Last updated: April 2026
This Privacy Policy explains what information refraktd (refraktd.com) collects, how we use it, and what choices you have. refraktd is operated by 7H Ventures LLC, a Georgia limited liability company. If you have questions, reach out at [email protected].
1. What We Collect
Account Information
When you create an account, we collect your email address and username. If you sign up using Google, Facebook, or Apple, we receive basic account information from that provider during the sign-in flow, typically your account ID, name, and email address. We only receive what the provider shares with us and nothing more. If you sign up with email and password, we store your email address and a hashed version of your password. We never store your password in plain text.
Activity on the Platform
We store the articles you submit, the votes you cast, the comments you write, and the content you bookmark. Your votes are tied to your account. Aggregate vote counts for each article and outlet are public. Individual votes are associated with your profile, which you can set to private.
When you submit an article URL, we fetch and store the article title and excerpt from the page's metadata. We do not store, cache, or display any photographs from the source article. The image shown alongside each article on refraktd is the brand logo of the outlet that published it, hosted on our own infrastructure.
Technical Information
Our servers log IP addresses, browser type, and timestamps when you interact with the platform. These server logs are rotated and deleted after 7 days. We also store a preference in your browser's local storage for your chosen theme (dark or light) and sidebar state. These never leave your device.
Cookies
We use a secure, HTTP-only JWT token that keeps you logged in. It expires after 7 days. We also use Google Analytics and Google AdSense, which set their own cookies to measure site usage and serve ads. You can opt out of Google Analytics by using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. You can manage ad personalization preferences through Google's Ad Settings.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to run the platform, let you log in, display your submissions and comments, and calculate outlet ratings. We use your email address for transactional messages like account verification and password resets. When you create an account, whether via email or through Google, Facebook, or Apple, the registration form includes a checkbox to receive the refraktd newsletter. The checkbox is checked by default, but you can uncheck it during signup to decline the newsletter. If you subscribe, you can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email we send, or by visiting your account Settings. We do not sell your personal information to third parties.
3. Third-Party Services
refraktd uses a number of third-party services to operate:
Google OAuth. If you sign in with Google, you are subject to Google's privacy policy as well. We only receive what Google gives us during the OAuth flow: your account ID, name, and email.
Facebook OAuth. If you sign in with Facebook, you are subject to Meta's privacy policy. We only receive your Facebook account ID, name, and email from the OAuth flow.
Apple OAuth. If you sign in with Apple, you are subject to Apple's privacy policy. Apple may provide a private relay email address rather than your real one. We store whatever Apple shares with us during sign-in.
Resend. We use Resend to send transactional emails (verification, password reset). They receive your email address when a transactional email is sent.
Google Analytics. We use Google Analytics to understand how people use refraktd. Google Analytics collects data such as pages visited, time on site, and general location. This data is aggregated and anonymized. Google's use of this data is governed by their privacy policy.
Google AdSense. We display ads through Google AdSense. Google may use cookies and your browsing activity to serve personalized ads. You can review and adjust ad personalization settings at adssettings.google.com.
Cloudflare. Our traffic passes through Cloudflare for CDN and security purposes. Cloudflare may process your IP address and request headers as part of its service.
- We also work with providers for hosting and infrastructure, authentication services, and security monitoring. All providers are required to implement appropriate data protection safeguards.
4. Data Retention
We keep your account data for as long as your account is active. Server logs are automatically deleted after 7 days. If you delete your account, we remove your personal information from our active databases. Some residual data may remain in backups for a limited time before those backups cycle out.
5. Your Rights and Choices
You can update your username and other profile settings from within your account. If you want to access a copy of your data, correct inaccurate information, or delete your account entirely, visit the Delete Account page. We aim to respond to these requests within 30 days.
6. Children's Privacy
refraktd is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has created an account, contact us at [email protected] and we will delete it promptly.
7. California Residents (CCPA)
If you are a California resident, you have the right to know what personal information we collect, the right to request deletion, and the right to opt out of the sale of your personal information. We do not sell personal information. To exercise your rights, contact us at [email protected].
8. Data Security
We take reasonable steps to protect your information, including using HTTPS for all data in transit, storing passwords as hashed values, and keeping authentication tokens in secure HTTP-only cookies. That said, no method of transmitting or storing data over the internet is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, and you use refraktd at your own risk. If you think your account has been compromised, contact us at [email protected] right away.
9. Users in the European Union
If you are located in the EU or EEA, you may have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including the right to access, correct, or erase your data, and the right to object to or restrict certain processing. To make a request, email [email protected]. We will do our best to respond and assist. Note that refraktd is a US-based startup and our ability to comply with all GDPR requests may be limited.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy as the platform changes. If we make significant changes, we will let you know through the platform or by email. The date at the top of this page always reflects the most recent update.
11. Contact
For privacy questions or requests, email [email protected].