Privacy Policy

The Second Life ("we," "us") is a family-run website and YouTube channel operated from California, USA. This policy explains what information we collect through thesecondlife.org, what we do with it, and the choices you have. The short version: we collect very little, we don't run ads or trackers, and we never sell your information.

1. What we collect

We collect information in only two situations, and both are ones you choose:

• Newsletter signup. If you subscribe, we collect your email address.
• Contact form. If you send us a message, we collect your name, email address, subject, and the message you write.

Like nearly every website, our hosting provider also keeps standard server logs, which include visitor IP addresses. We don't use these logs to identify anyone; they exist for security and reliability.

2. What we don't collect

• No analytics or tracking scripts run on this site.
• No advertising networks or ad cookies.
• No accounts, no passwords, no payment information.
• Your light/dark theme preference is saved in your own browser's storage and never leaves your device.

3. How we use your information

• Newsletter emails: to send you the updates you signed up for. Nothing else.
• Contact messages: to read and reply to you.

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for their marketing purposes. Ever.

4. Where your information lives

A small number of service providers process data on our behalf:

• Netlify hosts this website and stores form submissions (newsletter signups and contact messages) on our behalf.
• Google Workspace handles our email, so messages you send us are processed and stored by Google's mail service.

These providers store data on servers in the United States and are bound by their own privacy commitments.

5. Embedded videos

Our posts embed videos from YouTube using YouTube's privacy-enhanced mode, which does not set tracking cookies until you actually play a video. If you do play one, Google/YouTube may collect viewing data under Google's privacy policy.

6. Affiliate links

Some links on this site are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking. The retailer may know you arrived from our site, but no personal information about you passes from us to them. See our Affiliate Disclosure for details.

7. How long we keep things

• Newsletter emails: until you unsubscribe or ask us to delete your address.
• Contact messages: as long as needed to handle the conversation, then periodically cleared.

8. Your choices and rights

You can ask us at any time to see, correct, or delete the personal information we hold about you (in practice: your newsletter subscription and any messages you've sent). Email casey@thesecondlife.org and we'll take care of it — no forms, no hoops. Depending on where you live (including California and the EU), these choices may also be guaranteed to you by law; we honor them for everyone regardless.

9. Children's privacy

This site is a general-audience website and is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has submitted information to us, contact us and we'll delete it.

10. Changes to this policy

If we add a service that changes what's collected (for example, a newsletter platform or analytics), we'll update this policy and change the date at the top before the change takes effect.

11. Contact

Questions about this policy or your data: casey@thesecondlife.org