1. Introduction

VibesWire (“VibesWire,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a news website that lets readers build a custom feed by choosing the topics, sources, and categories they want to follow. We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we collect, use, and share information about you.

This Privacy Policy explains how we handle personal information when you visit vibeswire.com (the “Site”), create an account, subscribe to our newsletters, build a custom feed, or otherwise use our services (collectively, the “Services”). By using the Services, you agree to the practices described in this Policy.

2. Scope of This Policy

This Policy applies to information VibesWire collects through the Services. It does not apply to third-party websites, products, or services that we link to or that are operated by parties other than VibesWire, even if you access them through our Services. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third parties you interact with.

3. Information We Collect

We collect information in three main ways: information you provide directly to us, information we collect automatically when you use the Services, and information we receive from third parties.

3.1 Information You Provide to Us

• Account Information. When you create a VibesWire account, we collect your email address, display name, and password. You may also choose to provide a profile photo and biographical information.
• Custom Feed and Preference Data. The topics, sources, regions, and content categories you choose to follow, save, or hide on your custom feed, and any newsletter or alert preferences you set.
• User Contributions. Comments, reactions, ratings, saved articles, reading lists, and any other content you submit through the Services.
• Communications. The contents of messages you send to our support team, feedback you submit, and your responses to surveys or research requests.
• Payment Information. If you subscribe to a paid tier, our third-party payment processor collects payment card or bank details. VibesWire does not store full payment card numbers on our servers.

3.2 Information We Collect Automatically

• Usage and Reading Data. Articles you view, time spent reading, scroll depth, links clicked, and search queries within the Site. We use this information to understand which content is performing well, diagnose issues, and improve the Site overall.
• Device and Connection Information. IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device identifiers, referring and exit pages, time zone, and approximate location derived from your IP address.
• Cookies and Similar Technologies. We and our service providers use cookies, pixels, local storage, and similar technologies to authenticate you, remember preferences, measure performance, and personalize content. See Section 7 for details.
• Log Data. Server logs that include the date and time of requests, request URLs, response status codes, and similar diagnostic information.

3.3 Information from Third Parties

• News and Content Providers. We receive headlines, articles, metadata, and feeds from publishers, wire services, and licensed content partners. This content is associated with our system, not your personal account, except to the extent it appears in your custom feed.
• Advertising and Analytics Partners. Where applicable, we receive aggregated or pseudonymous information about how users interact with our Services from analytics and advertising partners.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Provide and Operate the Services. Authenticate you, deliver articles and newsletters, process subscriptions, and maintain core site functionality.
• Deliver Your Custom Feed. Show you articles, newsletters, and digests that match the topics, sources, and categories you have chosen to follow.
• Improve and Develop the Services. Analyze how readers use the Site, debug issues, and develop new features.
• Communicate With You. Respond to inquiries, send service-related notices, deliver newsletters or alerts you have subscribed to, and — with your consent where required — send marketing communications.
• Surface Relevant Content. Highlight on-site promotions, newsletters, and editorial features that align with the topics you follow.
• Safety, Security, and Fraud Prevention. Detect and prevent abuse, spam, unauthorized access, and other harmful or illegal activity.
• Legal and Compliance. Comply with applicable laws, respond to lawful requests from public authorities, and enforce our Terms of Service.

5. Your Custom Feed

VibesWire does not use artificial intelligence to curate your feed. Instead, you decide what appears in your custom feed by selecting the topics, sources, and categories you want to follow. The articles you see are determined by the preferences you set, not by automated profiling of your behavior.

You can update your followed topics, add or remove sources, mute categories, or reset your feed at any time from your account settings. If you choose not to set any preferences, you will see our default editor-curated or chronological feed.

6. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only in the limited circumstances described below:

• Service Providers. Vendors who perform services on our behalf — including hosting, analytics, email delivery, payment processing, and customer support — under contractual obligations to protect your information and use it only for the services they provide to us.
• Content and Publishing Partners. Aggregated or de-identified engagement metrics may be shared with publishers whose content appears on the Site so they can understand performance. These metrics do not identify individual readers.
• Legal and Safety. We may disclose information when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to comply with a legal obligation, enforce our Terms, protect the rights, property, or safety of VibesWire, our users, or others, or respond to a government request.
• Business Transfers. If VibesWire is involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to standard confidentiality protections.
• With Your Consent or at Your Direction. We share information for any other purpose disclosed to you with your consent.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use the following categories of cookies and similar technologies:

• Strictly Necessary. Required for the Site to function, such as authentication and load balancing.
• Functional. Remember preferences such as language, region, and feed settings.
• Analytics. Help us understand how readers use the Site, including via Google Analytics. You can learn more about Google’s practices at policies.google.com/privacy.
• Feed Preferences. Remember the topics, sources, and categories you have chosen for your custom feed.

Most browsers let you control cookies through their settings. You can also use our cookie preference tool, where available, to adjust non-essential cookies. Disabling certain cookies may affect Site functionality.

8. Your Rights and Choices

• Access and Update. You can review and update your account information at any time through your account settings.
• Marketing Emails. You can unsubscribe from marketing emails using the link at the bottom of any such email. Service-related messages will continue.
• Custom Feed Controls. You can add or remove topics, sources, and categories, clear your reading history, or reset your feed at any time in your account settings.
• Account Deletion. You may request deletion of your VibesWire account and associated personal information by contacting us at the address in Section 14. We may retain limited information as required by law or for legitimate business purposes.
• Do Not Track. Our Site does not respond to Do Not Track signals because no common industry standard for these signals has been finalized.

9. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as needed to provide the Services, comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Retention periods vary based on the type of information and the purpose for which it was collected. When information is no longer needed, we delete or de-identify it. Aggregated or de-identified data, which cannot reasonably be linked back to you, may be retained indefinitely.

10. Data Security

We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your information — including encryption in transit, access controls, and ongoing monitoring. No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, however, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. Please use a strong, unique password and keep your credentials confidential.

11. Children’s Privacy

The Services are not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will delete it. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us using the details in Section 14.

12. Third-Party Content and Links

Our Services display headlines, summaries, and links to articles hosted by third-party publishers. When you click through to a publisher's site, you are subject to their privacy policy and terms. VibesWire is not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or security of third-party sites.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will revise the “Last Updated” date above and, where appropriate, notify you by email or through a notice on the Site. Your continued use of the Services after the changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, or if you would like to exercise any of the rights described above, please contact us: