Privacy Policy

Last Updated: January 22, 2026

Your privacy matters to us. This policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, and how we use it—all in plain, simple language.

1. What Information We Collect

We collect information to make the app work, show you relevant news, and keep the platform safe. Here’s what we gather:

• Information You Give Us: When you create an account, we ask for basic info like your username, email address, phone number, and birthdate. If you post a video, comment, or fill out your profile, we collect that content too.

• Information We Collect Automatically: When you use the app, we automatically collect:

  • Device Info: Your phone or computer model, operating system, and device settings.

  • Usage Data: Which videos you watch, how long you watch them, what you like, share, or skip, and how you interact with others.

  • Location Data: With your permission, we collect your general location (like your city or region) to show you local news. We do not collect your precise GPS location without your explicit consent.

• Information from Partners: If you sign up or log in using another service (like Google or Apple), we may receive basic info from them (like your email address) to set up your account.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information for these simple purposes:

• To Run the App: To show you news videos, recommend content you might like, and let you post, comment, and share.

• To Personalize Your Feed: We analyze what you watch and engage with to suggest more news stories that match your interests.

• To Keep You Safe: To detect spam, fake news, bullying, or harmful content, and to enforce our rules (Community Guidelines).

• To Show Ads: To display advertisements that are relevant to you. We do this to keep the app free.

• To Improve the App: To understand how people use NewsTok so we can fix bugs and make the experience better.

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal data. We share it only in these limited ways:

• With Other Users: Your public profile and any videos or comments you post are visible to other users.

• With Service Providers: We share data with trusted companies that help us run the app (like cloud storage, video hosting, and analytics services). They are only allowed to use your data to provide services to us.

• For Ads: We share non-personal, aggregated data with advertisers (for example, "5,000 users in New York watched this video"). We do not share your name or contact info with them directly.

• When Required by Law: If a court or law enforcement asks for your information (and they have proper legal authority), we may have to share it.

• If We Are Sold: If NewsTok is ever bought by or merged with another company, your information will be transferred as part of that deal.

4. Your Choices and Control

You have control over your information:

• Account Settings: You can edit or delete your profile information, videos, and comments at any time in your settings.

• Location: You can turn location services on or off in your browser or device settings.

• Personalized Ads: You can opt out of personalized advertising in your app settings (you will still see ads, but they won't be tailored to you).

• Delete Your Account: You can delete your entire account permanently from the settings page. We will remove all your data within a reasonable time, except for what we are legally required to keep.

5. Data Security and Storage

• How We Protect It: We use industry-standard security measures (like encryption) to protect your data from unauthorized access.

• Where We Store It: Your information is stored on secure servers. If you are located outside of the United States, your data may be transferred to and processed in the U.S. or other countries where our servers are located.

6. Children’s Privacy

NewsTok is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we discover we have, we will delete it immediately. Users between 13 and 18 should have a parent or guardian review this policy.

7. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make significant changes, we will notify you by email, an in-app alert, or a notice on our website. The "Last Updated" date at the top will show when it was last revised.

8. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests about your privacy, please reach out:

• Email: privacy@newstok.com (or use your actual support email)

• Help Center: You can also visit our Help Center within the app to submit a privacy request.

A Quick Note on How This Works with Real TikTok Policies:

If you are building this as a real app, note that real TikTok/ByteDance has very detailed policies (often over 8,000 words!) that cover specific legal requirements like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and GDPR. For a simple demo or early-stage app, the summary above is a great starting point. When you launch, you should have a lawyer review your final version to ensure it meets all local laws.