GemSprout ("we", "our", or "us") is a family chore and rewards app. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding that information. By using GemSprout, you agree to this policy.
Information We Collect
GemSprout does not require you to create an account or provide personal identifying information such as your name, email address, or phone number. The information we store includes:
- Family data - family name, member names, ages, avatars, chore lists, reward prizes, and completion history. This data is entered by you and stored in your family's private cloud document.
- Chore photos - if you use the before/after photo feature, photos are uploaded to secure cloud storage and associated with your family's data.
- App settings - preferences such as timezone, notification settings, and feature toggles.
- Authentication tokens - parents who sign in with Google or Apple Sign-In are identified by a Firebase authentication token linked to their Google or Apple account. Kid devices use Firebase Anonymous Authentication, which generates a random identifier not linked to any personal identity.
How We Use Your Information
All data collected is used solely to provide the GemSprout app experience. Specifically:
- To sync your family's chores, rewards, and progress across devices using your family code.
- To display chore completion history and earn streaks, badges, and rewards.
- To store chore photos for before/after verification.
We do not use your data for advertising, analytics profiling, or any purpose beyond operating the app.
Children's Privacy and COPPA Compliance
GemSprout is designed for use by families, including children under 13. We take children's privacy seriously and comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and applicable state and federal children's privacy laws.
No direct data collection from children. GemSprout does not collect personal information directly from children. Children do not create accounts, enter their own information, or communicate with us through the app. All information about children - including names, ages, and avatars - is entered by a parent or guardian and remains under that parent or guardian's control at all times.
Parental consent and control. By creating a GemSprout family account, the parent or guardian provides consent for the app to store their family's information, including their children's names, ages, avatars, and chore history. Parents and guardians may review, update, or permanently delete all family data at any time from within the app (Settings -> Reset All Data). To request deletion of your family's data or ask questions about your child's information, contact us at contact@gemsprout.com.
What information is stored about children. The app stores the following information about children, as entered by a parent or guardian:
- First name or nickname
- Age (used to tailor the in-app experience)
- Avatar selection chosen from within the app
- Chore completion history, earned rewards, and streak or badge progress
- Chore photos, if the before/after photo feature is used
No advertising or marketing to children. We do not use children's information for advertising or marketing purposes. No child data is shared with, sold to, or used by third parties for commercial purposes.
Third-party services. Children's data is stored using Google Firebase. Firebase's handling of children's data is governed by Google's Privacy Policy. We do not use advertising networks, analytics tools, or other third-party services that would have access to children's data.
Kid devices. When a child uses GemSprout on a shared or dedicated device, the device connects to the family's data using a private family code. Kid devices use Firebase Anonymous Authentication - a randomly generated identifier that is not linked to any name, email address, or personal identity.
Contact for COPPA inquiries. Parents and guardians may contact us at any time to review the information we have stored about their children, request corrections, or request permanent deletion. Contact us at contact@gemsprout.com.
Data Storage and Security
Your family's data is stored using Google Firebase (Firestore and Firebase Storage), a secure cloud platform. Data is protected by Firebase security rules that restrict access to your family's unique code. Chore photos are stored in Firebase Storage under your family's private path.
We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your data to outside parties.
Third-Party Services
GemSprout uses the following third-party services to operate:
- Google Firebase - data storage, authentication, and file storage. Subject to Google's Privacy Policy.
Data Retention and Deletion
Your family's data is retained as long as you use the app. You can permanently delete all data at any time by going to Settings -> Reset All Data within the app. This will remove your family's data from our servers. Chore photos stored in Firebase Storage will also be removed.
Your Rights
You have the right to access, correct, or delete any personal data associated with your family at any time. Since GemSprout does not require account creation, all data management is done directly within the app.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted here with an updated date. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact us at contact@gemsprout.com.