Child Safety Standards Declaration

Our Commitment to Child Safety

At Companionly, we are committed to providing a safe, supportive, and respectful environment for all users, with special attention to the safety and well-being of younger users. This Child Safety Standards Declaration outlines our policies, safety measures, and resources designed to protect minors using our platform.

1. Age Requirements and Eligibility

Minimum Age Requirement

Companionly is designed for users who are 13 years of age or older. During account registration, we verify that all users meet this minimum age requirement. Users under the age of 13 are not permitted to create accounts or use our services.

Age Verification

• All users must provide their date of birth during account registration
• Users under 13 years of age are automatically prevented from completing registration
• We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13
• If we discover that we have collected information from a child under 13, we will immediately delete that information and terminate the account

Parental Consent

For users between the ages of 13 and 17, we recommend that parents or guardians:

• Review our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
• Discuss appropriate online behavior with their children
• Monitor their child's use of the app
• Contact us with any concerns about their child's account

2. Safety Features and Protections

Content Moderation

We employ multiple layers of content moderation to ensure a safe environment:

• Automated Profanity Filtering: All messages sent through our chat features are automatically scanned for inappropriate language, profanity, and harmful content using a severity-based filtering system
• Real-time Content Monitoring: Messages containing inappropriate content are blocked before they can be sent
• Severity-Based Blocking: Content is categorized by severity levels, with the most severe content (including shock content, explicit material, and hate speech) being immediately blocked

User Interaction Safety

• Report Functionality: Users can report inappropriate behavior, content, or other users through in-app reporting tools
• Block Features: Users have the ability to block other users to prevent unwanted interactions
• Community Guidelines: All users must agree to our Terms of Use, which prohibit abusive, threatening, obscene, or otherwise objectionable conduct

Account Security

• Secure Authentication: We use industry-standard security measures including email verification and optional biometric authentication (Face ID/Touch ID)
• Privacy Controls: Users can control their privacy settings, including who can message them
• Data Protection: Personal information is encrypted and stored securely in accordance with our Privacy Policy

3. Community Features and Interactions

Chat Features

Companionly includes several chat features designed to connect users with mentors, companions, and support groups:

• AI Companion Chat: One-on-one conversations with an AI companion (Minara) for spiritual guidance and support
• Companion Chat: Direct messaging with matched companions for peer support
• Cohort Chat: Group conversations within support cohorts for community engagement

Safety in Community Features

• All chat messages are subject to our content moderation system
• Users can report inappropriate messages or behavior
• Community mentors and moderators help maintain a respectful environment
• Users are matched based on shared interests and compatibility, not randomly

User Matching

• Our matching system connects users based on shared interests, preferences, and compatibility
• Users have control over their profile visibility and who can contact them
• All matches are made within the context of our Islamic support community

4. Parental Guidance and Resources

For Parents and Guardians

We encourage parents and guardians to:

1. Review Account Settings: Check your child's privacy and security settings regularly
2. Monitor Activity: Be aware of your child's interactions and the communities they join
3. Discuss Online Safety: Talk to your child about:
   • Never sharing personal information (address, phone number, school name) with other users
   • Reporting any uncomfortable or inappropriate interactions immediately
   • The importance of respectful communication
   • What to do if they encounter someone who makes them feel uncomfortable
4. Stay Informed: Review our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy to understand how the app works
5. Contact Us: Reach out to us immediately if you have concerns about your child's safety or experience on the platform

Educational Resources

We provide resources within the app to help users understand:

• Appropriate online behavior
• How to recognize and report inappropriate content
• Community guidelines and expectations
• Privacy and security best practices

5. Reporting and Response

How to Report Concerns

If you or your child encounter inappropriate content or behavior:

1. In-App Reporting: Use the report feature available in all chat interfaces
2. Email Support: Contact us directly at hr@revertreach.com
3. Privacy Settings: Access reporting tools through Settings > Privacy & Security

Our Response Process

• All reports are reviewed by our safety team within 24-48 hours
• We take immediate action on reports of severe violations, including:
  • Content removal
  • User warnings or suspensions
  • Account termination for repeated or severe violations
• We maintain records of all reports and actions taken

What to Report

Please report:

• Inappropriate or offensive language or content
• Harassment, bullying, or threatening behavior
• Requests for personal information
• Attempts to arrange in-person meetings
• Any behavior that makes you or your child feel uncomfortable or unsafe
• Suspected accounts belonging to users under 13

6. Data Protection for Minors

Information We Collect

For users between 13 and 17, we collect only the information necessary to provide our services:

• Account registration information (email, age, basic profile information)
• Content created by the user (journal entries, messages, profile information)
• Usage data to improve our services

How We Use Information

• We use collected information solely to provide and improve our services
• We do not sell personal information to third parties
• We do not use personal information for advertising purposes
• We implement strict data security measures to protect all user information

Parental Rights

Parents or guardians of users under 18 have the right to:

• Review the personal information we have collected about their child
• Request deletion of their child's account and associated data
• Refuse further collection or use of their child's information
• Request changes to their child's account settings

To exercise these rights, please contact us at hr@revertreach.com with proof of guardianship.

7. Educational and Supportive Environment

Our Mission

Companionly is designed as a supportive platform for new Muslims (reverts) and their companions. Our community features are intended to:

• Provide spiritual guidance and support
• Connect users with mentors and peer companions
• Foster a respectful, inclusive community
• Support personal growth and faith development

Community Values

All users are expected to:

• Treat others with respect and kindness
• Maintain appropriate boundaries in all interactions
• Follow Islamic principles of good conduct (adab)
• Report any behavior that violates our community standards

8. Compliance and Legal Framework

COPPA Compliance

While Companionly is designed for users 13 and older, we are committed to protecting the privacy and safety of all users, especially minors. We comply with applicable laws including:

• Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requirements
• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where applicable
• Other applicable child protection and privacy laws

Terms of Use

All users must agree to our Terms of Use, which explicitly prohibit:

• Abusive, threatening, or obscene conduct
• Impersonation or misrepresentation
• Sharing inappropriate content
• Any behavior that could harm minors or other users

9. Continuous Improvement

Ongoing Safety Measures

We continuously work to improve our safety measures by:

• Regularly updating our content moderation systems
• Reviewing and updating our safety policies
• Training our moderation team on best practices
• Staying informed about emerging online safety threats
• Implementing new safety features based on user feedback and industry best practices

User Feedback

We welcome feedback from users, parents, and guardians about how we can improve safety on our platform. Please share your suggestions at hr@revertreach.com.

10. Contact Information

Safety Concerns

If you have immediate safety concerns or need to report an emergency situation:

• Email: hr@revertreach.com
• Response Time: We aim to respond to safety concerns within 24 hours

General Inquiries

For questions about our child safety policies or to exercise parental rights:

• Email: hr@revertreach.com
• Subject Line: Please include "Child Safety" or "Parental Request" in your subject line for faster processing

Account Issues

For account-related questions or to request account deletion:

• Email: hr@revertreach.com
• Include your account email address and proof of identity (for parental requests)

11. Additional Resources

External Safety Resources

We recommend the following resources for online safety education:

• Common Sense Media: Online safety guides for parents and teens
• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: Resources for online safety
• FBI Safe Online Surfing: Educational resources for children and teens

Staying Safe Online

Remember:

• Never share personal information (address, phone number, school) with other users
• Be cautious about meeting anyone from the app in person
• Trust your instincts—if something feels wrong, report it
• Talk to a trusted adult if you have concerns
• Use strong, unique passwords and enable security features

12. Updates to This Declaration

We may update this Child Safety Standards Declaration from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify users of any material changes by:

• Posting the updated declaration in the app
• Updating the "Last Updated" date
• Providing notice through the app or via email for significant changes

We encourage you to review this declaration periodically to stay informed about our child safety practices.