Privacy Policy

Last Updated: October 4, 2026

At Aeden Manell (blog.aedenmanell.com), we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you have a positive experience on our website. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

When you interact with our website, you may voluntarily provide personal information such as:

Email address — when you subscribe to our newsletter, leave a comment, or submit a contact form
Name — when you leave a comment or contact us
Phone number — if you choose to provide it through contact forms
Message content — any text you send through contact or inquiry forms
Website/URL — if you provide it in comment fields

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain technical information:

IP Address — your internet protocol address for analytics and security purposes
Browser Type & Version — to optimize site compatibility
Device Information — operating system, device type (mobile/desktop)
Referring URL — which page or site directed you to us
Pages Visited — which articles and content you view
Time Spent on Site — to measure user engagement
Cookies & Tracking Pixels — to remember your preferences and track behavior

2. How We Collect Information

We collect information through several methods:

Google Analytics 4 — tracks page views, user behavior, device information, and geographic location
Comment System — WordPress native comment functionality captures name, email, website, and comment text
Contact Forms — Elementor contact forms collect submitted data (name, email, message)
Newsletter Signup Forms — email collection for marketing communications
Cookies — small text files stored on your browser for preferences, session tracking, and analytics
Third-party Tracking Pixels — pixels from Google, Facebook, and other platforms for retargeting and performance measurement

3. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information for the following purposes:

Website Operation — to deliver, maintain, and improve our website functionality
Content Personalization — to customize your browsing experience and recommend relevant content
Analytics & Performance — to understand how users interact with our content and optimize performance
Email Communications — to send newsletters, updates, and marketing content (only if you opt-in)
Respond to Inquiries — to reply to comments, contact form submissions, and customer inquiries
Spam Prevention — to identify and prevent abuse, spam, and malicious activity
Affiliate Disclosures — to track clicks on affiliate links and calculate commissions
Retargeting — to display relevant advertisements on other platforms based on your browsing history
Legal Compliance — to comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms and Conditions

4. Data Sharing & Third Parties

We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website and conducting our business, including:

Google Analytics — for website analytics and user behavior tracking
Google Search Console — for SEO monitoring and search performance data
Email Service Providers — if you subscribe to our newsletter
Affiliate Networks — for affiliate commission tracking and reporting
Advertising Networks (Google Ads, Facebook Pixel) — for ad retargeting and performance measurement
Payment Processors — if applicable, for processing donations or purchases
Hosting Provider — Hostinger, which hosts our website and server infrastructure

We do NOT sell, rent, or trade your personal data to third parties for their marketing purposes.

5. Data Retention

Email Addresses — retained for as long as you remain subscribed; deleted upon unsubscribe request
Comments — retained indefinitely unless you request deletion; comment authors can request removal
Contact Form Submissions — retained for 90 days or as needed for business purposes
Google Analytics Data — retained for 26 months by default
Cookies — retained based on cookie type; session cookies deleted after browser close; persistent cookies expire based on settings

6. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights under data protection laws (GDPR, CCPA, POPIA):

Right to Access — request a copy of personal data we hold about you
Right to Rectification — correct inaccurate or incomplete personal information
Right to Erasure — request deletion of your personal data (right to be forgotten)
Right to Restrict Processing — limit how we use your information
Right to Data Portability — receive your data in a structured, commonly used format
Right to Object — opt-out of marketing communications and certain processing activities
Right to Withdraw Consent — revoke consent for data processing at any time

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at aedenmanell@gmail.com with “Privacy Request” in the subject line.

7. Cookies & Tracking

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies. Please see our Cookie Policy for detailed information about:

Types of cookies we use
Purpose of each cookie
How to manage cookie preferences
Third-party tracking pixels

8. Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These include:

HTTPS/SSL encryption for secure data transmission
Secure hosting with Hostinger
Regular security updates and patches
Limited access to personal data by authorized personnel only
Firewalls and intrusion detection systems

However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your information.

9. GDPR Compliance (EU & UK Users)

If you are located in the European Union or United Kingdom, your data is protected under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

Lawful Basis for Processing: We process data based on legitimate interest (analytics, site functionality), consent (newsletters, comments), and legal obligations
Data Protection Officer: We comply with GDPR requirements; contact us with privacy questions
Data Transfers: If data is transferred outside the EU/UK, it is protected by appropriate safeguards
Consent Management: Cookie consent is obtained via our cookie banner before non-essential tracking

10. CCPA Compliance (California Residents)

If you are a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

Right to Know: Request what personal information we collect
Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information
Right to Opt-Out: Opt-out of the “sale” of personal information (we do not sell data, but you may opt-out of analytics tracking)
Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights

11. POPIA Compliance (South Africa)

If you are a South African resident, your data is protected under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA):

Lawful Processing: We process personal information in accordance with POPIA principles
Purpose Limitation: Data is used only for stated purposes
Data Security: We implement reasonable security measures
Individual Rights: You have the right to access, correct, and delete your personal information

12. Children’s Privacy

Our website is not directed to children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we will promptly delete such information and terminate the child’s account.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, and other factors. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy on our website with a revised “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of our website following changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, your data, or how we handle your information, please contact us:

Email: aedenmanell@gmail.com
Website: aedenmanell.com
Blog: blog.aedenmanell.com

We will respond to your inquiry within 30 days.