Legal

Privacy Policy

Last updated: August 13, 2026

At Friend of a Friend, our entire business is built on trust, safety, and local accountability. We are asking you to share highly personal information with us so we can find your person.

In return, we make a straightforward promise: we do not sell your data, we do not use it to manipulate you, and we protect it with the same care we would for our own friends in the Valley.

This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and how we protect it.

1Information We Collect

To provide a curated, safe matchmaking experience, we collect information directly from you during the intake process and throughout your membership.

• Identity & Contact Data: your legal name, email address, phone number, and physical location.
• Intake & Profiling Data: your relationship history, physical preferences, dealbreakers, lifestyle habits, and personal behavioral traits shared during your application and one-on-one consultations.
• Visual Data (Photos): headshots and photos uploaded during your application.
• Financial Data: payment card details and billing information. We do not store your credit card numbers on our servers - they are processed securely through our payment provider, Stripe.
• Background Check Data: information obtained through our accredited third-party background check provider to verify your identity and criminal history.
• Technical & Security Data: when you apply or sign in, we automatically record limited technical details - your IP address, browser and device information, and the date and time - to protect the community from fraud, fake profiles, and abuse. We keep the raw IP address for a limited window (currently 90 days) and then delete it; we retain only a one-way, non-identifying fingerprint after that so we can still spot repeat abuse. We do not use this data for advertising.

2Fia, Our Chat Assistant, and Drafts Saved on Your Device

Fia is an automated assistant, not a person. When you apply, you may chat with Fia, our AI intake assistant, to build your profile. Fia is software - but a real member of our team reviews your application afterward, and your matchmaker may read your Fia conversation so nothing you share gets lost. It is not a clinical or psychological evaluation.

Your in-progress answers are saved on your own device. So you can step away and come back, we keep a temporary draft of your application in your browser's local storage - on the device you're using, not on a shared server. That draft can include your name, email, city, gender, what you're looking for, the plan you were considering, and your compatibility answers. It stays on your device, is automatically discarded after 24 hours, and is cleared when you submit your application or start over. On a shared or public computer, sign out and clear your browser data to remove it sooner.

What happens when you submit. When you send your application, your answers are transmitted to our servers over an encrypted connection and become your internal matchmaking profile - used and retained as described in the rest of this policy. Until you submit, the draft lives only on your device.

3How We Use Your Information

We use your data for one primary purpose: to successfully match you and get you off our service. Specifically, we use it to:

• Evaluate your application and build your internal matchmaking profile.
• Assess compatibility between members based on your stated preferences, values, and answers (this is matchmaking judgment, not a clinical or psychological evaluation).
• Facilitate secure billing and manage your subscription pauses.
• Contact you regarding potential matches, date logistics, and post-date feedback.

4How We Share Your Information

We treat your life like it matters. Your details stay between us, with the following strict exceptions:

• With Your Match (the "Delayed Reveal"): we share your first name, basic biographical details, and our matchmaker's "why" note with a potential match. We never show your photo on a swipeable grid. Your vetted photo is only revealed to your match after both of you have explicitly consented to the date.
• With Essential Service Providers: we share necessary data with trusted third parties who build our infrastructure - including our secure database host, our payment processor (Stripe), and our background check provider. They are legally bound to protect your data and cannot use it for their own marketing.
• For Legal Compliance: we will disclose information if required by law, subpoena, or to protect the physical safety of our members, staff, or the public.

5Background Checks & FCRA Compliance

Because we prioritize the safety of our Youngstown community, everyone we actively match is background-checked. We use a third-party consumer reporting agency to run these checks.

If we must decline your application or pause your membership based on information found in a background check, we will comply fully with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). You will be provided with a pre-adverse action notice, a copy of the report, and a summary of your rights before any final decision is made.

6Security & Data Retention

We use industry-standard security measures - including encryption and secure servers - to protect your personal information from unauthorized access.

We retain your profile data while you are an active member or on a "Success Pause" so we can seamlessly manage your account.

If you cancel your membership permanently, we retain basic account records for legal and tax compliance, but we will delete your photos, behavioral profile, and match history upon your written request.

Security telemetry (see §1) is minimized on a schedule: raw IP addresses collected at signup are automatically deleted after 90 days, leaving only a one-way fingerprint used to detect repeat abuse. If you exercise your right to erasure, this data is deleted along with the rest of your account.

7Your Choices & Rights

You are in control of your data. You have the right to:

• Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correct or update any inaccurate information in your profile.
• Request the deletion of your account and sensitive personal data.
• Opt out of any non-essential communications.

8Contact Us

If you have questions about this policy, how we handle your photos, or what data we have on file, reach out to the team doing the choosing.

By applying, you agree to how we handle your information as described above. You can ask to see or delete your data at any time - just reach out.