Cookies

We use standard analytical tools, including Google Analytics, to help us understand website traffic and popular content.

• These tools use cookies to collect non-personal, aggregated data (such as browser types, device types, and general geographic locations like a city).
• They do not collect names, email addresses, or private personal data from our readers or writers.
• You can choose to disable cookies at any time through your internet browser settings.

4. Data Sharing and Security

• No Data Selling: We will never sell, rent, lease, or trade your personal information or contact details to third parties or advertisers.
• Data Security: Our platform is hosted using Netlify, which provides secure cloud infrastructure, automated SSL encryption, and industry-standard security safeguards to protect your data.
• Data Usage: We only use your data to review article submissions, communicate directly with writers and parents regarding edits/publishing, and send our newsletter.

5. Parental Rights and Data Management

We believe parents, guardians, and student writers should have complete control over their digital footprint. At any time, you may request to:

• Review what personal information we have stored.
• Change how a name is displayed on a published article.
• Permanently delete an article or any associated contact information from our database.