Privacy Policy

Effective June 3, 2026

This Privacy Policy describes how Somewhere Else (“we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, and handles information when you use our website at somewhereelse.app and any associated mobile application (collectively, the “Service”). By using the Service, you agree to the practices described here.

1. Information We Collect

Account information. When you register, we collect your display name, email address, and a hashed version of your password. We never store your password in plain text.

Usage and activity. We collect information about how you interact with the Service — such as places you create or join, timestamps of activity, and actions taken within the app.

Payment information. If you purchase a subscription, payment is processed by Stripe. We receive only a subscription status and tier identifier; we do not store your card number or full payment details.

Device and technical data. We may collect standard technical information such as IP address, browser type, and operating system for security and operational purposes.

Reports. If you submit a report about another user or a place, we record the content of that report, including a snapshot of the relevant messages and images at the time of submission. This information is retained indefinitely for moderation purposes.

2. Tracking and Analytics

Public pages (such as our homepage, sign-in page, and informational pages) may use third-party analytics tools and tracking technologies — including cookies and pixel tags — to understand how visitors find and use our public site.

Private app pages (screens accessible only after you log in, including your places, messages, members, and account screens) are not tracked by third-party analytics tools. We do not pass your private activity to advertisers or analytics providers.

You may be able to limit public-page tracking through your browser’s cookie settings or a browser extension, though we cannot guarantee effectiveness across all third-party tools.

3. How We Use Your Information

  • To operate, maintain, and improve the Service
  • To authenticate you and keep your account secure
  • To send account-related emails (verification codes, important notices)
  • To process subscription payments through Stripe
  • To investigate reports, enforce our Terms of Service, and moderate the platform
  • To comply with applicable law and respond to legal requests

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We do not use your private message content for advertising.

4. Message Content and Encryption

We make reasonable efforts to protect the messages you send within places and to handle your content responsibly. No method of storage or transmission is completely secure, but we work to keep it protected.

5. Data Retention and Deletion

Messages are subject to a rolling window: when a place reaches its message limit, the oldest messages are automatically deleted to make room for new ones.

When you delete your account, we delete your profile, your places (including all associated messages and media), and your personal data. However, we cannot guarantee complete erasure from all systems. Residual copies may exist in encrypted server backups, hosting infrastructure snapshots, or as part of retained moderation records. These remnants are not actively accessible to us in normal operations but may persist for a period of time before being overwritten.

Content that has been flagged in a moderation report is retained separately from the normal deletion and rolling-window process, and may be kept indefinitely regardless of account deletion.

6. Third-Party Services

We rely on the following third-party services, each of which has its own privacy practices:

  • Stripe — payment processing
  • Pressable / WordPress.com — web hosting and infrastructure
  • Email delivery provider — transactional email (verification codes, notices)
  • Analytics provider(s) — public-page traffic analysis only

We do not control the data practices of these providers and encourage you to review their privacy policies.

7. Children’s Privacy

The Service is intended for users who are 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If we learn that we have inadvertently collected information from a minor, we will delete it promptly. If you believe a minor has created an account, please contact us.

8. Your Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, or delete your personal data, or to object to certain uses of it. Texas residents may have rights under the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA). To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the information below.

You may delete your account at any time from within the app. Account deletion removes your profile and associated content subject to the retention limitations described above.

9. Changes to This Policy

Depending on where you live, you may have rights under applicable data protection laws to access, correct, or delete your personal data, or to object to certain uses of it. To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the information below.

Contact Us
Questions about this policy? Email us at someone@somewhereelse.app.