The Kid Compass Privacy Policy -- Our Commitment to Your Privacy
This privacy policy was last updated on July 16, 2007.
By using the www.TheKidCompass.com Web Site, you agree to the terms of The Kid Compass Online Privacy Policy as outlined below.
General
Thank you for visiting TheKidCompass.com and reviewing our Privacy Policy. This site is owned and operated by The Kid Compass. Your privacy on the Internet is of the utmost importance to us. This privacy policy describes how we will treat any personal information that we receive about you when you visit TheKidCompass.com. We may make content or services from other websites available to you from links located on TheKidCompass.com. These other websites are not subject to this Privacy Policy. We recommend that you review the privacy policy at each such website to determine how that site protects your privacy.
At The Kid Compass, we want to make your experience online satisfying and safe. Because we gather certain types of information about our users, we feel you should fully understand our policy and the terms and conditions surrounding the capture and use of that information. This privacy statement discloses what information we gather and how we use it. In an effort to demonstrate our strong commitment to online privacy, we invite you to contact us if you have any questions about our privacy policy.
Children
Consistent with the Federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA), we will never knowingly request personally identifiable information from anyone under the age of 13 without requesting parental consent.
Information The Kid Compass Gathers and Tracks
The Kid Compass gathers two types of information about users:
- Information that users provide through optional, voluntary submissions. These include voluntary submissions to receive our electronic newsletters, to email a friend, and from participation in reviews. When you register to enter a business or event, we also collect basic information including name, email address, city, state and zip code. We do not knowingly collect information about youth under the age of 13.
- Information The Kid Compass gathers through aggregated tracking information derived mainly by tallying page views throughout our sites. This information allows us to better tailor our content to readers' needs and to help our advertisers and sponsors better understand the demographics of our audience. Because The Kid Compass derives its revenue mainly from sponsorships and advertising, providing such aggregated demographic data is essential to keeping our service free to users. Under no circumstances does The Kid Compass divulge any information about an individual user to a third party.
The Kid Compass Gathers User Information In The Following Processes:
- Electronic newsletters policy (Dispatches)
We will offer a free electronic newsletter to users. The Kid Compass gathers the email addresses of users who voluntarily subscribe. Users may remove themselves from this mailing list by following the link provided in every newsletter that points users to the subscription management page. Users can also subscribe to the newsletters at the time of registration. - Tell a Friend
If you choose to use our referral service to tell a friend about our site or share our communications, such as an e-newsletter, we will ask you for your friend's name and e-mail address. We will automatically forward the content to your friend in a one-time e-mail. The Kid Compass maintains statistical data tracking the success of our referral program, but we do not store your tell-a-friend information after sending the one-time e-mail. We will store information provided by your friend should s/he choose to receive information from us. - Ratings and Reviews
We offer users the opportunity to rate and review a business. The Kid Compass may use a system to "tag" users after they have voted, so they can vote only once on a particular business. This tag is not correlated with information about individual users. - Surveys
The Kid Compass may occasionally conduct user surveys to better target our content to our audience. We sometimes share the aggregated demographic information in these surveys with our sponsors, advertisers and partners. We never share any of this information about specific individuals with any third party.
Usage tracking
The Kid Compass tracks user traffic patterns throughout our site. However, we do not correlate this information with data about individual users. The Kid Compass does break down overall usage statistics according to a user's domain name, browser type, and MIME type by reading this information from the browser string (information contained in every user's browser).
The Kid Compass sometimes tracks and catalogs the search terms that users enter in our Search function, but this tracking is never associated with individual users. We use tracking information to determine which areas of our site users like and don't like based on traffic to those areas. We do not track what individual users read, but rather how well each page performs overall. This helps us continue to build a better service for you.
Cookies
When you visit TheKidCompass.com Web site, you can surf the site without revealing your identity. In order to improve our site and our service, we use "cookies" to track your visit. A cookie is a small string of data that is transferred to your browser from a Web site and can only be read by the Web site that gave it to you. If you have identified yourself to the Web site, the cookie acts as an identification card, recording your passwords and preferences, and possibly your license status. But the only personal information a cookie can contain is information you supply yourself. A cookie can't read data off your hard disk or read cookie files created by other sites. The Kid Compass uses cookies to track user traffic patterns (as described above). Our advertising system delivers a one-time cookie to better track ad impressions and click rates. The cookie cannot be executed as software code or used to deliver viruses.
Most browsers are initially set to accept cookies. You can set your browser to refuse cookies or to notify you when you receive a cookie, giving you the option to accept it or not. The Kid Compass' Web-based offerings include a few Web pages that are inaccessible without a cookie. These pages are associated with an automated log-in feature that allows you to access your account information while bypassing the need to provide your identity and password each time. You are not required to use the automated log-in feature. Choosing not to use it will not affect your ability to use any other part of our Web-based offerings or to use The Kid Compass' general services. In the event that The Kid Compass' decides to create other Web-based offerings that are inaccessible without a cookie (which The Kid Compass' reserves the right to do), you will be given the option to accept the cookie necessary for such access.
As with most Web sites, The Kid Compass also gathers certain information automatically and stores it in log files. This information includes Internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, Internet service provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, operating system, a date/time stamp and clickstream data. We use this information, which does not include personally identifiable information, to analyze trends, administer the site track users' movements around the site and gather demographic information about our user base as a whole.
When you accept our cookies, we use them to track your visit to any The Kid Compass' Web offering. In addition, we use log files and clear gifs to help manage our Web site and other electronic communications. However, none of this information, other than the automated log-in feature, identifies you personally or is tied to any of your personally identifiable information. You remain anonymous unless you have otherwise provided The Kid Compass with personal information.
Use of Information
The Kid Compass uses information voluntarily given by our users to enhance their experience in our site, whether to provide interactive or personalized elements on the site or to better prepare future content based on the interests of our users.
Use of Registration Information
As stated above, we use information that users voluntarily provide in order to send out electronic newsletters and to enable users to submit information on businesses. We send out newsletters to subscribers on a regular schedule (depending on the newsletter), and occasionally send out special editions when we think subscribers might be particularly interested in something we are doing. The Kid Compass never shares newsletter mailing lists with any third parties, including advertisers, sponsors or partners.
Website Usage and Demographic Information
When we use tracking information to determine which areas of our sites users like and don't like based on traffic to those areas. We do not track what individual users read, but rather how well each page performs overall. This helps us continue to build a better service for you. We track search terms entered in Search function as one of many measures of what interests our users. But we don't track which terms a particular user enters.
The Kid Compass creates aggregate reports on user demographics and traffic patterns for advertisers, sponsors and partners. This allows our advertisers to advertise more effectively, and allows our users to receive advertisements that are pertinent to their needs. Because we don't track the usage patterns of individual users, an advertiser or sponsor will never know that a specific user clicked their ad. We will not disclose any information about any individual user except to comply with applicable law or valid legal process or to protect the personal safety of our users or the public.
Security
The security of your personal information is important to us. Your password is encrypted and kept in a password protected database. The Kid Compass adheres to generally accepted industry standards to protect this information, both during transmission and once we receive it. These standards include the use of leading hardware and software applications. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. Therefore, while we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your applicable information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
The Kid Compass operates secure data networks protected by industry standard firewall and password protection systems. Our security and privacy policies are periodically reviewed and enhanced as necessary and only authorized individuals have access to the information provided by our users.
If you have any questions about security on our Web site, you can contact us using our contact form.
Opt-Out Policy
The Kid Compass follows industry standard safe unsubscribe practices. You have the right to opt out of receiving marketing communications and newsletters from The Kid Compass by following the "unsubscribe" instructions that come with each message from us. In addition, you may opt out of receiving such communications by submitting a request through our contact form or writing to us at:
The Kid Compass
PO Box 82864
Kenmore, WA 98028
Alternatively you may also phone us at 206-388-5133 to opt out.
And finally, you may opt to not participate in certain interactive areas which will completely alleviate the need to gather any personally identifiable information.
Correct/Update Personal Information
You have the right to correct your personal information. This must be accomplished in writing either by submitting a request through our contact form or by writing to The Kid Compass at:
The Kid Compass
PO Box 82864
Kenmore, WA 98028
When you contact us please include your name, address and/or e-mail address, business account number (if known) and a detailed explanation of your request.
Policy Modifications
We may occasionally change this Privacy Policy. We will post any changes that we make here and they will supersede this version of our Policy. Please do not hesitate to check back periodically for updates to ensure that it still meets with your approval.
Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Web Site and it's members, managers, officers, employees, agents and the assigns of same, from and against any and all loss, costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) claims, damages and liabilities related to or associated with your use of the Web Site and any violation of this Privacy Policy by you.
Governing Law and Jurisdiction
This Privacy Policy constitutes a contract made under and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington.
Disclaimer
This site contains links to other sites. The Kid Compass is not responsible for the content or privacy practices of these sites.
Your Consent
By accessing this web site or using any service provided herein, you affirm that you have read this entire agreement and you consent to the collection and use of this information by The Kid Compass. If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post those changes on this page so that you are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances we disclose it.
Comments/Questions/Contact Us:
If you have any questions, concerns, comments or suggestions about our Privacy Policy, you may contact us using our contact form or write to us at the address below:
The Kid Compass
PO Box 82864
Kenmore, WA 98028
Last Update
This Privacy Policy was last updated on July 16, 2007.