Gaydar Cookie Policy
Effective Date: April 1, 2026
Last Updated: October 4, 2026
What changed on October 4, 2026:
- The cookie list now includes two Google advertising cookies,
_gcl_auandIDE. Both are set only if you accept Advertising. - We corrected what
gaydar_vid,_fbcandfrare for. - We now say that Google's analytics and advertising tags load before you choose. They set no cookies, and they send cookieless measurement pings. The Meta Pixel script also loads, with consent switched off.
- We now list the tools that run without cookies: Vercel Analytics, Vercel Speed Insights and error monitoring.
1. Introduction
This Cookie Policy explains how Gaydar Inc. ("Gaydar," "we," "us," or "our") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website at gaydarapp.com and any related websites, subdomains, and landing pages we operate (collectively, the "Website").
This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. For information about tracking and advertising in the Gaydar mobile app, please refer to the Privacy Policy.
2. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work, more efficiently, and to provide information to site owners.
In addition to cookies, we may use other similar technologies such as:
- Pixels / Web Beacons: tiny transparent images used for measurement and attribution.
- Local Storage and Session Storage: browser-based storage for preferences and ephemeral session data.
For the purposes of this policy, we refer to all of these collectively as "cookies."
Types of Cookies
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| First-Party Cookies | Set directly by us when you visit our Website. |
| Third-Party Cookies | Set by service providers whose SDKs we load for analytics and ad measurement. |
| Session Cookies | Temporary, deleted when you close your browser. |
| Persistent Cookies | Remain on your device for a set period of time or until you delete them. |
3. Why We Use Cookies
We use cookies for these purposes:
| Purpose | Description |
|---|---|
| Essential functionality | Security, consent storage, and core Website behavior. |
| Analytics | Understand aggregate traffic and feature usage so we can improve the site. |
| Advertising | Measure the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns and deliver relevant ads off-site. |
4. Your Choices
Our consent management is organized into the categories below. Every non-essential category defaults to OFF until you opt in.
Before you choose: Google's analytics and advertising tags still load on every page. They run in Google's consent mode with analytics and advertising storage denied, so they set no cookies. They do send cookieless measurement pings to Google, which are small measurement signals sent without cookies. The Meta Pixel script is also on our pages. It starts with consent switched off, and it sets no Meta cookies until you accept Advertising. When you accept Analytics or Advertising, the matching tags start setting the cookies listed in Section 5.
- EEA, UK, Switzerland, Brazil: You will see a banner asking for affirmative consent to each non-essential category.
- United States: You will see a notice explaining our use of cookies. California residents also get the dedicated "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" link in the footer.
You can change your choices at any time by clicking Cookie Preferences in the Website footer. We honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals as an automated opt-out of the sale/sharing of personal information under applicable US state laws.
Tools that do not use cookies: Vercel Analytics, Vercel Speed Insights and our error-monitoring service also run on every page. None of them sets cookies. They run whether or not you accept cookies. Vercel Analytics and Speed Insights measure visits and page speed. The error-monitoring service receives technical reports when something breaks, so we can fix it.
5. Cookies We Currently Use
This is the exact list of cookies we set on gaydarapp.com. It is checked every week against what the site actually sets. If you notice a cookie not listed here, please email privacy@gaydarapp.com so we can update the policy.
Strictly Necessary (Always Active)
Essential for the Website to function properly. Cannot be disabled.
| Cookie | Provider | Domain | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| gaydar_consent_v1 | Gaydar | gaydarapp.com | Records your category-level cookie consent choices. | 6 months |
| gaydar_vid | Gaydar | gaydarapp.com | Pseudonymous visitor ID used only to audit consent changes over time. | 12 months |
| gaydar_locale | Gaydar | gaydarapp.com | Remembers the language you picked for the website and the web app. | 12 months |
Analytics / Performance
Help us understand how visitors interact with our Website. Set only after you opt in.
| Cookie | Provider | Domain | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics 4 | gaydarapp.com | Distinguishes unique visitors. | 2 years |
| _ga_WGX3NW3PZ1 | Google Analytics 4 | gaydarapp.com | Persists session state for the Gaydar GA4 property. | 2 years |
| _gid | Google Analytics | gaydarapp.com | Distinguishes users across a 24-hour window. | 24 hours |
| _gat_gtag_G-WGX3NW3PZ1 | Google Analytics | gaydarapp.com | Throttles the rate of measurement requests. | 1 minute |
Advertising / Targeting
Measure campaigns and deliver relevant ads. Set only after you opt in. Never tied to orientation, gender identity, or HIV status.
| Cookie | Provider | Domain | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| _fbp | Meta (Facebook / Instagram) | gaydarapp.com | Browser-level identifier for Meta ad delivery and measurement. | 90 days |
| _fbc | Meta | gaydarapp.com | Stores the last Facebook click ID (fbclid) for conversion attribution. | 90 days |
| fr | Meta | facebook.com | Set by Meta's pixel request when embedded on external sites. Third-party. | 90 days |
| _gcl_au | Google Ads | gaydarapp.com | Google Ads conversion linker. Stores ad-click information so a later sign-up can be attributed to the ad. | 90 days |
| IDE | Google (DoubleClick) | doubleclick.net | Set by Google's ad network to measure ad performance and limit repeat ads. Third-party. | 13 months |
Categories we don't currently use
We have not installed Functional / Preferences or Social Media embeds on gaydarapp.com. If we add them, we will update this policy and the consent banner before any related cookie is set.
6. Third-Party Privacy Policies
When third parties set cookies through our Website, they process data under their own privacy policies. We use service providers for analytics, ad measurement, error monitoring, web hosting, transactional email, and database services. We maintain a current list of named processors with direct links to each provider's privacy policy, available on request to privacy@gaydarapp.com.
7. How to Manage Your Cookies
Our banner and preferences
Click Cookie Preferences in the footer at any time. From there you can:
- Accept or reject each non-essential cookie category.
- See the current, up-to-date list of cookies we set (same list as Section 5).
- Withdraw consent you previously provided.
Global Privacy Control (GPC)
If your browser or privacy extension (Brave, DuckDuckGo, certain Firefox configurations) sends a GPC signal, we treat it as an opt-out of the sale and sharing of personal information under CCPA, CPRA, Colorado CPA, Connecticut CTDPA, and similar laws.
"Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information"
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia, Texas, and Oregon residents can opt out of cross-context behavioral advertising by:
- Clicking Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information in the footer.
- Emailing privacy@gaydarapp.com.
- Submitting a full privacy request at /privacy-request.
Browser controls
Most browsers let you block or delete cookies in their privacy settings. Blocking strictly necessary cookies may prevent parts of the Website from functioning (consent storage, login).
| Browser | Cookie settings |
|---|---|
| Chrome | https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647 |
| Safari (desktop) | https://support.apple.com/guide/safari/manage-cookies-sfri11471 |
| Safari (iOS) | Settings → Safari → Privacy & Security |
| Firefox | https://support.mozilla.org/kb/enhanced-tracking-protection-firefox-desktop |
| Edge | https://support.microsoft.com/microsoft-edge |
| Brave | brave://settings/privacy |
Industry opt-out tools
| Program | Opt-out link |
|---|---|
| Google Ads Settings | https://adssettings.google.com |
| Meta Ad Preferences | https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=ads |
| Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) | https://optout.networkadvertising.org |
| Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) | https://optout.aboutads.info |
| European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance (EDAA) | https://youronlinechoices.eu |
Mobile app tracking
Cookies are specific to web browsers. The Gaydar mobile app uses SDK-based tracking technologies controlled through your device settings:
| Control | Location |
|---|---|
| App Tracking Transparency | iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking → Gaydar |
| Limit Ad Tracking (IDFA) | iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Apple Advertising → Personalized Ads |
| In-App Consent | Gaydar → Settings → Privacy → Manage Consent |
8. Legal Basis
EEA, UK, Switzerland, Brazil
We place non-essential cookies only with your explicit consent, as required by the GDPR, UK GDPR, Swiss nFADP, and Brazilian LGPD. Strictly necessary cookies are placed on the basis of our legitimate interest in providing a secure, functioning Website.
United States
We provide notice and an opt-out under CCPA/CPRA (California), Colorado CPA, Connecticut CTDPA, Virginia VCDPA, Utah UCPA, Texas TDPSA, and Oregon OCPA, and we honor Global Privacy Control signals.
9. International Data Transfers
Our service providers are based primarily in the United States. Your information may be transferred there. Where required, we and our providers rely on the EU Standard Contractual Clauses and the UK International Data Transfer Addendum.
10. Children
Our Website is not intended for anyone under 18. We do not knowingly set non-essential cookies for visitors we identify as minors. Contact privacy@gaydarapp.com if you believe this has occurred.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. Material changes bump the policy version and re-prompt your consent via the banner. The "Last Updated" date always reflects the most recent revision.
12. Contact
Email privacy@gaydarapp.com, or file a formal request at /privacy-request.
Postal Address:
Gaydar Inc. 421 8th Avenue, #9227 New York, NY 10116 United States