Privacy Policy
Last updated: October 13, 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how Showbuff (“Showbuff,” “we,” “us”) collects, uses, and shares information when you use the Showbuff mobile application (the “App”). By using the App, you agree to this policy.
Information we collect
- Account information. When you create an account, we collect your email address. If you use Sign in with Apple, we receive the email (or Apple-relay email) you choose to share. We also store a username, which by default is derived from your email.
- Content you create. The titles you add, their status (watching, want to watch, watched), your ratings, favorites, lists, reminders, the streaming services you choose, and any notes you write. A note you write on a title is visible to your friends unless you mark that title private.
- Photos. Only when you choose one: a photo you add to a note is stored with your account and is visible to the friends who can see that note. A profile photo you pick stays on your device and is not uploaded. The App does not read your photo library otherwise.
- Messages. The direct and group messages you send to friends in the App, including the titles and lists you share in them and your reactions.
- Social connections. Friend requests and accepted friendships you create within the App, and the friends you tag.
- Reports and blocks. If you report a profile or a message, we keep the report: what was reported, the reason, and any details you add. If you block someone, we keep the block so it can be enforced.
- Technical data. Basic, standard information needed to operate and secure the service, such as authentication tokens, timestamps, and when you were last active (shown to friends as “active”).
Showbuff does not access your phone address book, collect payment information, request precise location, or read your device advertising identifier. We do store the social connections you create in Showbuff. The embedded YouTube player has separate data practices, described below.
How we use your information
- To provide the core service — saving your watchlist, ratings, and notes, and syncing them to your account.
- To generate personalized recommendations based on your ratings and viewing activity.
- To enable social features such as adding friends, comparing ratings, messaging, and recommending titles.
- To keep the community safe: to review reports, enforce blocks, and remove content and accounts that break our Community rules.
- To authenticate you, secure your account, and respond to support requests.
We do not sell your account or content data or use those data to target advertising. YouTube may use data collected by its embedded player for its own advertising and analytics, as described below.
Service providers and third parties
- Supabase — provides our database, authentication, and secure storage of your account, content, messages, and note photos.
- Apple — provides Sign in with Apple authentication when you choose it.
- The Movie Database (TMDB) and Trakt — provide catalog data (titles, posters, cast, trailers, trending and recommendation signals). This product uses the TMDB and Trakt APIs but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB or Trakt.
YouTube trailers
When you open a trailer, the App loads a YouTube embedded player. Google collects playback activity, browser/device identifiers, IP and request information, and may collect ad interactions and approximate location derived from IP. Its cookies and similar technologies support playback, security, analytics, recommendations, and advertising, including personalization depending on the player mode and your Google settings. Google can associate this information with a browser, device, or Google account. Showbuff does not send your Showbuff account ID, email, messages, or watchlist to the player.
In versions with tracking consent, iOS asks permission before loading the standard player. If you decline, permission is unavailable, or the permission check fails, trailers remain available inline through YouTube’s privacy-enhanced player with isolated browser storage. Android and web also use privacy-enhanced playback. Google states that this player uses non-personalized ads and does not use embedded views to personalize advertising outside the App. It still collects playback and technical data; privacy-enhanced playback does not mean no data is collected. Earlier versions use the standard player. You can change the App’s tracking permission in iOS Settings.
Google controls the player’s collection and retention under its Privacy Policy and cookie disclosures. You can manage Google’s personalization choices at My Ad Center. You can choose not to open embedded trailers. Deleting your Showbuff account removes the data held by Showbuff; it does not delete data held independently by Google.
Data retention
We keep your account information and content for as long as your account is active. When you delete your account (see below), we remove your account and associated content from our systems right away. Reports other members filed about content you posted are kept, without your account attached, so we can show they were reviewed. Backup copies held by our database provider expire on its normal schedule.
Your choices and rights
- Access & correction. You can view and edit your list, ratings, notes, and profile in the App at any time.
- Blocking. You can block any member in the App; Settings → Blocked users lists them, with Unblock.
- Account deletion. In the App, go to Settings → Delete account. This permanently deletes your account and everything in it: your lists, ratings, notes and note photos, friends, messages (including from your friends’ chats), reminders, reports, and blocks. If you can’t sign in, email hello@showbuff.com from your account email and we will delete it for you.
Children's privacy
Showbuff is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us information, contact us and we will delete it.
Security
We use industry-standard measures, including encrypted transport (HTTPS) and access controls, to protect your information. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we work to protect your data.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by updating the “Last updated” date above.
Contact
Questions about this policy? Email hello@showbuff.com.