Privacy Policy

1. Who this policy applies to

This policy applies to all users of the Velvet web app and, when available, the Velvet Android app. By using Velvet, you agree to the practices described here.

Velvet is intended for users 17 years of age and older. If you are under 17, do not use this app.

2. What we collect and why

Velvet does not require you to create an account, provide your name, or give us your email address. We collect only what is needed to make the app work.

Session token

When you first open Velvet, the app generates a random identifier called a session token. This is a string of letters and numbers, similar to a tracking code, that is stored in your browser and used to associate your onboarding answers, companion match, and chat history with your session. It is not linked to your name, email, phone number, or any other identifying information unless you type that information into the chat.

If you clear your browser cookies or open the app on a different device, a new session token is generated and your previous session data is no longer accessible to you.

Onboarding answers

When you complete the onboarding questions, your answers are saved to our database. These answers determine which companion you are matched with and shape the way that companion responds to you over time. They are stored alongside your session token. The questions are not a clinical assessment, and your answers are never used to diagnose any condition.

Companion match result

Your match result, including the companion type you were assigned and the associated settings, is stored so the app can remember your companion across sessions. This is stored alongside your session token.

Birthday (optional)

During the quiz you can optionally enter your birthday. If you do, we store only the month and day, never the year, and we never use it to calculate your age. It is used solely to add a light compatibility read to your companion match. Your match is determined by your quiz answers, not your birthday. You can skip this field, and it is stored alongside your session token.

Chat messages

Every message you send and every reply you receive is stored in our database. This includes the full text of the conversation. Chat messages are stored alongside your session token.

Do not type passwords, financial information, or sensitive personal information into the chat. The chat is not a private vault.

Memory extractions

If you mention your name, what you do for work, or what you are working toward during a conversation, the app may save a short note about this so your companion can remember it in future sessions. These notes are saved automatically and stored alongside your session token. You can see everything Velvet has saved, and remove any of it, on the “What Velvet knows about you” page (open it from the Memory section in the chat).

Emotional tone inference

Velvet runs an automated tone estimate on each message you send. This runs on our own servers using a simple word-pattern check, not a separate AI service. It estimates the emotional register of your message (for example, calm, frustrated, or low energy) and stores a small numeric record alongside that message. This is used to adjust how your companion responds, so it can meet your tone. It is an inference, not a diagnosis, and is never used to determine that you have any mental health condition. We do not sell this record or share it with any third party. To shape its reply, your companion is given a brief, general note about your tone (such as “the user sounds low on energy”) as part of the request that generates the response.

You can turn this off at any time using the “Mood sensing” switch in the chat. When it is off, the app stops estimating and stops storing tone records. The records are kept alongside your messages, so clearing your conversation or deleting your data removes them.

Behavior notes

Over the course of using Velvet, your companion may build up short notes about your preferences (for example, that you prefer direct feedback to soft reassurance). These notes are stored alongside your session token and used to shape future responses. They appear on the “What Velvet knows about you” page, where you can remove any of them at any time.

Content reports

If you use the Report button inside the chat to flag a message, we store the reported message ID, your session token, the reason you selected, and any note you included. This information is used to review and improve the app's safety systems.

Local device flags

Velvet stores small flags in your browser's local storage to remember your preferences and confirmations, such as whether you have acknowledged the 17+ age requirement or saved companion preferences. These flags stay on your device and are never sent to our servers.

3. What we do not collect

• Your name (unless you type it into the chat)
• Your email address
• Your phone number
• Your location
• Your device's advertising identifier
• Payment information (Velvet is currently free)

4. How your information is stored

All user data described above is stored in a cloud-hosted database provided by Neon (neon.tech), a PostgreSQL database service. Data is stored in the United States.

The Velvet application is hosted on Vercel (vercel.com), a cloud hosting platform. Vercel may retain standard server access logs (IP address, request timestamps, response codes) as part of normal hosting operations.

5. Third-party services we use

OpenAI

When you send a chat message, the text of your message, along with recent conversation context and your companion's behavioral settings, is sent to OpenAI's API to generate a reply. Your session token and any other stored data are not sent to OpenAI. OpenAI's handling of API data is governed by their privacy policy and data usage policies. Velvet uses OpenAI's API in accordance with their usage terms, which currently include commitments that API data is not used to train their models.

Neon

Neon provides the database infrastructure. All structured user data is stored there.

Vercel

Vercel hosts the application. Standard hosting logs may be retained by Vercel.

We do not share your information with any other third parties. We do not sell your data.

6. Crisis and safety handling

If you send a message that suggests you may be in immediate danger, experiencing suicidal thoughts, or in a crisis, the app will respond with emergency resource information, including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) and emergency services (911). This response is automatic and does not involve a human reading your message in real time.

Velvet is not a crisis service. It is not equipped to handle emergencies. If you are in danger, please contact emergency services or the 988 Lifeline directly.

7. Not a therapy service

Velvet is not a mental health service, therapy platform, counseling service, or medical application. It does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or clinical support of any kind. Nothing in the app should be understood as mental health advice.

If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please consult a licensed professional.

8. How to delete your data

You can delete all of your data at any time by using the Reset button inside the app. This removes all chat messages, onboarding answers, companion match data, memories, behavior notes, reflective notes, tone-inference records, and session association from our database in a single transaction.

Because your session is anonymous, we cannot identify your data without a session token. If you want to request data deletion by email and you know your session token (visible in browser developer tools), include it in your message and we will delete the associated records.

To request data deletion: team@polarisdgtl.com

After deletion, there is no way to recover your conversation history or match result.

9. Data retention

Most of your data remains in the database until you use the Reset function or submit a deletion request. Two categories have shorter retention: tone-inference records are retained for 90 days then aggregated to monthly averages with the raw records deleted, and reflective notes are retained on a 30-day rolling window. We do not sell, lease, or transfer your data to any party.

10. Children

Velvet is not intended for users under 17 years of age. We do not knowingly collect information from users under 17. If you believe a user under 17 has used the app and provided information, please contact team@polarisdgtl.com and we will delete the associated data.

11. Changes to this policy

If we make material changes to this policy, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the app after changes are posted means you accept the updated policy.

12. Contact

For privacy questions, data deletion requests, or to report a concern:

Email: team@polarisdgtl.com

We will respond to privacy requests within a reasonable time.