Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 18, 2025

1. Introduction

MindMirror is a research project conducted for academic purposes to analyze digital behavior patterns and social media usage. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, process, and protect your personal information when you participate in our research study.

2. Research Purpose and Scope

This research project is designed to understand digital behavior patterns and social media engagement. The study aims to:

  • Analyze posting patterns and frequency on Facebook
  • Study social interaction behaviors and engagement metrics
  • Understand content preferences and sharing habits
  • Examine the relationship between digital activity and behavioral patterns
  • Contribute to academic research in digital sociology and psychology

3. Data We Collect

When you connect your Facebook account, we collect the following types of data:

Profile Information

  • • Basic profile details (name, age, location)
  • • Profile picture and cover photos
  • • Account creation date
  • • Privacy settings configuration
  • • Friend count and network size

Content Data

  • • Posts, status updates, and shared content
  • • Photos and videos uploaded
  • • Comments and reactions given/received
  • • Timestamps and posting frequency
  • • Content categories and topics

Social Interactions

  • • Likes, shares, and reactions
  • • Comments and replies
  • • Friend connections and relationships
  • • Group memberships and activities
  • • Event participations

Metadata

  • • Login times and activity patterns
  • • Device and browser information
  • • Location data (if enabled)
  • • Click-through and engagement rates
  • • Time spent on platform

4. How We Use Your Data

Your data is used exclusively for academic research purposes:

  • Statistical Analysis: Aggregate data analysis to identify patterns and trends
  • Academic Publications: Research findings published in peer-reviewed journals (anonymized)
  • Educational Purposes: Teaching materials for digital sociology and psychology courses
  • Conference Presentations: Academic conferences and research symposiums
  • Thesis Research: Graduate and undergraduate research projects

Important: Your data will NEVER be used for commercial purposes, marketing, advertising, or sold to third parties.

5. Data Security and Protection

We implement robust security measures to protect your data:

Technical Safeguards

  • • AES-256 encryption for data at rest
  • • TLS 1.3 encryption for data in transit
  • • Secure, access-controlled servers
  • • Regular security audits and updates
  • • Multi-factor authentication for researchers

Access Controls

  • • Limited access to authorized researchers only
  • • Signed confidentiality agreements
  • • Principle of least privilege access
  • • Audit logs for all data access
  • • Regular access reviews and updates

6. Data Anonymization and De-identification

Before any analysis or publication, your data undergoes comprehensive anonymization:

  • Removal of all personally identifiable information (PII)
  • Replacement of names with random participant IDs
  • Generalization of location data to regional levels
  • Aggregation of small groups to prevent re-identification
  • Removal of unique identifying characteristics

7. Data Retention and Deletion

We maintain clear data retention policies:

5 Years

Maximum retention period for research data

Immediate

Deletion upon participant request

3 Years

Typical retention for active research

8. Your Rights and Choices

As a research participant, you have the following rights:

Data Access Rights

  • • Request a copy of your collected data
  • • Review what information we have
  • • Understand how your data is being used

Control Rights

  • • Withdraw consent at any time
  • • Request data deletion
  • • Opt out of future data collection

9. Third Party Access and Sharing

We strictly limit third-party access to your data:

We DO NOT Share Data With:

  • • Commercial entities or corporations
  • • Marketing or advertising companies
  • • Data brokers or analytics firms
  • • Government agencies (except as required by law)
  • • Social media platforms

We MAY Share Anonymized Data With:

  • • Academic research collaborators
  • • Peer reviewers for academic publications
  • • Educational institutions for teaching purposes
  • • Open research databases (fully anonymized)

10. Legal Basis and Compliance

Our data processing is based on:

  • Informed Consent: Your explicit consent to participate in research
  • Legitimate Interest: Academic research for societal benefit
  • IRB Approval: Institutional Review Board approval for ethical research
  • GDPR Compliance: Full compliance with European data protection regulations
  • Academic Freedom: Protection under academic research exemptions

11. Contact Information

For questions about this privacy policy or your data:

Research Team

Email: support@mindmirrror.com

12. Policy Updates

We may update this privacy policy as our research evolves or legal requirements change. We will notify participants of any material changes via email and provide at least 30 days notice before implementing significant changes. Continued participation after notification constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.