Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how Small Step Econ ("we", "us", "our") — a project of One Small Step History — collects, uses, and protects information when you visit smallstepecon.com (the "Site"). By using the Site, you agree to the practices described here. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.

1. Information we collect

Information you provide directly

• Email address — if you subscribe to our newsletter or email us directly.
• Display name — an optional nickname you can enter to appear on The Ledger (our public leaderboard). This is stored locally in your browser and, if you opt to share a score, sent to our server so we can display it publicly on the leaderboard.
• Messages — anything you write to us via email, including any personal details you choose to include.

Information collected automatically

• Usage data — pages visited, time on page, clicks, and referring site. This is standard web-analytics information.
• Device and browser data — IP address, browser type, operating system, and general device information.
• Game and quiz activity — which games you play, your scores, and streak progress. Score data associated with a display name is stored so The Ledger can rank readers; anonymous play data is stored in your browser only.

2. Cookies and similar technologies

The Site uses cookies and similar technologies (such as browser local storage) to make the Site work, remember your preferences, measure how the Site is used, and, if you visit us while advertising is enabled, to serve relevant advertisements.

Types of cookies we use

• Strictly necessary — required for core Site functionality, such as remembering your dark/light theme preference and keeping your Ledger nickname on your device.
• Analytics — help us understand how visitors use the Site so we can improve it. These cookies collect information in aggregate and do not identify you personally.
• Advertising — if and when we display advertising, third-party ad partners (see Section 4) may set cookies to show more relevant ads and measure ad performance.

Most browsers let you control cookies through their settings. You can block or delete cookies at any time. Blocking strictly necessary cookies may cause parts of the Site to stop working correctly.

3. How we use information

We use the information we collect to:

• Operate, maintain, and improve the Site and its games, quizzes, and leaderboard.
• Send newsletter emails you have signed up for, and respond to messages you send us.
• Display public leaderboard entries you have opted to share.
• Analyze usage patterns to understand what content readers find useful.
• Detect, prevent, and respond to fraud, abuse, or technical issues.
• Comply with legal obligations.

We do not sell your personal information. We do not share your email address with third parties for their own marketing.

4. Third-party services and advertising

The Site may use third-party services for analytics, hosting, email delivery, and advertising. These providers may collect information about your visits to the Site and other websites in order to provide their services.

Google AdSense and advertising partners

If and when advertising is enabled on the Site, we use Google AdSense and may use other third-party ad networks. These partners use cookies and similar technologies to serve ads based on your prior visits to the Site or other websites.

• Google, as a third-party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on the Site. Google's use of the DoubleClick cookie enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visit to the Site and/or other sites on the Internet.
• You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings.
• You may opt out of some third-party vendors' use of cookies for personalized advertising by visiting aboutads.info or, in the EU, Your Online Choices.

Analytics

We may use privacy-respecting analytics tools to understand how the Site is used. These tools collect information such as pages visited and time on page, aggregated across visitors.

5. How we protect information

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect the information we collect. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data retention

We keep personal information only as long as needed for the purposes described in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. Newsletter emails are retained until you unsubscribe. Leaderboard entries you have chosen to publish remain public until you request removal.

7. Your rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, delete, or restrict the use of your personal information, and to object to its processing or request that we transfer it. To exercise any of these rights, email us at hello@smallstepecon.com. We will respond within a reasonable time.

If you are in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data-protection authority.

If you are a California resident, you have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information we collect and to request deletion. We do not sell personal information as that term is defined under the CCPA.

8. Children

The Site is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us, please contact us and we will delete it.

9. International visitors

The Site is operated from the United States. If you access the Site from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will change the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. If we make material changes, we will provide a more prominent notice on the Site.

11. Contact us

Questions about this Privacy Policy? Email hello@smallstepecon.com or visit our Contact page.