The short version
We collect the minimum we need to match you with a reading circle. We don't sell your data. We don't show you ads on Cuento. We do use two analytics tools (a privacy-friendly one called Umami, and Meta's ad pixel to measure whether our own ads work), and we're upfront about both below.
What we collect
- Name and email: so we can create your account and send the introduction email when you're matched.
- Age: to verify you're 18+ and to help match you with a compatible group.
- Neighbourhood: so we can match you with readers nearby.
- Gender and matching preferences, if you give them: for example "only people of my gender", "only LGBTQ2S+ readers" or an age range. We use them only to match you, and we never break a firm preference.
- Whether you identify as LGBTQ2S+, only if you tell us: it's optional and used only to match you. We never show it, or any of your preferences, to your circle or anyone else, and we never send it to analytics or advertising tools. You can remove it at any time from your settings, or by asking us.
- Reading preferences: the tags you select during onboarding. This is how we find people who share your taste.
- Password: stored securely using one-way hashing. We can never see your actual password.
- Phone number, only if you sign up by text: so we can text you about your circle. We also keep a note of when and how you first texted us, as a record that you asked to hear from us.
- Your texts with us, only if you sign up by text: your replies, and anything you choose to tell us about when you like to meet or how you like to read, so we can set up your profile and match you well.
What we don't collect
- Your precise location. We only know your neighbourhood, not your address.
- Browsing history or activity on other sites.
- Government ID. And if you sign up on the website, we never ask for your phone number.
- Payment card details. When you pay for a match, your card goes directly to Stripe, our payment processor. Card numbers never touch our servers. Stripe handles them under its own privacy policy.
How we use your data
Your data is used for one thing: matching you with a reading circle. When you're matched, your name and shared reading tags are included in the introduction email sent to your circle members. Your email address is visible to other members in that introduction (it's a CC'd email so you can all reply).
If you signed up by text, we use your number only to text you about your circle: when we find it, when it's time to meet, and a quick check-in afterwards. No marketing, and we never sell your number or show it to other members. Reply STOP at any time and we'll stop texting you.
Who sees your data
Your circle members see your name, shared tags, and email address when you're matched. If you joined by text, they see your first name and that you're joining by text. Your phone number is never shown to other members, on the site or in emails, and group texts go through our number rather than yours. We never sell your data, and we don't share it with data brokers.
A few services help us run Cuento and see only what they need to do their job: Stripe processes payments, Postmark delivers our emails, and the analytics tools described below receive usage events. If you sign up by text, Twilio carries our texts, Cloudflare hosts the service that handles them, and Anthropic's Claude reads your replies so we can understand them.
Cookies, analytics, and pixels
We use a session cookie to keep you logged in. Beyond that, two analytics tools run on the site, and we'd rather tell you plainly than pretend they're not there:
- Umami: a privacy-friendly, cookieless analytics tool. It counts page views and events (like "someone completed the survey") without cookies and without building a profile of you across the web.
- Meta Pixel: Meta's standard advertising pixel. We run ads to find readers, and the pixel tells us whether those ads work by reporting events like page views, sign-ups, and completed registrations back to Meta. Meta may use this data as described in its own privacy policy. If you use a browser or extension that blocks it, Cuento works exactly the same.
Data storage
Sessions expire automatically. Passwords are hashed and cannot be reversed.
Deleting your account
Email [email protected] and we'll delete your account and all associated data. No hoops to jump through. If you joined by text, reply STOP to end texts straight away, then email us for a full deletion.
Changes
If we change this policy, we'll update this page and the date above. For significant changes, we'll email you.
Questions?
Email [email protected].