Privacy Policy
Last updated: 18 July 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how Ickmeter ("we") handles personal data on ickmeter.com. It covers our obligations under the UK GDPR, the EU GDPR, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA), and equivalent laws.
1. Who is the controller
Ickmeter is the data controller for personal data processed via ickmeter.com. Contact: tea@ickmeter.com.
2. What we collect and why
- Quiz answers & scores. When you finish the quiz and save a rating, we store the score, the tier, the nickname you typed, your optional Instagram handle, your optional note, and the questions/answers. Legal basis: your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) UK/EU GDPR), given by ticking the consent box before you post.
- Story submissions (/submit). We store the story text, the PayPal email you provide (only used to pay you if we use the story), your social platform and handle if given, and your explicit age + Terms confirmations. Legal basis: consent, and where a story is used and paid for, performance of a contract (Art. 6(1)(b)).
- Votes. When you 🔥 / 🧢 an entry, we store the vote and an anonymous per-browser token (a random ID kept in your browser's localStorage). We do not know who you are.
- Technical data. Our hosting provider processes standard server logs (IP address, user agent, timestamps) for security and to keep the site running. Legal basis: legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f)).
- Advertising. We use Google AdSense which sets cookies to serve and measure ads. See our Cookie Policy.
We do not knowingly collect data about anyone under 18. If we learn we have, we'll delete it.
3. What becomes public
Anything you post to the leaderboard (nickname, score, tier, optional handle, optional note, and your quiz answers if you tap "see the tea") is public and can be viewed by anyone visiting the site. Full story submissions may be featured on @ickmeter socials under the licence in our Terms. Your PayPal email and your age/terms confirmation are never made public.
4. Sharing with third parties
We share data with processors who help run the site:
- Our hosting/database provider (stores submissions and votes).
- Google (AdSense, Search Console).
- PayPal (only if we're paying you for a story).
We do not sell your personal data.
5. International transfers
Our processors may store data outside the UK/EEA (typically the US). Where they do, transfers rely on Standard Contractual Clauses or equivalent safeguards.
6. How long we keep it
- Leaderboard entries: kept until you or we delete them.
- Story submissions: kept for up to 24 months from submission, then deleted, unless we've used them in a video (in which case the video and associated metadata may remain published).
- PayPal email: kept only as long as needed to pay you (or 12 months if we decide not to use your story), then deleted.
- Server logs: typically 30 days.
7. Your rights (GDPR / UK GDPR / CCPA)
You have the right to:
- access the personal data we hold about you;
- have it corrected or deleted ("right to be forgotten");
- restrict or object to processing;
- withdraw consent at any time (this doesn't affect processing done before withdrawal);
- data portability;
- lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority — in the UK the ICO (ico.org.uk).
To exercise any right, email tea@ickmeter.com from the address you submitted, or include enough info (nickname + rough date) for us to find your entry. We aim to respond within 30 days.
8. Security
We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect data. No system is 100% secure — please don't submit anything you wouldn't want on the internet.
9. Changes
We may update this policy. Material changes will be flagged on the site.