Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to website owners.

2. How We Use Cookies

SMS-Stories uses cookies and similar technologies for several purposes:

2.1 Essential Cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly. They include:

• Authentication: Keeping you logged in as you navigate the site
• Security: Protecting your account and data from unauthorized access
• Session Management: Maintaining your preferences during your visit

2.2 Functional Cookies

These cookies enhance your experience by:

• Remembering your reading progress in stories
• Saving your theme preferences (light/dark mode)
• Storing your language and regional settings
• Remembering your content filters and preferences

2.3 Analytics Cookies

We use analytics cookies to understand how visitors use our site, including:

• Pages visited and features used
• Time spent on different sections
• Device and browser information
• General geographic location (country/region)

This data is aggregated and anonymous, helping us improve the platform for all users.

3. Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies on our site are set by third-party services we use:

3.1 Authentication Provider (Clerk)

We use Clerk for secure authentication. Clerk sets cookies to manage your login sessions and security.

3.2 Content Delivery

We use CDN services to deliver content efficiently. These services may set cookies for performance optimization.

4. Managing Cookies

4.1 Browser Settings

Most browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can:

• View which cookies are stored
• Delete existing cookies
• Block cookies from specific sites
• Block all cookies

4.2 Impact of Disabling Cookies

Important: Disabling essential cookies will prevent you from using key features of SMS-Stories, including account login and story progress tracking. Functional cookies enhance your experience but are not required for basic functionality.

5. Types of Data Collected

Through cookies, we may collect:

• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device type
• Usage Data: Pages visited, links clicked, features used
• Preferences: Theme choices, language settings, content filters
• Performance Data: Load times, errors encountered

6. Cookie Duration

We use both session and persistent cookies:

• Session Cookies: Deleted when you close your browser
• Persistent Cookies: Remain on your device for a set period (typically 30-365 days) or until you delete them

7. Local Storage

In addition to cookies, we use browser local storage to save certain preferences and data locally on your device. This includes:

• Editor drafts (if you're creating stories)
• Reading position in stories
• UI preferences and settings

8. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology or legal requirements. We will notify you of significant changes by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.

9. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have rights regarding cookies and data collection, including:

• The right to know what data is collected
• The right to access your data
• The right to delete your data
• The right to opt-out of certain data collection

For more information about your rights and our data practices, see our Privacy Policy.

10. Contact Us

If you have questions about our use of cookies, please contact us.