Cookie Policy | Community Connect

1. What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work correctly, remember your preferences, and provide information to site operators. Cookies may also refer to similar technologies such as local storage, session storage, and pixels, which we use in the same ways described in this policy.

2. How We Use Cookies

Community Connect uses cookies and similar technologies to:

Keep you signed in and maintain your session securely across page loads.
Remember your preferences such as language, theme, and notification settings.
Analyze how users interact with the platform so we can improve performance and usability.
Deliver personalized content such as event recommendations and community suggestions.
Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security threats.
Measure the effectiveness of our communications and marketing campaigns.

3. Types of Cookies We Use

Essential Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary for the platform to function. They enable core features such as authentication, session management, and security. Without these cookies, the platform cannot operate correctly. They cannot be disabled.

Examples: authentication tokens, CSRF protection, session identifiers.

Functional Cookies

These cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalization. They remember your choices and settings so you don't have to re-enter them on each visit. Disabling these cookies may affect some platform features.

Examples: language preferences, notification settings, last visited community.

Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors use the platform — which pages are visited most, how long users spend on each page, and where users drop off. This information is used in aggregate to improve the platform experience. We do not use analytics cookies to identify you personally.

Examples: page view tracking, session duration, feature usage analytics.

Marketing & Advertising Cookies

These cookies may be set by us or our third-party partners to track your activity across websites and deliver relevant advertisements. We use these only where you have consented. You can withdraw consent at any time using the controls described in Section 5.

Examples: conversion tracking pixels, retargeting cookies.

4. Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies on our platform are set by third-party services we use to operate Community Connect. These third parties have their own privacy and cookie policies, which we encourage you to review:

Clerk — authentication and user session management.
Stripe — payment processing. Stripe may set cookies to prevent fraud and remember payment preferences.
Pusher — real-time messaging and presence features. Connection state may be maintained via local storage.
Analytics providers — we may use tools such as Vercel Analytics or similar services to understand platform usage. These tools may set cookies or use pixel tracking.

Community Connect does not control third-party cookies and is not responsible for the privacy practices of these providers.

5. Managing & Disabling Cookies

You have several options for controlling cookies:

Browser settings: Most browsers allow you to view, block, or delete cookies through their settings. Links to cookie management instructions for common browsers:Chrome Firefox Safari Edge
Opt-out tools: You can opt out of interest-based advertising through the Network Advertising Initiative or the Digital Advertising Alliance.
Do Not Track: Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" signal. Community Connect currently does not alter its data collection practices in response to Do Not Track signals, but we will update this policy if our practices change.

Please note that disabling essential cookies will prevent you from signing in and using core platform features including messaging and event registration.

6. Cookie Retention

Cookies are retained for varying periods depending on their purpose:

Session cookies are temporary and deleted when you close your browser.
Persistent cookies remain on your device for a set period (typically 30 days to 1 year) or until you manually delete them.
Authentication tokens are retained for the duration of your active session and expire upon sign-out or after a period of inactivity.

7. EU/EEA Users & GDPR

If you are located in the European Union or European Economic Area, you have additional rights regarding cookies under the GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive. We rely on your consent for non-essential cookies (analytics, marketing) and on our legitimate interests for essential and functional cookies. You may withdraw consent for non-essential cookies at any time by adjusting your browser settings or contacting us at info@cconnect.vip.

8. Policy Changes

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time as our practices change or new technologies emerge. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. Material changes will be communicated via email or a notice on the platform.

9. Contact Us

For questions about our use of cookies or to exercise your rights, contact us at: info@cconnect.vip