Privacy Policy

Last updated: November 12, 2026

This policy explains what information Plot Box Tales ("we", "us") collects when you visit plotboxtales.com, and how it is used. We collect as little as possible.

Information we collect

  • Reading statistics. To count views and prevent double counting, we create a one-way hash from your IP address, browser user agent and the current date. The hash cannot be turned back into your IP address, and we do not store your IP address.
  • Reactions. When you react to a story, we store the reaction count and the same anonymous hash, so each visitor can react once per type. Your browser also remembers your reaction in local storage.
  • Comments. If you post a comment, we store the name you enter, your comment and the time it was posted. Comments are reviewed before they are published, and the name you choose is shown publicly.
  • Contact messages. If you use our contact form, we store your name, email address and message so we can reply. We do not use your email address for marketing.
  • Preferences. Your light/dark theme choice is saved in your browser's local storage and never sent to us.

Analytics

We use Umami, a privacy-focused analytics tool that does not use cookies and does not collect personal information. It tells us which stories are read, how far they are read, and where visitors come from (for example, links that include campaign tags such as utm_source).

Advertising and cookies

We show ads from third-party advertising partners, such as Ezoic and the ad networks they work with. These partners may use cookies, web beacons and similar technologies to show ads, limit how often you see them and measure their performance. They may use information about your visits to this and other websites to show ads that are relevant to you.

Where required by law (for example in the EU, UK and some US states), you will be asked for consent before non-essential advertising cookies are used, and you can change your choice at any time through the consent tool shown on the site. You can also control cookies in your browser settings, and opt out of personalized ads at aboutads.info or youronlinechoices.eu.

Hosting

This site is hosted on Cloudflare, which processes technical request data (such as IP addresses) to deliver and protect the site, under its own privacy policy.

How long we keep data

Anonymous view and reaction data is kept as long as the story is online. Comments are kept until deleted. Contact messages are deleted within 12 months of our last reply.

Your rights

You can ask us to access, correct or delete a comment or contact message you sent. Contact us and tell us what you posted and when, so we can find it.

Children

This site is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their personal information.

Changes

We may update this policy. The "last updated" date at the top shows when it last changed.