Privacy Policy

Swell ("we", "us") operates the Swell website and mobile application. If you have questions about this policy or your data, contact us at privacy@swellsocial.life.

• Account information - name, email, date of birth, and authentication identifiers (such as your Google sign-in).
• Profile information - photos, bio, location area, and the chronic conditions you choose to share.
• Health-related information - the conditions, symptoms, or experiences you voluntarily add to your profile, groups, or messages.
• Communications - messages you send within Swell and support requests you send to us.
• Device & usage data - device type, operating system, app version, and basic analytics needed to keep the service running.

• To create and maintain your account.
• To match you with support groups, buddies, and (in future) potential partners who share relevant experiences.
• To keep the service safe, prevent abuse, and enforce our guidelines.
• To respond to your support requests.
• To send you essential service messages. We will only send optional marketing emails if you opt in.

The chronic conditions you list on your profile are, by design, visible to other Swell members so the community can work. You are always in control: you choose what to add, and you can remove any condition, group membership, or profile detail at any time. We do not sell health information, and we never disclose your health information to advertisers.

If we show advertising inside Swell in the future, ads may be matched to broad, non-identifying audience groups (for example, members who follow a particular condition community) entirely on our own systems. Advertisers pay for placement and receive only aggregate performance statistics - never your identity, contact details, condition list, posts, or messages. Any advertising that would require sharing personal information with an advertiser or ad network would only happen with your prior opt-in consent, and we would update this policy and notify you first.

We share personal information only in these limited cases:

• With other members, where you have chosen to make information visible (your profile, group posts, messages).
• With service providers that host our infrastructure, database, and authentication, under contracts requiring them to protect your data.
• When required by law, such as a valid legal request, or to protect the safety of members.

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it with advertisers or ad networks for cross-company targeted advertising.

Data is stored on managed cloud infrastructure with encryption in transit (HTTPS/TLS) and at rest. Access to production data is restricted to a small set of authorized personnel. No online service can be guaranteed 100% secure, but we work continuously to protect your information.

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you.
• Correct information that is inaccurate.
• Delete your account and associated personal data.
• Export a copy of your data.
• Object to or restrict certain processing.

To exercise any of these rights, email privacy@swellsocial.life.

We keep your information for as long as your account is active. When you delete your account, we remove your profile and personal data within 30 days, except where we are required to retain limited records for legal or safety reasons.

In the Swell mobile app we may ask permission to send push notifications (for connection requests, replies, and group activity) and to access your photo library or camera when you choose to upload a photo. You can decline or revoke these permissions in your device settings and continue to use Swell.

Swell does not track you across other companies' apps or websites and does not use third-party advertising SDKs. If we introduce in-app advertising, it will be served from our own systems using non-identifying audience groups, and we will not sell or share your personal information for cross-company targeted advertising without your prior opt-in consent.

You can delete your account at any time from inside Swell: open your Profile, scroll to the bottom, and choose "Delete account". This permanently removes your profile, posts, comments, group memberships, and connections. You can also email privacy@swellsocial.life and we will delete your account for you.

Swell is a peer support community, not a healthcare provider. Content shared by members, including any guidance about conditions, providers, or treatments, is not medical advice and should not replace care from a qualified professional. We do not verify the accuracy of information members post about their health, their identity, or their credentials, and we are not responsible for it. Never delay or change medical care because of something you read on Swell.

Health information you choose to share in your profile, posts, groups, or messages is visible to the members you share it with, and they may see, remember, or repeat it outside Swell in ways we cannot control. Please share only what you are comfortable being seen.

Swell is intended for adults 18 and older. We confirm age from the date of birth given at sign-up and do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18. We do not independently verify age beyond that check, and we are not responsible for information collected as a result of someone misrepresenting their age or eligibility. If you believe a minor has created an account, contact us and we will remove it and delete the associated data.

We work hard to protect your information, but no service can be guaranteed completely secure, and this policy is not a warranty. Our Terms of Service - including its disclaimer of warranties, limitation of liability, and dispute resolution provisions - applies to your use of Swell and to this policy. You can read them at swellsocial.life/terms.

Swell is operated from the United States. If you access it from another country, your information will be transferred to and processed in the U.S. and other countries where our service providers operate. This policy is governed by the laws of the State of Florida, without limiting any mandatory data-protection rights you have under the law of your home country.

We may update this policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify you in the app or by email before they take effect. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page always reflects the latest revision.

Questions, requests, or concerns? Email privacy@swellsocial.life.