Privacy Policy

Information You Provide

When you create an account, submit a business listing, write a review, or contact us, we collect information you provide directly — such as your name, email address, business name, address, phone number, website, and any other details you choose to share.

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit Support Melanin, we may automatically collect certain information about your device and usage, including your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, and the date and time of your visit. This information helps us understand how our platform is used and improve the experience for everyone.

Location Information

With your permission, we may collect your approximate location to help you find Black-owned businesses near you. You can disable location access at any time through your browser or device settings.

We use the information we collect to:

• Operate, maintain, and improve the Support Melanin platform
• Create and manage your account
• Process and display business listings and reviews
• Send transactional emails such as account confirmations, listing approvals, and responses to your inquiries
• Respond to your comments, questions, and requests
• Monitor and analyze usage patterns to enhance user experience
• Detect, investigate, and prevent fraudulent or unauthorized activity
• Comply with legal obligations

Public Information

Business listings, reviews, and referrals you submit are displayed publicly on the platform. Please be mindful of the information you include in public-facing content.

Service Providers

We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our platform, processing payments, sending emails, and analyzing usage data. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and may only use it to perform services on our behalf.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid legal process, such as a subpoena, court order, or government request. We may also disclose information to protect the rights, property, or safety of Support Melanin, our users, or the public.

Business Transfers

If Support Melanin is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change and any choices you may have regarding your information.

We Do Not Sell Your Data

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on Support Melanin. Cookies are small data files stored on your device that help us remember your preferences, keep you logged in, and understand how you use our platform.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential cookies: Required for the platform to function properly, including authentication and session management.
• Analytics cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our site so we can improve it.
• Preference cookies: Remember your settings and preferences for a more personalized experience.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the platform.

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you with our services. If you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within a reasonable timeframe, unless we are required to retain it for legal or legitimate business purposes.

Business listings and reviews that have been made public may remain visible even after account deletion, as they form part of the community record. You may contact us to request removal of specific content.

We take the security of your information seriously and implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect it from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include encrypted data transmission (HTTPS), secure password hashing, and access controls.

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. If you believe your account has been compromised, please contact us immediately.

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

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction: Request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Deletion: Request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
• Portability: Request a machine-readable copy of your data.
• Opt-out: Opt out of certain data uses, such as marketing communications.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at the information provided in the "Contact Us" section below. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.

Support Melanin is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete that information promptly. If you believe we may have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites, including business websites listed in our directory. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify you by email or through a notice on our platform.

Your continued use of Support Melanin after any changes to this policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please reach out to us through our contact page. We are committed to addressing your concerns promptly and transparently.