New General Data Protection Regulations require me to put up a privacy policy so that you know how your data is collected and used by me and my web site, STHblog.com.
The Basics
I created the STHblog.com web site and blog through WordPress.com, and I manage the site and blog via the WordPress.com site management/customization interface provided to me there in association with my WordPress.com account.
All data collected via STHblog.com and the blog is done so through the WordPress site and their widgets/plugins, or via your web browser, Google, etc. I do not personally collect, store, process, or use any of that data outside of WordPress.com and its functions. WordPress.com is run by a company called Automattic. Their privacy policy can be found here.
What Data is Collected
As far as I know, your data is collected via my WordPress site/blog the following ways:
- cookies/web cache if you visit my site
- name/e-mail/web site if you input those when commenting on my posts
- your WordPress blog if you choose to use that to comment on my blog posts
- your WordPress blog if you choose to follow my blog via WordPress
- your name/e-mail address if you choose to follow my blog via e-mail
- any other login name or data you choose to input in order to comment
Because of the above, I can potentially know the following things about you:
- your name
- your country
- your WordPress blog
- your web site
- your e-mail address
- any other data you choose to make available
Accessibility of This Data
I am able to access the above data when viewing my site, and via the “my site” > “stats” area of my WordPress.com dashboard, powered by a site called JetPack, via WordPress.com. Here I can see the following additional information:
- how often my site and its pages were viewed within a certain time period
- how many visitors I had to my site within a certain time period
- how many likes/comments my posts received within a certain time period
- which posts and pages were viewed
- what search terms were used to find things within my site
- what videos were played
- what referrers brought people to my site
- which countries page visitors are from
- what elements of my site were clicked on
- authors of comments on my posts
- followers via WordPress.com
JetPack’s privacy policy can be found here.
I am also able to access the above data via the “my site” > “people” area of my WordPress dashboard. Here I can see the following information:
- the names and blogs of people who follow my blog via WordPress
- the names and e-mail addresses of people who follow my blog via e-mail
This information is accessible to me only through WordPress.com and its plugins. I do not collect, store, or access this information outside of WordPress.com.
How This Data is Stored
I do not personally collect, store, or process any of this data. It is collected, stored, and processed via WordPress and its affiliates associated with the management and function of WordPress.com and the blogging platforms it provides.
How This Data is Secured
I do not have my own servers, nor does this data exist on any of my devices unless I’m logged into WordPress.com and am viewing it through their site management interface. I cannot personally secure this data, but you can read more about how WordPress.com stores and secures your data in Automattic’s privacy policy here.
How This Data is Used
If you comment on one of my blog posts via your own WordPress blog, your name and blog name may be displayed so as to identify you as the person leaving a comment. The only way I would use that data is to reply to your comment or potentially to return the favor by looking at your blog, reading/commenting on one of your posts, and following your blog.
If you comment on one of my posts using your name (and/or e-mail address, and/or web site or any other data you choose to input), these may be displayed so as to identify you as the person leaving the comment. The only way I would use that data is to reply to your comment. I do not personally collect or store that information. It exists solely on the internet where you placed it.
Other statistical information collected (number of page visits, where page visitors are from, referrers that brought people to my site, etc.) are anonymous and not connected to a particular user. I can use this information to see where my blog readers are located, how popular my posts are, whether or not certain elements were clicked on, and what other blogs/web sites/pages people may have found my site through (such as a link on another person’s blog or a Google search.)
I do not personally use any of this information outside of the applications provided by WordPress.com for the management and statistical analysis of my web site. I will never use your name, e-mail address, web site, or blog to find you or contact you outside of WordPress.
E-Mail Contact
If you choose to send me an e-mail via the contact link, I will potentially have your name and e-mail address in my personal e-mail inbox, and it would potentially be stored on my e-mail server as a contact. I use a known and trusted e-mail program as well as malware scanners, etc. I would only use this information to respond to your e-mail and not for any other purpose. If you have contacted me via e-mail in the past and would like me to delete your data, please send me an e-mail request and I will delete you out of my contacts, received messages, sent messages, etc.
Social Media & Third-Party Links
You will see links leading to my author pages on the following sites: Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Goodreads, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. You can view my separate social media privacy policy here.
You may also see links on my page, blog posts, or blog comments that lead to other blogs or third-party web sites, social media pages, etc. These sites have their own privacy policies, independent of mine, which you must be sure to read if you follow any links away from my blog/web site. I am not responsible for data collected or used by third-party web sites, nor do I have access to that data.
Minors
My web site, blog, and social media pages are not intended for use by those under the age of 16. As all data collection is handled for me via WordPress.com, I am unable to know the age of a person viewing or interacting with my blog or web site, and I am unable to prevent anyone from doing so according to their age. I can only ask that you please not view or interact with my site or social media pages if you are under the age of 16.
Data Breaches
Although I do not personally collect, store, or process your data, I do use strong passwords for my accounts and I am the only person who can access them. If there is ever any sort of a breach in that respect, I will notify everyone through an announcement on my blog and social media.
How to Delete Your Data
If you commented on any of my blog posts, you may be able to delete those comments yourself. If not, let me know and I will delete them for you.
If you liked any of my blog posts, you can simply click on the star and unlike them.
If you would like to stop receiving my blog posts via your WordPress blog, you can unfollow by going to my blog, click on “following shannontaylorhodnett” in the right-hand column, and it should then say “follow shannontaylorhodnett” meaning you have unfollowed me. You can also unfollow via the “reader” section of your WordPress dashboard by clicking on “followed sites” and “manage,” then click on the green “following” button until it turns blue and says “follow.”
If you would like to stop receiving my blog posts via e-mail, you can follow the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of the blog post e-mail.
If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how your information is used/collected, please feel free to contact me via the e-mail address in my “about” section.
★～magic & madness～★ 