The short version: FamilyLoom is a guided family storytelling app. Your audio recordings and personal stories stay on your device — we never upload, access, or store them on our servers. The only data that leaves your device is anonymous usage analytics so we can improve the app. We do not sell your data, we do not show ads, and we do not track you across other apps or websites.
1. Who We Are
FamilyLoom ("we," "us," or "our") is operated by Dharan Chandrahasan, based in Berkeley, California. FamilyLoom provides a mobile application that guides families through recorded storytelling conversations. This Privacy Policy applies to the FamilyLoom iOS application and the website at familyloom.tech (together, the "Service").
If you have any questions about this policy or your data, contact us at: dharan@familyloom.tech
2. What Data We Collect
We collect the minimum data necessary to provide and improve FamilyLoom. Here is a complete accounting of what we collect, how it is stored, and why:
2a. Data Stored On Your Device Only
The following data is created during your use of FamilyLoom and never leaves your device. We cannot access, view, or retrieve this data.
| Data Type | What It Includes | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Audio recordings | Voice recordings of your storytelling sessions, stored as .m4a files on your device | Core feature — preserving family stories |
| Session data | Which theme and questions were selected, session timestamps, session status | Organizing your recorded sessions within the app |
| Names | Facilitator first name and storyteller name, entered during onboarding | Personalizing the guided conversation experience |
| Email (optional) | Facilitator and storyteller email addresses, if provided | Future storyteller invitation features. Stored locally only; redacted before any data is sent to analytics. |
You may export recordings from your device at any time using the standard iOS share sheet. You may delete all app data at any time by deleting the FamilyLoom app from your device.
2b. Data Sent to Our Analytics Service
To understand how people use FamilyLoom and improve the experience, we send anonymous usage events to PostHog, a third-party analytics service. This is the only data that leaves your device.
| Data Type | What It Includes | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Usage events | Actions you take in the app: session starts, completions, theme selections, navigation events, playback actions | Understanding which features are used and where people encounter friction |
| Pseudonymous identifiers | A randomly generated user ID and storyteller ID, created on your device. These IDs are not derived from your name, email, or any personal information. | Correlating usage events within a single user's sessions (e.g., understanding session completion rates) |
Email addresses are scrubbed (redacted) from all analytics data before transmission. Audio recordings, names, and session content are never sent to analytics.
2c. Data We Do NOT Collect
FamilyLoom does not collect: location data, health or fitness data, financial information, contacts, photos or videos, browsing history, search history, advertising identifiers (IDFA), device identifiers used for tracking, or any data from other apps on your device.
3. Third-Party Services
FamilyLoom uses one third-party service:
| Service | Purpose | Data Received | Privacy Policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| PostHog | Product analytics | Pseudonymous usage events only (no names, emails, or audio) | posthog.com/privacy |
PostHog is contractually obligated to protect the data it processes on our behalf and may not use it for its own purposes. PostHog provides the same or greater level of data protection as described in this policy.
FamilyLoom does not use any advertising SDKs, social media SDKs, crash reporting services, or data brokers. We do not sell, rent, or share your personal data with any third party for marketing or advertising purposes.
4. Tracking and Advertising
FamilyLoom does not track you. Specifically:
We do not collect or use Apple's advertising identifier (IDFA).
We do not use the App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework because we do not engage in any tracking as defined by Apple.
We do not link your data with data from other companies' apps, websites, or offline properties.
We do not display advertisements of any kind.
5. Audio Recording and Consent
FamilyLoom's core feature is recording guided storytelling conversations. These recordings are created using your device's microphone with your explicit permission (granted through iOS's standard microphone permission prompt).
Important: Storytelling sessions typically involve a facilitator (the person using the app) and a storyteller (often a family member or elder). Both participants should be aware that the session is being recorded. The facilitator is responsible for ensuring that all participants consent to being recorded before beginning a session.
In some jurisdictions, including California, recording a conversation requires the consent of all parties. FamilyLoom provides an in-app reminder before recording begins, but the facilitator is responsible for obtaining verbal or written consent from all session participants.
All audio recordings remain on your device. FamilyLoom does not upload, process, transcribe, or access your recordings in any way.
6. Device Permissions
| Permission | Why We Need It | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Microphone | To record storytelling sessions. If you deny this permission, you can still use FamilyLoom in "guide-only" mode (questions without recording). | Required for recording; optional for guide-only use |
| Background Audio | To prevent your recording from being interrupted if the app is briefly backgrounded during a session. | Automatic (no user prompt) |
FamilyLoom does not request access to your camera, location, contacts, calendars, photos, Bluetooth, health data, or any other device capability.
7. Data Storage and Security
All personal data (recordings, names, session data) is stored locally on your device in the app's sandboxed storage directory. This data is protected by iOS's built-in Data Protection, which encrypts data at rest when your device is locked.
Session data integrity is verified using SHA-256 checksums.
FamilyLoom does not operate any cloud servers for user data storage. There is no account system, no login, and no cloud backup at this time. Your data exists only on your device.
8. Data Retention and Deletion
On-device data: Your recordings, names, and session data persist on your device until you choose to delete them. You can delete individual sessions within the app or delete all data by uninstalling FamilyLoom.
Analytics data: Pseudonymous usage events sent to PostHog are retained for up to 12 months, after which they are automatically deleted. Because these events use randomly generated IDs (not tied to your name, email, or Apple ID), they cannot be traced back to you as an individual.
If you wish to request deletion of analytics data associated with your pseudonymous identifier, contact us at dharan@familyloom.tech and we will process your request within 30 days.
9. Children's Privacy
FamilyLoom is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. Storytelling sessions may include stories about or involving children, but the app is intended to be operated by an adult facilitator. If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal information through the app, please contact us and we will take steps to delete that information.
10. Your Rights
All Users
Regardless of where you live, you have the right to:
Access your data — all personal data is stored on your device and is directly accessible to you at all times.
Delete your data — delete individual sessions in the app, or delete all data by uninstalling FamilyLoom.
Export your data — use the iOS share sheet to export recordings to any destination you choose.
Opt out of analytics — contact us at dharan@familyloom.tech and we will disable analytics data collection for your installation.
California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)
If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), including:
Right to Know: You may request that we disclose what personal information we have collected about you. Because FamilyLoom stores personal data on your device (not our servers), we do not hold personal data about you beyond pseudonymous analytics events.
Right to Delete: You may request deletion of any personal information we hold. For analytics data, contact us at dharan@familyloom.tech.
Right to Opt Out of Sale/Sharing: We do not sell or share your personal information with third parties for advertising or marketing purposes.
Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights.
To exercise any of these rights, email dharan@familyloom.tech. We will respond within 45 days.
European Economic Area, United Kingdom, and Other Jurisdictions
If you are located in the EEA, UK, or another jurisdiction with applicable data protection laws, you may have additional rights including the right to access, rectification, erasure, data portability, restriction of processing, and the right to object. To exercise these rights, contact us at dharan@familyloom.tech.
Our legal basis for processing pseudonymous analytics data is our legitimate interest in understanding how the app is used and improving the user experience. You have the right to object to this processing at any time.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes to how we handle your data, we will notify you by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy and, where feasible, through an in-app notification. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
We will never retroactively change this policy to permit us to use data already collected for purposes not disclosed at the time of collection without obtaining your explicit consent.
12. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, contact us at:
FamilyLoom
Email: dharan@familyloom.tech
Website: familyloom.tech