Last updated: May 9, 2026
Privacy Policy
This policy explains how SmallWorld collects, uses, stores, and protects your information in the Global version of the app.
1. Information We Collect
To provide social features based on trusted contacts and shared connections, we may collect information you provide or generate while using the service, including email address, username, password authentication state, email verification-code state, display name, avatar, bio, gender, birthday, profession, life experiences, interests, boundary or safety notes, trusted relationships, contact requests, encounter greetings, chat messages, voice messages, decision results, block and report records, notification preferences, device push tokens, location-related information when you enable visibility, and necessary service logs.
2. How We Use Information
We use this information to support email-based account registration and sign-in, show profile information, create and maintain trusted relationships, discover users with shared trusted connections, send and receive chat messages, process blocks and reports, protect account and community safety, synchronize notification badges, troubleshoot issues, improve the product experience, and meet legal or regulatory requirements.
3. Profile Visibility
Your avatar, display name, bio, interests, gender, birthday, industry, and similar profile fields are shown according to your settings and relationship with the other user. Sensitive relationship information, such as boundary tags and shared trusted contacts, is limited by relationship and product rules. During non-contact encounters, regular users see only limited profile information and a shared-connection hint, not the full list of mutual contacts.
4. Chat and Voice Messages
Text, emoji, voice messages, quotes, forwards, and decision results you send may be stored on our servers so they can sync between your device and the other user's device. Deleting a local conversation may not immediately delete message history that remains visible to the other user. When an account is deleted, the account and associated server data are deleted, except where limited records must be retained for safety, dispute handling, or legal compliance.
5. Push Notifications
If you allow notifications, we use device push tokens to send alerts about new messages, trusted-contact requests, encounter greetings, greeting responses, and similar events. You can turn notifications off in system settings or in the app. Turning off notifications does not prevent you from using core features.
6. Location and Encounters
When you actively enable visibility and grant system location permission, we use location-related information to determine whether trusted contacts or users with shared trusted connections are within about 5 kilometers. This powers nearby indicators, encounter cards, and related alerts. We do not track location continuously, do not show your exact real-time location to other users, and do not store location history. Nearby discovery stops when visibility or system location permission is turned off.
7. Sharing, Transfer, and Disclosure
We do not sell your personal information. To provide the service, we may share the minimum necessary information with cloud hosting, email delivery, push notification, storage, security, and risk-control service providers. The Global version does not provide phone-number sign-in or SMS verification. Except where required by law, necessary for user safety or dispute handling, or with your explicit consent, we do not publicly disclose your personal information to unrelated third parties.
8. Data Security
We use measures such as access controls, encrypted transmission, server permission management, and log auditing to protect your information. No internet service can guarantee absolute security. If you notice account abnormalities or security issues, please contact us promptly.
9. Global Infrastructure and Edition Separation
The Global version of SmallWorld is hosted on AWS infrastructure and is separate from the Mainland China version of SmallWorld. The two editions use separate apps, backends, databases, account systems, trusted-contact graphs, chats, encounters, reports, push tokens, and website/legal-page paths. A user from one edition cannot search for, add, chat with, or encounter a user from the other edition.
10. Your Rights
You can view and edit your profile, adjust visibility and notification preferences, block or report users, sign out, or delete your account and remove account data from the server and local device through the app. For privacy requests such as access, correction, deletion, withdrawal of consent, and account deletion support, contact support@tworldapp.com.
11. Local Trusted-Contact Phone Numbers
The Global version does not require a phone number to create or sign in to an account. If you manually save a phone number for a trusted contact, it is stored locally on your device and is used only to open the iPhone phone dialer when you choose to call that trusted contact. This locally saved phone number is not uploaded to SmallWorld servers and is not used for account identity, matching, advertising, or SMS verification.
12. User-Generated Content and Reports
Profiles, photos, chat messages, voice messages, and reports are user-generated content. SmallWorld provides in-app block and report actions. Reports may be reviewed for harassment, impersonation, spam, inappropriate content, privacy violations, and other safety issues. Offending content or accounts may be restricted, removed, or terminated under the Terms of Use.
13. Minors
This app is not specifically directed to minors. Minors should obtain consent from a guardian and use the app under guardian guidance.
14. Policy Updates
We may update this policy based on product features, laws and regulations, or operational needs. Material changes will be communicated through the app or website. By continuing to use the app, you acknowledge and accept the updated policy.