Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 29, 2025

Introduction

HWY Enigma LLC ("we," "our," or "us") operates the WhyBuddy mobile application. WhyBuddy is designed for parents and caregivers to get age-appropriate explanations for their children's questions. This app is intended for adult use only - parents use WhyBuddy to help explain complex concepts to their children in an understandable way.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect information when you use WhyBuddy. We are committed to your privacy and have designed our app with minimal data collection practices.

Information We Collect

WhyBuddy operates with a privacy-first approach and collects minimal information:

Temporary Session Data Only:

• Child's age (entered temporarily for each explanation request)
• Religious or cultural preferences (entered temporarily if specified)
• Search terms or questions you want explained

Subscription Information:

• Subscription status (processed through Apple's StoreKit)

We do NOT collect or store:

• Names or personal identifiers
• Search history or favorites
• App usage patterns or analytics
• Device information beyond what's necessary for app functionality
• Location data
• Any persistent user profiles or accounts

How We Use Your Information

The minimal information we process is used solely to provide WhyBuddy's core functionality:

• Generating age-appropriate explanations based on the age you specify
• Tailoring explanations to religious or cultural preferences (if provided)
• Processing subscription status through Apple's payment system
• Ensuring app functionality during your session

No Data Retention: Information entered during your session (ages, preferences, search terms) is not stored permanently and is discarded when you close the app or complete your search.

Information Sharing and Third-Party Services

WhyBuddy uses the following third-party services:

OpenAI API: Search terms are sent to OpenAI to generate age-appropriate explanations. No personal identifiers (names, ages, or other profile information) are shared with OpenAI - only the specific word or phrase being explained.

Apple StoreKit: Subscription transactions are processed through Apple's secure payment system. We do not have access to payment card information.

We do not:

• Share data with advertisers or data brokers
• Use third-party analytics services
• Display advertisements
• Track user behavior across apps or websites
• Sell or rent personal information to third parties

Data Storage and Security

WhyBuddy is designed with privacy by design principles:

No Persistent Storage: WhyBuddy does not store any user data permanently. All information entered during your session is temporary and discarded when the session ends.

No User Accounts: The app does not require account creation, login, or any form of user registration.

Session-Only Data: Any information you enter (such as age or preferences) exists only during your active use of the app and is not retained afterward.

Secure Communication: We implement appropriate security measures for communication with third-party services like OpenAI.

Children's Privacy

While WhyBuddy helps parents explain concepts to children, the app itself is designed for adult use:

• WhyBuddy is intended for parents and caregivers, not direct use by children
• We do not knowingly collect any personal information from children
• The app does not store any child-related information permanently
• Parents control all interactions with the app
• No direct communication features or social elements
• No behavioral tracking or profiling

Since this is a parent-focused tool with no data storage, traditional children's privacy concerns are minimized by design.

Your Rights and Choices

Since WhyBuddy does not store personal data, traditional data rights are simplified:

• No Data to Access: There is no stored personal data to view or access
• No Data to Delete: Since we don't store data, there's nothing to delete
• Session Control: You control what information you enter during each session
• Subscription Management: Manage your subscription through your Apple ID account settings
• App Removal: Simply deleting the app removes any temporary local cache

Your privacy is protected by design since we don't collect or store personal information in the first place.

Data Retention

WhyBuddy does not retain any user data. All information entered during app sessions is temporary and discarded when the session ends. We have no databases, user profiles, or persistent storage of personal information.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make significant changes, we will notify users through the app or by email. The "Last updated" date at the top of this policy indicates when the most recent changes were made.

International Users

WhyBuddy is available internationally. Regardless of your location, your data remains stored locally on your device. The only data transmitted externally are search terms to OpenAI for processing explanations.