SocialCTL is operated by NextCTL LLC. This Cookie Policy explains what cookies and similar technologies we use on our website and app, why we use them, and how you stay in control. It complements our Privacy Policy, which describes the wider picture of how we handle your data.
1. What cookies are
A cookie is a small text file that a website stores on your device when you visit it. Cookies let a site remember things between page loads and visits — for example, that you're logged in, or that you've already dismissed a banner. Some cookies are set by us (first-party cookies); others are set by services we rely on, such as our payment processor or analytics provider (third-party cookies). We also use closely related technologies — local storage and session storage — to remember small preferences in your browser. Where we say "cookies" in this policy, we mean all of these.
2. The categories we use
We group every cookie into one of three plain-English categories:
- Essential (always on) — these are required for SocialCTL to work. They keep your session active, carry the CSRF token that protects your forms, and remember your cookie-preference choice itself. You cannot turn these off, because the service would not function without them. They do not track you across other websites.
- Analytics (opt-in) — Google Analytics 4 (GA4) helps us understand which pages and features people use, so we can improve them. These cookies stay off until you accept analytics in the consent banner. We use GA4 in aggregate; we do not use it to build advertising profiles about you.
- Marketing (opt-in) — these are only loaded if you accept the marketing toggle in the banner. They help us measure the effectiveness of campaigns that brought you to SocialCTL. They stay off unless you explicitly opt in.
3. Essential cookies in detail
The essential set is deliberately small. It includes a session cookie (so the app knows who you are while you're signed in), a CSRF-protection token (so malicious sites can't submit forms on your behalf), and a record of your cookie preferences (so we don't re-prompt you on every page). These are strictly necessary and exempt from consent requirements under most privacy laws, including the EU ePrivacy framework.
4. Third-party cookies
A few trusted providers may set cookies when their features are active on a page:
- Stripe — our payment processor. When you reach a billing or checkout page, Stripe may set cookies to process payments securely and to help prevent fraud. These are functional to the payment experience and governed by Stripe's own cookie and privacy policies.
- Google Analytics 4 — set only after you opt in to analytics. GA4 cookies measure aggregate usage and are governed by Google's policies.
We do not embed third-party advertising networks that track you across the web, and we do not sell data gathered through cookies.
5. How to control cookies
You have two layers of control:
- The on-site consent banner — when you first visit SocialCTL, you'll see a banner letting you accept or decline analytics and marketing cookies. You can reopen it at any time from the link at the bottom of the page and change your choice. Declining keeps only the essential cookies.
- Your browser settings — every major browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge) lets you view, block, or delete cookies. You can also browse in a private/incognito window. Note that blocking essential cookies may stop you from logging in or using parts of the app.
6. Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control
Some browsers send a "Do Not Track" or Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal. Because there is no single industry standard for these signals, we honor your explicit choices in our consent banner as the authoritative record of your preferences. We do not load opt-in analytics or marketing cookies unless you affirmatively accept them.
7. How long cookies last
Session cookies are deleted when you close your browser. Persistent cookies — such as your consent preference and analytics identifiers — last for a defined period (typically up to 13 months for analytics, shorter for preferences) and are then refreshed or expire. You can delete them sooner at any time through your browser.
8. Changes to this policy
We may update this Cookie Policy as our tools or providers change. Material changes will be reflected here with a new "Last updated" date, and where required we'll re-request your consent through the banner.
9. Contact
Questions about cookies or your privacy choices? Email [email protected] or our support team at [email protected]. For the full picture of how we handle your data, see our Privacy Policy.