Privacy Policy | Youngerstudios™

Privacy Policy for Youngerstudios

Last Updated: June 19, 2025 Effective Date: June 19, 2025

1. Introduction

Youngerstudios (“we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website (https://youngerstudios.com), make a purchase, subscribe to memberships, or otherwise interact with us.

This policy applies to all users, including those in South Africa, the European Union, and other international jurisdictions.

2. Data We Collect

2.1 Personal Data

Identity & Contact Information: name, email address, billing address, (optional) shipping address, phone number.
Account Credentials: username, password (securely hashed).
Payment Information: transaction details (amount, date, billing metadata). We use third-party gateways; we do not store full card details.

2.2 Technical & Usage Data

Device & Connection Data: IP address, browser type/version, device model, operating system.
Usage Data: pages visited, time spent, clicks, referral source, download activity.
Cookies & Tracking: cookies, web beacons, local storage.

3. How We Use Your Data

We process your information to:

Fulfill Orders & Subscriptions: process payments, deliver digital products or membership access, issue invoices.
Communicate: send transactional emails (order confirmations, download links), respond to support requests, notify of updates or promotions (with consent).
Improve & Analyze: understand user behavior, optimize site performance, measure marketing campaigns.
Protect & Secure: detect fraud, prevent abuse, enforce our Terms of Service.

4. Legal Bases for Processing (for EU/UK users)

Consent: processing marketing emails or non-essential cookies (you may withdraw at any time).
Contract Performance: processing order and membership data.
Legal Compliance: complying with VAT, tax, and e-commerce regulations.
Legitimate Interests: fraud prevention, site analytics, improving services.

5. Sharing & Disclosure

We may share your data with:

Service Providers: payment gateways (PayFast, PayPal, Stripe), email/email marketing (Mailchimp), analytics (Google Analytics), hosting (Hostinger).
Compliance & Legal Requirements: if required by law (courts, regulators) or to protect our rights.
Business Transfers: in case of merger, sale, or acquisition (with confidentiality commitments).

We never sell your personal data to unaffiliated third parties.

6. Cookies & Tracking

Our site uses cookies and similar technologies:

Essential Cookies: maintain shopping cart, user login, download protection.
Performance & Analytics: Google Analytics to track site usage (you can opt out via browser or https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout).
Marketing & Advertising: remarketing tags (e.g. Google Ads, Facebook Pixel). You may manage preferences in your browser settings or through individual ad network opt-out pages.

7. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures:

Encryption: SSL/TLS for data in transit.
Access Controls: strong passwords, two-factor authentication for admin.
Regular Audits & Backups: daily backups off-site; periodic vulnerability scans.

However, no system is entirely error-free. Notify us immediately of any suspected data breach.

8. Data Retention

Account & Transaction Data: retained for as long as needed to fulfill legal and accounting requirements (minimum 5 years for SARS VAT compliance).
Marketing & Consent Records: kept until you withdraw consent or 2 years after last interaction.
Cookies & Tracking Data: per duration set by each cookie (session or persistent up to 2 years).

9. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

Access & Portability: request a copy of your personal data in machine-readable form.
Rectification: correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): delete your data, subject to legal retention obligations.
Restriction or Objection: limit or object to processing (e.g. marketing).
Withdraw Consent: for non-essential processing (e.g. email marketing, non-critical cookies).

To exercise any rights, contact us at contact@youngerstudios.com. We will respond within 30 days.

10. Children’s Privacy

Our services are not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect Personal Data from children. If you believe we have, please contact us to have the data deleted.

11. International Transfers

Your data may be transferred to and stored in countries outside your own (e.g. hosting in multiple regions). We ensure transfers comply with POPIA, GDPR, or other applicable regulations, using standard contractual clauses or adequacy decisions where required.

12. Updates to This Policy

We may update this policy periodically. The Last Updated date at the top will reflect changes. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.