The short version: Word Bites has no accounts, no ads inside the game, and no server of ours. The puzzles never need a connection and your progress stays on your device. The app does make one kind of network request: when you install or open it, it tells Meta (Facebook) that this happened, so we can tell which of our ads actually worked. That is the only information that leaves the app.
Information we collect
We have no accounts, no user profiles, and no database, so there is nothing for us to look up about you. We do not collect your name, email address, location, contacts, or photos. We do not collect your advertising identifier (IDFA), and we do not track you across other apps or websites.
The one thing that leaves your device goes to Meta rather than to us, and is described in Third-party services below.
Information stored on your device
The app saves your puzzle progress, statistics, and settings locally on your device so the game remembers where you were. We cannot see this information. Deleting the app removes it.
Purchases
Word Bites offers optional in-app purchases. These are handled entirely by Apple through the App Store. We never see or store your payment details. Apple tells the app only whether a purchase was completed. Apple's handling of your payment information is covered by Apple's Privacy Policy.
Notifications
If you allow notifications, the app may schedule reminders on your device. These are created and delivered locally by your device, not sent from a server, and no information leaves your phone in order to produce them. You can turn them off at any time in the iOS Settings app.
Third-party services
Word Bites includes the Meta SDK (facebook-ios-sdk). We use it for one purpose only: to measure advertising effectiveness, meaning to tell which App Store installs came from a Meta ad. It is the only component in the app that makes a network request.
What is sent to Meta:
- Install, launch, and session events
- App version
- Device and operating system information
- Country
- IP address
What is not sent:
- Your advertising identifier (IDFA). We have disabled advertising-identifier collection, which is why the app never shows you the App Tracking Transparency prompt.
- Your puzzle progress, statistics, or settings
- Your purchases
- Anything you type
Meta receives this information as an independent controller, which means Meta decides how it uses that data under its own policy rather than ours. Their handling of it is covered by Meta's Privacy Policy.
Apart from Meta and Apple (for purchases), the app contains no advertising networks, no other analytics providers, and no social media integrations. We do not sell your information, and we have never done so.
If you are in the European Economic Area or the UK
Our lawful basis for the Meta measurement events is legitimate interest (Article 6(1)(f) GDPR): understanding whether our advertising works so we can keep the game funded. We consider this proportionate because the events carry no advertising identifier and no gameplay content, and they cannot be used to build a profile of you from what we send.
You have the right to access, correct, delete, or receive a copy of your personal data, and to object to processing based on legitimate interest. Because we hold no accounts or database, requests about data held by us will normally be answered by confirming we hold nothing about you. For the events Meta receives, Meta is the controller, so please use Meta's Privacy Policy for those. To reach us, email wordbitesgame@gmail.com.
If you are in California
We do not sell your personal information and we do not share it for cross-context behavioural advertising as those terms are defined by the CCPA and CPRA. There is accordingly nothing to opt out of, but you are welcome to contact us at wordbitesgame@gmail.com to exercise your rights to know, delete, or correct, and we will not discriminate against you for asking.
Children's privacy
Word Bites is suitable for all ages. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone, including children under 13, and we hold no accounts or profiles. The Meta measurement events described above are sent for every install regardless of who is playing, and they contain no advertising identifier and nothing the player types.
If you contact us
If you email us or use our contact form, we receive the name, email address, and message you provide, and we use them only to reply. We do not add you to a mailing list.
Changes to this policy
If this policy changes, we will update the date at the top of this page. Material changes will be reflected here before they take effect.
Contact
Questions about privacy can go to wordbitesgame@gmail.com or through the contact form.