Who we are
joinstories is an emotional wellness platform that brings people navigating a shared life rupture together in Story Circles: private groups of five to eight people, over twelve weeks.
What we collect
We collect three kinds of information.
What you give us directly
When you create an account, we collect your name and email address. If you pay for a membership, we collect payment information, though this is processed by a third-party payment provider and we do not store your card details ourselves.
During onboarding, we ask you about the life experience that brought you here (retrenchment, a health journey, grief, burnout). You choose how much to disclose. We use this to match you with a Circle.
What you write inside your Circle
This is the most sensitive information we hold. Your weekly responses to Circle prompts, and any direct messages within your Circle, are visible only to the other members of that Circle and to joinstories staff where strictly necessary for platform safety and operations (for example, if a serious safeguarding concern arises). We do not read your story content for marketing, research, or product improvement without your explicit, separate consent.
What we collect automatically
When you use the platform, we collect standard technical data: your IP address, device type, browser, and how you navigate the site. This helps us keep the platform working and understand broadly how people use it. We use cookies for this purpose. See Section 8 below.
How we use your information
We use your information for purposes including, but not limited to:
- Create and maintain your account
- Match you with a Circle suited to your experience
- Deliver the twelve-week Circle programme and any communications related to it
- Process payments
- Respond to your support requests
- Understand how the platform is used so we can improve it
- Meet our legal obligations
We do not use your information to serve you advertising. We do not sell your personal information to third parties. Ever.
Who can see what you write
This is the question that matters most, and we want to be precise.
Your Circle members can see everything you write in the shared Circle space. That is the point. Before you join, you agree to the Circle's resonance rule: no advice, no fixing, only resonance. Your Circle members are bound by the same agreement.
joinstories staff can access Circle content only in limited, defined circumstances: platform safety, a reported concern, or a legal requirement. Access is logged and reviewed.
No one else sees your Circle content in identifiable form. We may use aggregated, anonymised insights (for example, "themes that emerged across Circles this quarter") for research or product purposes, but this data cannot be traced back to you.
Third parties and service providers
We work with a small number of third-party service providers to operate the platform. These include:
All third-party providers are contractually required to handle your data in line with this policy and applicable law. We do not permit them to use your data for their own purposes.
Your rights
We believe privacy is a right, not a regional privilege. Regardless of where you live, we extend the following rights to all users:
If you are in the EU or UK, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority under GDPR. If you are in California, your rights under the CCPA apply in full, though the opt-out of sale is not relevant here because we do not sell personal information.
To exercise any of these rights, email privacy@joinstories.com. We will respond within 30 days.
How long we keep your information
We keep your account information for as long as your account is active. If your account remains inactive for 12 months, we will permanently delete or anonymise your personal information, unless a longer retention period is required to resolve a legal dispute or comply with the law.
You don't need to wait for this. You can request immediate deletion at any time. See Section 6.
Cookies
We use cookies to keep the platform functioning securely and to understand broadly how people use joinstories. We do not use advertising cookies.
You can view exactly what cookies we use and manage your choices at any time by visiting our Cookie Policy and using the cookie settings link in the footer of our website. Disabling non-essential cookies will never affect your ability to use the platform.
Children
joinstories is strictly for people aged 18 and over. We require users to confirm their age during onboarding and do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you believe a minor has created an account, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational steps to protect your information. These include encryption in transit and at rest, access controls, and regular security reviews.
No system is completely secure. If we become aware of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will notify you and the relevant authorities as required by law.
International transfers
If you are based outside Singapore, your information may be transferred to and stored in servers in other countries. Where this happens, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including standard contractual clauses under GDPR.
Changes to this policy
We will update this policy as the platform evolves. When we make material changes, we will notify you by email before they take effect. The date at the top of this page reflects the most recent version.
Continuing to use joinstories after a change takes effect means you accept the updated policy.
Contact
If you have questions about this policy or about how we handle your information, write to us. We will respond within 30 days.
joinstories
Privacy questions: privacy@joinstories.com