Introduction
This Privacy Policy explains how Bootup collects, uses, stores, and protects your personal information when you use our mobile application on iOS and Android platforms. It also describes your rights regarding your data and the steps we take to ensure its security.
At Bootup, we value your privacy and are committed to safeguarding your personal information. By using the Bootup mobile app, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
Information We Collect
We collect limited information to provide a safe and engaging learning experience for children. Below is an overview of the data we collect:
Personal Information
- Parent/Guardian Information: Name, email address, and account credentials for registration and login. This information is collected from parents or guardians to manage the child’s account.
- Child Information: First name or nickname (optional, for personalization within the app). We do not collect a child’s full name, address, or other identifiable information directly from the child.
- Billing and Shipping Information: For parents purchasing STEM toolkits or subscriptions, we collect billing and shipping addresses. This is collected only from parents after passing a parental gate.
- Payment Information: Payment details for subscriptions or toolkit purchases are collected from parents through secure third-party payment gateways. Bootup does not store payment information directly.
Device Information
- Device type, operating system, and app version to ensure the app functions correctly.
- General location data (e.g., country or region) for personalization, which is optional and can be disabled via device settings. We do not collect precise geolocation data from children.
User-Generated Content
- Feedback, course progress, and quiz responses voluntarily provided by the child within the app. This data is linked to the account but anonymized for analytics.
- No identifiable information is required for children to participate in courses or activities.
Automatically Collected Information
- App usage data, such as time spent on courses, interactions, and feature usage, to improve the app and personalize the learning experience. This data is anonymized and not linked to a child’s identity.
How We Use Your Information
We use the collected information to: – Provide children with access to educational courses and activities. – Manage parent-approved subscriptions (free, monthly, or annual plans). – Facilitate the purchase and delivery of STEM toolkits, using parent-provided shipping details. – Personalize the child’s learning experience based on their preferences and progress. – Send parents updates, promotional offers (optional), and important service notifications. – Analyze app performance and improve course content and features. – Provide customer support and resolve technical issues.
Parental Consent and Controls
Bootup is designed with children’s privacy and safety in mind. We require verifiable parental consent for children under 15 to use the app and for any purchases or subscriptions. Below are the key parental controls:
- Parental Gate: A parental gate (e.g., a math problem or verification step) is implemented to restrict children from accessing payment, account settings, or other sensitive features. Only parents can approve purchases, subscriptions, or account changes.
- Verifiable Parental Consent: Parents must provide consent during account creation for children under 15. This may include email verification or other COPPA-compliant methods.
- Account Management: Parents can review and manage their child’s account, including course progress and subscription status, through a parent portal or app settings.
- Communication Preferences: Parents can opt out of promotional emails or notifications via app settings.
Data Sharing and Disclosure
Bootup does not sell, rent, or share your child’s personal information with third parties, except in the following limited circumstances: – Payment Processing: Parent-provided payment information is shared with secure, COPPA-compliant third-party payment gateways to process transactions. No child data is shared. – Delivery Services: Parent-provided shipping details are shared with logistics providers to deliver STEM toolkits. No child data is shared. – Legal Requirements: We may disclose information to comply with legal obligations, such as responding to a court order, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Bootup, our users, or others. – Service Providers: We may share anonymized or aggregated data with trusted service providers to improve app functionality or analytics, but no identifiable child data is shared.
User Rights and Choices
- Parents and guardians have full control over their child’s data. Your rights include: – Access and Updates: Parents can review and update their child’s account information (e.g., nickname or progress) through the app’s parent portal or settings. – Data Deletion: Parents can request the deletion of their child’s account and all associated data by contacting support (see Account Deletion section below). – Opt-Out Options: Parents can opt out of promotional communications or disable optional data collection (e.g., general location data) via app or device settings. – Parental Consent Withdrawal: Parents can withdraw consent at any time, which will result in the deletion of the child’s account and data.
Security Measures
We take robust measures to protect your child’s data, including: – Encryption: Sensitive data (e.g., parent payment details or account credentials) is encrypted during transmission and storage using industry-standard protocols. – Parental Gate: Ensures children cannot access sensitive features or provide personal information without parent approval. – Restricted Access: Only authorized personnel can access personal information, and access is limited to what is necessary to provide services. – Secure Payment Processing: Payments are processed through trusted, COPPA-compliant third-party gateways. – No Persistent Identifiers for Children: We do not use persistent identifiers (e.g., device IDs) to track children across apps or services for behavioral advertising.
While we implement strict security protocols, no system is completely secure. Parents are encouraged to monitor their child’s app usage and ensure login credentials are kept confidential.
Account Deletion
Parents have the right to request the deletion of their child’s Bootup account and all associated data. To initiate the account deletion process, please follow these steps:
Submit a Request: Send an email to admin@gobootup.com with your full name, your child’s registered email address (or parent’s email used for the account), and the subject line “Child Account Deletion Request”. This helps us verify your identity and locate the account.
Verification: We may request additional information to verify your identity as the parent or guardian.
Deletion Confirmation: Once verified, we will delete the child’s account and all associated data, including course progress, subscriptions, and purchase history. You will receive an email confirmation once the process is complete.
Important Notes: – Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. All data, including the child’s course progress and parent purchase history, will be erased. – If there is an active subscription, account deletion will cancel any recurring payments. – Deletion requests are processed promptly, typically within 7 business days, in compliance with COPPA and other regulations.
Retention Policy
We retain personal information only as long as necessary to provide our services, comply with legal obligations, or improve app performance. For children’s data: – Active Accounts: Data is retained while the account is active to support ongoing learning and services. – Inactive Accounts: If an account is inactive for 12 months, we may delete it and anonymize any remaining data. – Deleted Accounts: Upon account deletion, all personal data is securely deleted or anonymized for analytics purposes within 30 days, in compliance with COPPA.
Policy on Minors
Bootup is designed for children aged 5 to 15. Key protections include: – Age-Appropriate Design: The app is tailored for young learners, with no advertising or features that encourage sharing personal information. – Parental Consent: Children under 15 require verifiable parental consent to create an account, make purchases, or use the app. – No Behavioral Advertising: We do not collect or use children’s data for targeted advertising or profiling. – Safe Environment: The app does not allow children to share personal information publicly or communicate with others directly. – Parental Gate: Restricts children from accessing payment, account settings, or other sensitive areas without parent approval.
Policy Updates
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our services, legal requirements, or privacy practices. Significant updates will be communicated to parents via email or in-app notifications. Continued use of Bootup after updates indicates your acceptance of the revised policy. We encourage parents to review this policy regularly.
Contact Information
For questions, concerns, or to exercise your rights under this Privacy Policy, please contact:
Email: admin@gobootup.com
Subject Line: Privacy Policy Inquiry or Child Account Deletion Request
We are committed to addressing your concerns promptly and ensuring a safe, privacy-focused experience for your child.
1500+ Educators have transformed the experiences they create through us.
Their innovative approaches have fostered engagement and creativity in the classroom, making education more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
