Privacy Policy

Learn how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

Last Updated: April 23, 2026

What this means in plain English

  • We only collect information needed to run HelperWebs — name, email, city, age, and optional profile details.
  • We do not sell your data. Ever.
  • We use encryption and industry-standard security to protect your information.
  • Minors (under 18) need parental consent. We do not allow anyone under 15.
  • You can request to see, edit, or delete your data at any time.
  • Payment info is handled by PayPal/Stripe — we never store full credit card numbers.
  • Messages stay on our platform. We do not share message content with anyone.

1. Introduction

HelperWebs ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and security of all users, particularly teens and young adults who form the core of our community. This Privacy Policy ("Policy") explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you access or use our website, mobile application, or any other services we provide (collectively, the "Platform").

By accessing or using the Platform, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Policy. This Policy may change from time to time; any changes we make will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. We recommend checking this Policy periodically for updates.

2. The Short Version

Information We Collect: We collect information you provide directly (name, email, city, age), information we collect automatically (device information, usage data), and information from third parties (only when necessary for safety and verification).

Our Legal Basis for Using Your Personal Information: We process your personal information based on your consent, to fulfill our contractual obligations, to comply with legal requirements, and to pursue our legitimate interests in providing a safe platform.

How Do We Use The Information Collected? We use your information to operate the Platform, verify your identity, facilitate connections between users, ensure safety, process payments, and improve our services.

How Long Do We Keep Personal Information? We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations.

Children: We are designed for teens (15+), with special protections for minors under 18. Minors must have parental consent and supervision. We do not collect information from children under 15.

Sharing Personal Information with Third Parties: We share information only as necessary to operate the Platform, with payment processors for transactions, and with law enforcement when required by law. We never sell your personal information.

Where We Process Your Personal Information: Some information may be processed in the United States. We implement appropriate safeguards to protect your data.

Security: We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information.

Your Rights: You have rights regarding your personal information, including the right to access, correct, and delete your data (subject to certain limitations).

3. Information We Collect

3.1 Information You Provide

When you register, use the Platform, complete forms, or interact with other users, we collect the following information:

  • Basic account information: Full name, email address, username
  • Location information: City of residence (required for our hyperlocal service)
  • Demographic information: Age verification (15+), user type (helper or provider)
  • Profile information: Bio, pronouns, profile picture
  • Contact information: Street address, city, state, ZIP code (for job matching)
  • Payment information: Payment details when using our in-app payment system
  • Communication content: Messages exchanged through our secure messaging system
  • Job-related information: Job descriptions, applications, status updates

3.2 Information We Collect Automatically

We automatically collect information when you access, browse, or use the Platform:

  • Device information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device model
  • Usage data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, interactions with features
  • Location data: City-level location for job matching (we do not collect precise GPS coordinates)
  • Technical information: Session duration, language settings, cookie data

3.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive limited information from third parties in specific circumstances:

  • Verification services: For identity verification (only when necessary)
  • Payment processors: For processing transactions through our payment system
  • Safety partners: For fraud prevention and risk assessment

4. Our Legal Basis for Using Your Personal Information

Where required by applicable laws, we process your personal information based on the following legal grounds:

  • Your consent: For specific uses like marketing communications
  • Contractual necessity: To provide you with Platform services
  • Legal compliance: To comply with laws and regulations
  • Legitimate interests: To operate the Platform safely and effectively

For minors, we process information only with appropriate parental consent and in strict compliance with COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act).

5. How Do We Use The Information Collected?

5.1 Platform Operation and Service Provision

  • To create and maintain your account
  • To verify your identity and age
  • To match you with appropriate job opportunities
  • To facilitate communication between users through our secure messaging system
  • To process payments through our integrated payment system
  • To provide customer support and resolve issues

5.2 Safety and Security

  • To verify user identities and prevent fraud
  • To monitor for inappropriate content or behavior
  • To enforce our Terms of Service
  • To ensure compliance with child labor laws
  • To prevent unsafe connections between users

5.3 Service Improvement

  • To analyze usage patterns and improve the Platform
  • To personalize your experience
  • To develop new features and services
  • To send important notifications about your account

5.4 Payment Processing

  • To process transactions through our integrated payment system
  • To calculate and deduct our 11% service fee
  • To handle payment disputes and refunds
  • To comply with financial regulations

6. How Long Do We Keep Personal Information?

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to:

  • Provide our services to you
  • Comply with legal and regulatory obligations
  • Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements
  • Prevent fraud and security risks

Specific retention periods:

  • Account information: For as long as your account is active plus 2 years
  • Transaction records: For 7 years to comply with financial regulations
  • Communication history: For 12 months after the last communication
  • Verification documents: For 1 year after account closure

We may retain anonymized data for statistical analysis and service improvement.

7. Children's Privacy

HelperWebs is designed specifically for teens and young adults. We take special care to protect minors' privacy.

7.1 Age Requirements

  • Users must be at least 15 years old to use the Platform
  • Minors under 18 must:
    • Register using a parent or guardian's email address
    • Have explicit parental consent and supervision
    • Comply with all applicable California child labor laws

7.2 Parental Consent

  • For users aged 15-17, we require parental consent during registration
  • Parents/guardians receive email verification to confirm consent
  • Parents can manage their child's account through our parental controls

7.3 Data Collection for Minors

  • We collect only the minimum information necessary
  • We do not collect sensitive information from minors
  • All data collection for minors is done with parental consent
  • We implement additional security measures for minors' data

7.4 Safety Measures

  • We never display email addresses or phone numbers publicly
  • All communication happens through our secure messaging system
  • We enforce age-appropriate job restrictions
  • We provide safety resources for minor users

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 15. If we discover we have collected information from a child under 15, we will delete it immediately.

8. Sharing Personal Information with Third Parties

We share your personal information only as necessary and with appropriate safeguards:

8.1 Service Providers

We share information with:

  • Payment processors (PayPal, Stripe) to process transactions
  • Hosting providers to operate the Platform
  • Security services to prevent fraud and protect data
  • Analytics providers to improve our services

All service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information.

8.2 Legal Requirements

We may share information when required by law:

  • In response to valid legal requests
  • To prevent fraud or illegal activity
  • To protect our rights and safety

8.3 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the new owner. We will notify you of such changes.

8.4 What We Don't Do

  • We never sell your personal information
  • We never share your email or phone number with other users
  • We never share your information for marketing purposes without consent

9. Where We Process Your Personal Information

Some of your personal information may be processed in the United States. We implement appropriate safeguards to protect your data, including:

  • Encryption of data in transit and at rest
  • Strict access controls
  • Regular security audits
  • Compliance with international data transfer requirements

We do not transfer data to countries without adequate data protection standards.

10. Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

  • Improve your experience
  • Analyze usage patterns
  • Provide personalized content
  • Ensure security

You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings.

11. Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information:

  • SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmission
  • Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
  • Access controls and authentication measures
  • Secure storage of payment information (PCI DSS compliant)
  • Employee training on data security

While we strive to protect your information, no electronic transmission over the internet is 100% secure. You should take steps to protect your account, including using a strong password and not sharing it with others.

12. Your Rights Regarding Personal Information

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:

12.1 General Rights

  • Access: Request a copy of the information we hold about you
  • Correction: Request correction of inaccurate information
  • Deletion: Request deletion of your information (subject to limitations)
  • Restriction: Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances
  • Portability: Request a copy of your information in a structured format

12.2 How to Exercise Your Rights

  • Contact us through our support system
  • Verify your identity before we process your request
  • We will respond to requests within 30 days

12.3 Limitations

Some requests may be limited by:

  • Legal requirements
  • Security considerations
  • The need to maintain records for legitimate purposes

13. In-App Payment System

Our integrated payment system processes transactions through third-party providers:

13.1 Payment Processing

  • We partner with PayPal and Stripe for payment processing
  • Your payment information is encrypted and securely handled
  • We never store full credit card numbers

13.2 Service Fee

  • We charge an 11% service fee on all transactions processed through our payment system
  • This fee covers payment processing costs, platform maintenance, and customer support
  • The fee is deducted before payment reaches the service provider

13.3 Payment Security

  • All payment processing is PCI DSS compliant
  • We never share your payment information with other users
  • We maintain strict security protocols for payment data

14. Communication System

Our secure messaging system is designed to protect user privacy:

14.1 Message Handling

  • All messages are encrypted in transit and at rest
  • Messages are only visible to the participants in the conversation
  • We do not monitor message content except for safety purposes

14.2 Unread Message Indicators

  • We use unread message indicators to notify you of new messages
  • These indicators are reset when you view the messages
  • We do not share message content with third parties

15. Dispute Resolution

15.1 Dispute Window

  • All payment disputes must be submitted through the Platform's dispute resolution system
  • Disputes must be filed within 7 days of transaction completion
  • We will review disputes and make a determination based on available evidence
  • The Platform's decision is final

15.2 Dispute Process

  • Disputes must be supported by relevant documentation
  • HelperWebs reserves the right to hold funds in dispute until resolution
  • Refunds are at the discretion of HelperWebs and may require verification

16. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. We recommend checking this Policy periodically for updates.

17. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us:

HelperWebs
Attn: Privacy Team
Email: privacy@helperwebs.com

For California residents, you may also submit requests through our Contact page.