Privacy Policy

<p><strong>Last updated: October 2026</strong></p> <p>StudyBuddy.gy helps students in Guyana prepare for the NGSA and CSEC. Many of our users are children, so we collect as little as we can and never sell it. This policy explains what we collect, why, and the choices you have.</p>

<h2>1. Who we are</h2> <p>StudyBuddy.gy is operated by Xcess Interactive in Guyana. StudyBuddy.gy is not affiliated with the Ministry of Education, Guyana, or the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).</p> <p>Questions about privacy: <a href="mailto:hello@studybuddy.gy">hello@studybuddy.gy</a></p>

<h2>2. Children and families</h2> <ul> <li><p><strong>Under 13:</strong> a child may create their own account only after confirming that a parent or guardian has given permission; we record when they confirmed. A parent or guardian can also create the account and add the child's profile, or add a child's existing account to their family.</p></li> <li><p><strong>13 and over:</strong> students may create their own account.</p></li> <li><p>A parent or guardian can view, change or remove their child's profile at any time.</p></li> </ul> <p>The only personal details we ask for are names and email addresses. We do not show advertising inside StudyBuddy.</p>

<h2>3. What we collect</h2> <ul> <li><p><strong>Account details:</strong> name and email address. For a child's profile, the child's name and grade, entered by the parent or guardian.</p></li> <li><p><strong>Learning progress:</strong> answers, scores, streaks and levels, so we can save progress and show results.</p></li>

<li><p><strong>Ask Buddy conversations:</strong> what a student asks Buddy, and Buddy's answers, are saved so they can look back at them later. Our team may read conversations to make sure Buddy's answers are accurate, kind and right for children. They are never sold or used for advertising, and a parent can ask us to delete them at any time.</p></li> <li><p><strong>Payments:</strong> a record of what was bought, when, and the payment reference. Card details are handled by Stripe and mobile money by MMG; we never see or store your full card number.</p></li> <li><p><strong>How StudyBuddy is used:</strong> the pages and features used, what is started and finished, and how long is spent on them, for each account and child profile. We use this to improve StudyBuddy and to show parents their child's progress, and we do not share it with other companies.</p></li> <li><p><strong>Visits:</strong> for people who are not signed in, we count visits using a random number saved on the device, not a name, and note how they found StudyBuddy (for example an advert, an email or a search engine). If the visitor later creates an account, these visits are linked to it.</p></li> <li><p><strong>Technical information:</strong> device and browser type, connection, how quickly pages load, and error reports, to keep StudyBuddy working, fast and secure.</p></li> </ul>

<h2>4. How we use it</h2> <ul> <li><p>To run StudyBuddy: sign you in, save progress and show results.</p></li> <li><p>To suggest topics a student should practise.</p></li> <li><p>To show leaderboards, which show a student's first name and last initial only.</p></li> <li><p>To send emails about your account, purchases and your child's progress.</p></li> <li><p>To answer your questions and keep StudyBuddy safe from misuse.</p></li> <li><p>To understand how StudyBuddy is used, so we can improve it.</p></li> </ul> <p>We do <strong>not</strong> sell personal data.</p>

<h2>5. Services we use</h2> <p>StudyBuddy uses trusted services to run: <strong>Clerk</strong> for sign-in, <strong>OpenAI</strong> and <strong>Google Gemini</strong> to power learning features, and <strong>Stripe</strong> and <strong>MMG</strong> for payments. Each receives only what it needs to do its job.</p>

<h2>6. Keeping your data safe</h2> <p>All connections to StudyBuddy are encrypted, and access to personal data is limited to the people who need it. If you think someone has accessed your account, email <a href="mailto:hello@studybuddy.gy">hello@studybuddy.gy</a> straight away.</p>

<h2>7. How long we keep data</h2> <ul> <li><p>We keep account and progress data while the account is in use.</p></li> <li><p>A child profile removed by a parent can be restored for 7 days, then it is deleted permanently.</p></li> <li><p>Detailed records of how StudyBuddy is used are deleted after 12 months.</p></li> <li><p>When you ask us to delete your account, we delete your personal data within 30 days, except payment records we must keep by law.</p></li> </ul>

<h2>8. Your choices</h2> <p>You can ask us to show you, correct, or delete the personal data we hold about you or your child. Email <a href="mailto:hello@studybuddy.gy">hello@studybuddy.gy</a> from the email address on the account and we will reply within 30 days.</p>

<h2>9. Cookies</h2> <p>StudyBuddy stores small pieces of information on your device to keep you signed in, remember settings such as your grade, count visits, and help the app load quickly. You can clear them in your browser settings, but you will be signed out.</p>

<h2>10. Changes to this policy</h2> <p>If we make important changes, we will tell you by email or in the app. The date at the top shows the latest version.</p>

<h2>11. Contact us</h2> <p><a href="mailto:hello@studybuddy.gy">hello@studybuddy.gy</a></p>