Effective Date: March 10, 2026
Studdy Buddy ("the App", "we", "us", "our") is an educational mobile application designed to help students study more effectively through study tracking, social features, and AI-powered coaching.
This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect, how we use it, how we protect it, and your rights regarding your data. By using the App, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy.
This policy complies with the Turkish Personal Data Protection Law (KVKK — Kişisel Verilerin Korunması Kanunu, Law No. 6698), the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the requirements of Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
| Data Type | Details | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Phone number | Used for account registration and OTP verification via SMS | Yes |
| Name | Your first name, displayed to other users | Yes |
| Date of birth | Used to determine age group for child-safety features | Yes |
| Gender | Optional profile information | No |
| Bio | A short text description of yourself | No |
| Profile pictures | Photos you upload for your profile | No |
| Exams & hobbies | Exams you are preparing for and your hobbies, used for matching | Yes |
| Data Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Study sessions | Start/end times, duration, and subjects studied (Pomodoro sessions) |
| Topic progress | Self-reported progress on exam topics and subtopics |
| Question attempts | Your answers and scores on practice questions |
| Chat messages | Text messages sent to matched study buddies |
| Voice recordings | Audio messages sent in chat conversations |
| AI coaching data | Insights generated by AI based on your study patterns |
| Study streaks | Consecutive days of study activity |
| Data Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | GPS coordinates, city, and district — used to find nearby study buddies. Collected only with your explicit permission. |
| Device token | Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) token for push notifications |
| Language preference | Your preferred app language (Turkish or English) |
| Purpose | Data Used | Legal Basis (KVKK/GDPR) |
|---|---|---|
| Account creation & authentication | Phone number, OTP codes | Contract performance |
| Study buddy matching | Location, exams, hobbies, age group | Consent |
| Study tracking | Study sessions, topic progress, question attempts | Contract performance |
| AI coaching & insights | Study patterns, topic progress, question scores | Consent |
| Messaging | Chat messages, voice recordings | Contract performance |
| Push notifications | FCM device token | Consent |
| Child safety | Date of birth (to determine minor status) | Legal obligation / Legitimate interest |
| Content moderation & safety | Chat messages, user reports | Legitimate interest |
We do not sell your personal data. We share data only with the following service providers, strictly for the purposes described:
| Service Provider | Purpose | Data Shared |
|---|---|---|
| Twilio | SMS OTP verification | Phone number |
| Anthropic (Claude AI) | AI coaching insights generation | Anonymized study patterns and progress data |
| Google (Gemini AI) | AI coaching insights generation | Anonymized study patterns and progress data |
| Firebase (Google) | Push notifications | FCM device token |
| Hetzner Online GmbH | Server hosting | All data (stored on their infrastructure) |
We may also disclose your data if required by law, court order, or government regulation.
Studdy Buddy is an educational app and may be used by students of all ages, including minors.
If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided personal data without your consent, please contact us at the address below and we will promptly delete the data.
Under the Turkish KVKK (Article 11) and GDPR, you have the following rights:
| Right | Description |
|---|---|
| Access | Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you |
| Rectification | Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data |
| Erasure | Request deletion of your account and all associated data |
| Restriction | Request limitation of processing of your data |
| Data portability | Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format |
| Objection | Object to processing based on legitimate interest |
| Withdraw consent | Withdraw consent at any time for consent-based processing |
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at team@studdybuddy.co. We will respond within 30 days as required by KVKK and GDPR.
| Data Type | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Account data (phone, name, profile) | Until account deletion |
| Study data (sessions, progress, scores) | Until account deletion |
| Chat messages | Until account deletion |
| Voice recordings & chat media | 3 days after sending (auto-deleted) |
| AI coaching insights | Until account deletion |
| Location data | Overwritten each time you update your location |
When you delete your account, all your personal data is permanently deleted within 30 days. Anonymized, aggregated statistical data may be retained.
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make significant changes, we will notify you through the App or via SMS. The "Effective Date" at the top of this page will be updated accordingly.
Continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data rights:
For KVKK-related inquiries, you may also contact the Personal Data Protection Authority (Kişisel Verileri Koruma Kurumu) at kvkk.gov.tr.