Privacy Policy

PopKic Privacy Policy

Last Updated: 2025/11/20

Welcome to PopKic

This Privacy Policy applies to the PopKic social media platform, which includes our apps, websites, software, and related services (the "Platform"). The Platform is provided and controlled by PopKic (Pty) Ltd, with its registered address at 14 Edward Drive, Chelmsfordville, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 3610 ("PopKic", "we", "us", or "our").

We are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and otherwise process your personal information. A core tenet of PopKic is that you should benefit from the value your data creates. If you do not agree with this policy, you should not use the Platform.

1. What Information We Collect

We may collect the following information about you:

a) Information You Provide

  • Account Information: When you register, you provide us with information such as your username, password, date of birth, email address, and profile picture.
  • User Content: We process the content you generate on the Platform, including posts, comments, messages, reviews, reports, livestreams, and the associated metadata (e.g., when and how it was created).
  • Financial and Transaction Information: When you buy, sell, or gift Pop Coins or purchase Pop Points, we collect transaction details, including payment method, amount, and timestamp. If you use our future shop or value-add services, we will collect related purchase information.
  • Communications: We collect information when you use our messaging functions, contact our support team, or participate in surveys or promotions.
  • Contacts: If you choose to find friends on the Platform, we may, with your permission, collect information from your device's contact list.

b) Information Collected Automatically

  • Usage and Interaction Information: We collect data about how you use the Platform. This includes how you engage with content (views, likes, shares), other users (follows, blocks), and platform features. Crucially, this also includes data related to your Reputation Score (e.g., valid reports you give/receive, peer validations) and your Contribution Score (e.g., content creation, valid fact reviews, bug reports).
  • Technical Information: We collect information about the device you use, such as your IP address, device ID, operating system, browser type, and network information.
  • Location Information: We may collect approximate location information based on your IP address. With your permission, we may collect precise location data for specific features.
  • Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies and similar technologies to operate, provide, personalize, and improve the Platform. This includes remembering your preferences, understanding feature usage, and serving relevant ads.

c) Information From Other Sources

  • We may receive information from third-party services if you link them to your PopKic account.
  • If you are featured in User Content posted by another user, we may receive information about you.
  • We may receive information from advertisers and partners to help measure ad effectiveness and personalize your experience.
2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to provide, support, and improve the Platform, and to fulfill our contractual obligations to you. This includes:

  • Providing and Personalizing the Platform: To operate the Platform, personalize your feed, and recommend content, connections, and features based on your activity, Reputation, and Contribution.
  • Calculating Scores and Awarding Badges: To calculate, maintain, and adjust your Reputation Score, Contribution Score, and award or revoke Badges. This is fundamental to our self-regulating system.
  • Administering the PopKic Economy: To facilitate transactions of Pop Coins and Pop Points, distribute rewards, and manage the overall platform economy, the value of which is derived from user engagement and data.
  • Developing Value-Add Services: To develop and provide new services (e.g., matching for relationships, business, or projects) that leverage aggregated and anonymized data to benefit the community.
  • Safety, Security, and Self-Regulation: To enforce our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines, combat harmful activity, spam, and fraud, and facilitate the community-driven reporting and review system.
  • Communication: To communicate with you about service updates, security alerts, and support messages.
  • Advertising: To deliver and measure the effectiveness of personalized and non-personalized advertising on and off the Platform.
  • Legal Compliance: To comply with legal obligations and defend our legal rights.
3. How We Share Your Information

Your privacy is paramount. We share your information only in the following circumstances:

  • With Your Consent: We will share your information when you direct us to, such as when you choose to share content on other platforms.
  • Service Providers: We use trusted third-party vendors to help us operate the Platform (e.g., hosting, payment processing, data analytics, customer support). These partners are bound by strict data protection obligations.
  • The PopKic Community: Your public profile, username, and User Content set to "public" are visible to all users. Your Reputation Score, Contribution Score, and Badges may be visible to other users to facilitate trust and self-regulation.
  • Advertisers and Measurement Partners: We share aggregated, non-personally identifiable information and analytics with advertisers and partners to help them understand their audience and the performance of their ads and content.
  • For Legal Reasons: We may share information if required by law, to protect the rights and safety of our users, PopKic, or the public, or in connection with legal claims.
  • Business Transfers: If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
4. How Your Data Drives Value and the PopKic Economy

A unique aspect of PopKic is that the value of the platform—and by extension, the value of Pop Coins—is generated by the collective engagement and data of our users. Your data empowers:

  • High-quality, targeted advertising.
  • Advanced value-add services (like our matching service) that use aggregated, anonymized insights.
  • The overall health and growth of the platform ecosystem.

By contributing reputable content and engagement, you directly and indirectly contribute to the platform's value, which is recognized through rewards in Pop Coins and Pop Points.

5. Your Rights and Choices

You have control over your information:

  • Access and Correction: You can access and update most of your account information directly in your settings.
  • Account Deletion: You can request to delete your account.
  • Marketing Communications: You can opt-out of promotional communications.
  • Cookies: You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings.
  • Data Portability and Erasure: You may have the right to request a copy of your data or its deletion, subject to applicable law.

To exercise your rights, please contact us using the details in the "Contact" section.

6. Data Security and Retention

We implement robust technical and organizational measures to protect your information. However, no internet transmission is 100% secure. We retain your information only for as long as necessary to provide the Platform, fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, and comply with legal obligations. Information used for calculating your Scores will be retained as long as necessary to maintain the integrity of the self-regulation system.

7. International Data Transfers

Your information may be processed on servers located outside of South Africa. We ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable law.

8. Information Relating to Children

PopKic is not directed at children under the age of 13. If you believe a user is under 13, please contact us. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us to request deletion.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The "Last Updated" date at the top will indicate when changes were made. Your continued use of the Platform after any change constitutes your acceptance of the new policy.

10. Contact Us

If you have questions, comments, or complaints about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Email: privacy@popkic.com

South Africa-Specific Supplemental Terms

If you are using our services in South Africa, the following additional terms apply:

PopKic (Pty) Ltd is responsible for processing your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA). You have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator at the following contact details: POPIAComplaints@inforegulator.org.za.