Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains what information BlogHost ("we," "us," "our") collects, how we use it, and the choices you and your Journal's visitors have.

1. Information We Collect

From the account holder (you):

• Name and email address
• Payment information, processed securely by our payment provider (Stripe) — we do not store your full card number ourselves
• Content you post to your Journal (posts, photos, settings)

From your Journal's visitors and SMS recipients:

• A name, entered when a visitor first views your Journal. Returning visitors may be asked to enter their name again if they switch devices or return after their session has expired (currently after 90 days).
• A phone number, added by you (the account holder) for a family member or friend. The number is only used to send SMS notifications once that recipient confirms their own opt-in via a checkbox on your Journal — an added number is never used to send messages on its own.
• The date and status of SMS opt-in or opt-out for each phone number, so we can maintain an accurate consent record

2. How We Use Information

We use the information above only to:

• Operate and display your Journal
• Send SMS notifications to opted-in recipients when you publish a new post
• Process your subscription payment
• Provide customer support and account safety features (e.g., automatic backups)

We do not sell your information, your visitors' information, or phone numbers to third parties. We do not use phone numbers for marketing unrelated to your own Journal's updates. The information in your Journal is not accessible to other BlogHost customers. BlogHost's owner has the technical ability to access account data to operate and support the Service, but does not access, read, or review your Journal's content or contact information except as necessary to provide support, maintain the Service, or comply with a legal obligation.

3. SMS Consent and Opt-Out Records

A recipient's phone number is only used to send SMS notifications after that recipient confirms their own opt-in through a checkbox shown on your Journal. As the account holder, you can only add a phone number for a recipient after they've visited your Journal at least once, which creates their entry in your admin panel — by that point you'll already be able to see whether they've opted in. Adding a phone number never triggers messages on its own; only the recipient's own confirmed opt-in does.

We keep a timestamped record of each opt-in and any later opt-out (including replies of STOP) so we can demonstrate consent and honor removal requests. Recipients may opt out at any time; the account holder can also remove any recipient from their admin panel.

4. Service Providers

We share limited information with the following providers, solely to operate the Service:

• Stripe — payment processing
• Twilio — SMS message delivery
• Pushover — optional push notifications to the Journal owner, which may include comment content when a visitor comments or replies
• Our hosting provider — website and data hosting

These providers only receive the information necessary to perform their function and are not permitted to use it for their own purposes.

5. Data Retention

• Journal content and account information are retained while your subscription is active.
• If you cancel, your Journal is retained for 90 days (in case you'd like to reactivate or export your content), then permanently deleted.
• SMS opt-in/opt-out records are retained as part of your Journal's data for the same period, to preserve an accurate consent history.

6. Children's Privacy

BlogHost is not directed at or marketed to children. We collect very limited information overall: an optional first name from Journal visitors, and phone numbers that are added by the Journal's adult account holder, not submitted directly by visitors themselves. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us, contact us and we will remove it.

7. Your Choices

• SMS recipients can opt out at any time by replying STOP or contacting the account holder.
• Account holders can request an export or deletion of their Journal's data by contacting us.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected in the "Last updated" date above.

9. Contact

Questions about this Privacy Policy can be sent to admin@bloghost.co.

BlogHost.co is operated by Christopher Roger Thompson, Sole Proprietor.