ScreenBuddy Privacy Policy

Effective date: 16/03/2026

Last updated: 16/03/2026

1. Introduction

ScreenBuddy is a digital wellbeing app created by The Blended Citizens Project, founded by Dr Cathryn Horvat, to help children aged 6 to 17 build healthier digital habits with the support of a parent or carer.

This Privacy Policy explains how ScreenBuddy collects, uses, stores, and protects personal information when you use the ScreenBuddy mobile application on iOS or Android.

ScreenBuddy is designed with child safety and privacy in mind. The app is intended to be set up and managed by a parent or legal guardian. Children do not create independent accounts.

2. Who We Are

The Blended Citizens Project
Founder: Dr Cathryn Horvat

The Blended Citizens Project is an independent Australian initiative focused on helping families raise responsible, ethical, and empathetic digitally blended citizens.

3. Scope of This Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to:

the ScreenBuddy mobile app
ScreenBuddy parent accounts
child profiles created within a parent account
in-app subscriptions and related billing records
support requests submitted in relation to ScreenBuddy.

This policy does not apply to third-party services that may have their own privacy policies, such as the Apple App Store, Google Play, Firebase Authentication, Google Cloud Firestore, or RevenueCat. Where ScreenBuddy uses third-party service providers, we choose providers intended to support secure app functionality and we limit data use to what is reasonably necessary.

4. Who Can Use ScreenBuddy

ScreenBuddy is designed for:

Parents or legal guardians, who create and manage the account
Children aged 6 to 17, who use the child-facing experience through the parent-managed account

Children do not create standalone accounts and do not independently provide payment details.

5. Our Privacy Approach

ScreenBuddy is built around the following privacy principles:

Parent-first account model: only a parent or legal guardian creates an account
Parental consent first: no child data is written until parental consent is recorded
Data minimisation: we only collect information reasonably necessary to provide the app
No advertising to children: ScreenBuddy does not display ads to children
No sale of personal information: we do not sell personal information
No third-party advertising SDKs: ScreenBuddy does not use ad networks
No tracking for advertising: ScreenBuddy does not track children across apps or services
Australian hosting: app data is intended to be stored in Australia where practicable
Deletion controls: parents can permanently delete account and child data at any time
Telemetry off by default: any analytics or diagnostics beyond essential functionality are opt-in and not linked to child content

These settings align with the current ScreenBuddy PRD and app design decisions.

6. What Information We Collect

A. Parent or Guardian Information

We may collect:

email address
password credentials (managed through secure authentication providers, not stored in readable form by us)
display name (optional)
Firebase user ID or equivalent account identifier
country or region (if collected during onboarding or required for service settings)
parental consent status and consent timestamp
newsletter opt-in preference (if selected)
subscription status and purchase entitlement information
support communications you send us.

B. Child Profile Information

We may collect:

child first name or nickname
child age group:
- 6 to 9
- 10 to 13
- 14 to 17

We intentionally limit child profile information and do not require surname, school name, home address, phone number, or precise location.

C. Child Activity Data Entered in the App

To provide the core ScreenBuddy experience, we may collect:

mood check-ins (morning and evening)
day ratings
screen time log entries
screen time categories
optional notes added by the child
content reflection responses
optional deeper reflection responses
quest completions and chosen paths
optional reflection notes linked to quests
pet progress data (XP, stats, stage, badges, streaks)
settings preferences (such as read-aloud preferences or age group overrides).

D. Subscription and Billing Information

Subscriptions are processed through Apple App Store or Google Play and managed via RevenueCat.

We may receive limited subscription-related information such as:

active entitlement status
product purchased
renewal or expiry status
store transaction identifiers or subscription metadata required for entitlement management.

We do not receive or store your full credit card details.

E. Device and Technical Information

We may collect limited technical data necessary for security and app functionality, such as:

app version
operating system
device type
crash or error reports
basic diagnostic logs.

Where optional telemetry or diagnostics are enabled, this is off by default and is designed not to include child-entered content such as reflections or mood text.

7. What We Do Not Collect

ScreenBuddy is designed to avoid unnecessary collection of child data. We do not intentionally collect:

precise GPS location
contacts
photos or camera roll access (unless a future feature clearly requires it and this policy is updated)
microphone recordings
advertising identifiers for profiling or behavioural advertising
school names or class details
child email addresses
child phone numbers
child social media account credentials.

8. How We Collect Information

We collect information when:

a parent creates an account
a parent verifies their email
a parent provides explicit parental consent
a parent creates one or more child profiles
a child uses app features under the parent-managed account
a parent accesses the Parent Dashboard
a parent changes settings or deletes data
a subscription is activated, renewed, or cancelled
a user contacts support
optional telemetry is enabled by the parent.

9. Why We Collect Information

We collect personal information only where reasonably necessary to:

create and secure parent accounts
verify parent access
record parental consent
create child profiles
personalise the child-facing experience
save daily progress, logs, reflections, and quests
generate parent dashboard summaries and conversation starters
manage subscriptions and entitlements
provide support and troubleshoot technical issues
improve app stability and safety
meet legal and compliance obligations
respond to child safety or legal concerns where required.

This reflects APP-style data minimisation and purpose limitation principles. Under APP 3, collection should be reasonably necessary for the organisation’s functions or activities, and under APP 6, use or disclosure should generally stay tied to the primary purpose of collection unless an exception applies.

10. Parental Consent

Because ScreenBuddy is designed for children, we require verifiable parent or guardian action before any child data is stored.

Our consent flow is designed so that:

the parent creates an account
the parent verifies their email address
the parent is shown a dedicated consent screen
the parent must provide explicit consent before child data is written
the consent status and timestamp are stored against the parent account.

If parental consent is not completed, the app should not permit child data collection beyond what is strictly necessary to complete setup.

This is consistent with the ScreenBuddy PRD and with your child-safe approach across BCP materials.

11. How We Use Personal Information

We use personal information to:

authenticate and secure the parent account
enable the child’s daily use of the app
save progress and provide the pet companion experience
show mood trends, reflections, and conversation prompts in the Parent Dashboard
enable child switching for Family plan accounts
manage subscriptions and feature access
respond to support enquiries
detect, prevent, and investigate misuse or security incidents
comply with legal obligations.

We do not use child personal information for:

targeted advertising
behavioural profiling for marketing
selling to data brokers
third-party ad monetisation.

12. Disclosure of Personal Information

We do not sell personal information.

We do not share child personal information with advertisers.

We may disclose personal information only in limited circumstances, such as:

A. Service Providers

We may share limited information with service providers who help us operate ScreenBuddy, such as:

authentication providers
secure cloud hosting and database providers
subscription management providers
customer support tools (if used)
crash or diagnostics providers (if enabled by the parent)

These providers are engaged only for legitimate operational purposes and should only receive the minimum information necessary.

B. Legal or Safety Requirements

We may disclose information where reasonably necessary to:

comply with Australian law
respond to a court order, warrant, or lawful request
protect the safety, rights, or wellbeing of a child or another person
investigate fraud, abuse, or serious misuse of the app.

C. Business Changes

If ScreenBuddy or The Blended Citizens Project changes legal structure in the future (for example, sale, merger, or restructure), personal information may be transferred as part of that process, subject to appropriate safeguards and notice where required.

13. Overseas Disclosure

ScreenBuddy is designed for Australian launch and aims to store app data in Australia, including use of an Australian cloud region where available. The current PRD specifies Google Cloud Firestore in Australia Southeast (Sydney)

However, some service providers may process limited data outside Australia from time to time, depending on their infrastructure, support operations, or billing systems. This may include providers such as:

Firebase / Google Cloud
RevenueCat
Apple App Store
Google Play

Where overseas processing occurs, we take reasonable steps to use reputable providers and limit disclosure to what is reasonably necessary for the service.

14. Data Storage and Security

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure.

Security measures may include:

secure parent authentication
email verification
encrypted or protected parent PIN storage
secure cloud-hosted databases
access controls
separation of sensitive and non-sensitive local storage where applicable
secure transport encryption (such as HTTPS/TLS)
limited staff/admin access
deletion controls in settings.

The ScreenBuddy PRD also specifies:

sensitive local data stored using MMKV + Keychain
parent PIN stored encrypted
non-sensitive app state stored separately
full deletion pathways in Settings.

No system is perfectly invincible because the internet is, regrettably, still the internet. But we are committed to taking reasonable, child-centred security steps.

15. Parent Dashboard and Family Access

The Parent Dashboard is intended for adults only and is protected by a parent PIN.

The Parent Dashboard may display:

mood trends
screen time summaries
content reflections
quest summaries
conversation starters.

Parents can view this information, but the dashboard is designed to be read-only and not to alter child-entered data directly, consistent with the PRD

Parents are responsible for:

keeping login credentials secure
keeping the parent PIN confidential
supervising how children use the app
choosing whether to enable optional telemetry.

16. Analytics, Diagnostics and Telemetry

ScreenBuddy may use limited diagnostics or crash reporting to keep the app stable and secure.

Important points:

optional anonymous telemetry is off by default
telemetry must be actively enabled by the parent
telemetry is designed not to include child reflection content, mood text, or personal journalling content
ScreenBuddy does not use third-party ad tracking
ScreenBuddy does not show an App Tracking Transparency prompt for advertising, because it is not designed for cross-app tracking.

17. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Because ScreenBuddy is a mobile app, traditional website cookies may not apply in the same way.

However, ScreenBuddy and its service providers may use similar technologies such as:

local device storage
secure tokens
app session identifiers
subscription entitlements
crash diagnostics identifiers.

These are used for app functionality, security, and subscription management, not for behavioural advertising to children.

18. Data Retention

We keep personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to:

provide the app
maintain account functionality
manage subscriptions
comply with legal, accounting, fraud prevention, or dispute resolution obligations
address safety or support matters

As a general rule:

child activity data remains linked to the parent-managed account while the account is active
if a parent deletes a child profile or deletes all account data, we aim to remove that information from our active systems within a reasonable period, subject to technical backup cycles and legal obligations
limited billing or transaction records may need to be retained where required by law or platform rules

19. Data Deletion and Account Deletion

Parents can request deletion through the app settings.

The ScreenBuddy app is designed so that Delete All Data permanently deletes, or triggers deletion of:

the parent account record
child profiles
daily logs
completed quests
reflections
progress and pet data
related Firestore records
the associated authentication account, where technically supported

This deletion pathway is explicitly included in the current PRD

Some limited records may remain temporarily in backups, logs, or app store subscription records for legal, fraud prevention, or operational reasons.

If you need help deleting your data, contact: info@blendedcitizensproject.com.au

20. Access and Correction

Parents may request access to, or correction of, personal information we hold about them or their child profiles, subject to applicable law and practical limitations.

ScreenBuddy is a parent-managed service and requests relating to child data should be made by the parent or legal guardian attached to the account.

To request access or correction, contact: info@blendedcitizensproject.com.au

21. Children’s Privacy

ScreenBuddy is built for use by children under parent or guardian supervision.

We take additional care by:

requiring parent-managed account creation
limiting child data fields
avoiding unnecessary identifiers
avoiding ads and third-party ad SDKs
avoiding sale of child data
using age-banded content
protecting parent-only areas with a PIN
providing deletion controls
using a child-safe design approach consistent with broader BCP child safety commitments.

The Privacy Act 1988 protects personal information regardless of age, and the OAIC notes that valid consent depends on the person’s capacity to consent, which is why a parent-led model is the sensible choice here.

22. App Store and Platform Compliance

ScreenBuddy is intended to support compliance with app store requirements relevant to children and family use, including:

Google Play Families Policy, where children are in the target audience
Google Play Data safety disclosures
Apple App Store privacy disclosures
applicable Apple review guidelines regarding privacy and children’s data.

Google requires apps with children in the target audience to comply with Families Policy and provide a privacy policy. Apple requires all apps to provide a privacy policy link and accurate privacy disclosures. Apps intended for children also face stricter privacy expectations.

23. Complaints

If you have a privacy concern or complaint, please contact us first so we can try to resolve it.

Email: info@blendedcitizensproject.com.au
Subject line: Privacy Complaint – ScreenBuddy

Please include:

your name
your contact email
the issue you are concerned about
any relevant dates or screenshots

We aim to respond within a reasonable timeframe.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC):

Website: https://www.oaic.gov.au

24. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect:

changes to app features
changes to vendors or technical architecture
legal or regulatory updates
app store requirements
changes to how ScreenBuddy handles data

If we make material changes, we will update the “Last updated” date and may provide in-app notice or website notice where appropriate.

25. Contact Us

Email: info@blendedcitizensproject.com.au
Support page: https://www.blendedcitizensproject.com.au/screenbuddy-support
Website: https://www.blendedcitizensproject.com.au