This Privacy Policy explains how Pixel App ("we", "us", "our") collects, uses, shares, and protects information when you use the ChopYum mobile application (the "App"). By using ChopYum, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy.

1. 📋 Information We Collect

Information you provide to us

• Account information: name, email address, and password (or Google Sign-In credentials) when you create an account.
• Profile information: profile photo, bio, and notification preferences.
• App content: recipes you save or like, meal plans, grocery lists, dietary preferences/filters, ratings and reviews you write, and community posts, comments, and images you choose to share.
• Support communications: information you send us when contacting support, such as your email address and the content of your message.

Information collected automatically

• Device & push notification data: a Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) token used to deliver meal reminders and other notifications you've enabled.
• Usage data: basic interaction data such as recipe views and saves, used to power features like "recently viewed" and recommendations.
• Advertising & analytics identifiers: collected by Google AdMob and related Google services as described in the Advertising section below.
• Purchase data: subscription status, plan, and purchase tokens when you buy a ChopYum Premium subscription via Google Play Billing.

2. ⚙️ How We Use Your Information

• To create and manage your account and authenticate you when you sign in.
• To provide core features: recipe discovery, smart filters, meal planning, grocery lists, saved/liked recipes, dietary preferences, and community posts.
• To send push notifications you've opted into (meal reminders, community activity, health insights, etc.).
• To process and manage your ChopYum Premium subscription, including renewals and cancellations.
• To show relevant ads to free-tier users and measure ad performance.
• To maintain the security, integrity, and reliability of the App.
• To respond to support requests and communicate with you about the App.
• To improve and develop new features based on aggregated usage trends.

3. 🔗 Third-Party Services We Use

ChopYum is built on Google Firebase and uses the following services to operate:

Service	Purpose
Firebase Authentication	Email/password and Google sign-in, account security
Firebase Data Connect (Cloud SQL)	Storing your recipes, meal plans, grocery lists, preferences, and app content
Firebase Cloud Storage	Storing profile photos and images you upload to community posts
Firebase Cloud Messaging	Delivering push notifications
Google Play Billing	Processing ChopYum Premium subscription purchases
Google AdMob	Displaying ads to free-tier users

Each of these providers processes data under their own privacy policies. You can review Google's privacy practices at policies.google.com/privacy.

4. 📺 Advertising (AdMob)

Free-tier users of ChopYum see ads served through Google AdMob. AdMob may collect and use advertising identifiers and other data to show ads, including personalized ads where permitted, and to measure ad performance. You can manage ad personalization through your device's ad settings (e.g. Settings > Google > Ads on Android) or opt out of interest-based ads where supported.

Users who purchase a ChopYum Premium subscription will not be shown ads.

5. ⭐ Subscriptions & Purchases

ChopYum Premium subscriptions are billed and managed through Google Play Billing. We receive subscription status, plan, and renewal information from Google Play to activate your premium benefits (such as removing ads) — we do not receive or store your payment card details, which are handled entirely by Google Play.

Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled before the renewal date. You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time through your Google Play account settings.

6. 🤝 How We Share Information

We do not sell your personal information. We only share information:

• With service providers listed above (Firebase, Google Play, AdMob) to operate the App.
• With other users, when you choose to post publicly in the Community section (e.g. posts, comments, profile photo, display name).
• If required by law, legal process, or to protect the rights, safety, and property of Pixel App, our users, or the public.
• In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, where your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

7. 🗑️ Data Retention & Account Deletion

We retain your account information and app content for as long as your account is active, so you can continue to use the App's features. You can delete your account at any time from within the App's settings, which permanently removes your account and associated personal data from our systems, except where we are required to retain certain records (e.g. transaction records) to comply with legal obligations.

8. 🔒 Data Security

We use industry-standard security measures — including encrypted connections (HTTPS), Firebase Authentication, and access-controlled databases — to protect your information. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, but we work to protect your data using commercially reasonable safeguards.

9. 🧒 Children's Privacy

ChopYum is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at pixelapp89@gmail.com so we can delete it.

10. ✅ Your Rights & Choices

• Access & update: view and edit your profile information directly within the App.
• Delete: permanently delete your account and data from the App's settings at any time.
• Notifications: control which push notifications you receive from within the App's notification settings.
• Ad personalization: manage ad personalization through your device settings.
• Data requests: contact us to request a copy of, or correction to, your personal data.

11. 🌍 International Data Transfers

Your information may be processed and stored on servers located outside your country of residence, including in the United States, through our use of Google Firebase infrastructure. We take steps to ensure your information receives an adequate level of protection wherever it is processed.

12. 📝 Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page, and where appropriate, through an in-app notice. We encourage you to review this page periodically.