Privacy Policy
Last Updated: August 2025
1. Introduction
Welcome to Fragments Across Worlds (the “Site”). We publish thoughtful, reflective content and keep it free, supported by limited advertising. This Privacy Policy explains what we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and the choices you have when you use the Site.
2. Information We Collect
a) Information you provide
- Emails you send us: If you contact us, we receive your email address and any information you include in your message.
b) Information collected automatically
- Usage & device data: Pages you view, time on page, referring page, approximate location, browser/OS, and device type.
- Identifiers: Your IP address (used by certain services for security and approximate location) and pseudonymous identifiers/cookies (see Cookies below).
We use the following services to gather this information:
- Google Analytics (GA4): Helps us understand how visitors use the Site. GA4 uses first-party cookies and similar technologies. GA4 does not store IP addresses; they may be used transiently for geolocation and then discarded.
- Vercel Web Analytics: Privacy-friendly analytics without third-party cookies. Visitors are measured with short-lived session identifiers intended for aggregate statistics.
- Vercel Speed Insights: Measures site performance using anonymous, non-identifying telemetry.
- Ezoic: We display ads that may be personalized or non-personalized depending on your region and choices. Ezoic and its partners use cookies or similar technologies to deliver, limit, and measure ads.
3. Ezoic Services
This website uses the services of Ezoic Inc. (“Ezoic”), including to manage third-party interest-based advertising. Ezoic may employ a variety of technologies on this website, including tools to serve content, display advertisements and enable advertising to visitors of this website, which may utilize first and third-party cookies. A cookie is a small text file sent to your device by a web server that enables the website to remember information about your browsing activity. First-party cookies are created by the site you are visiting, while third-party cookies are set by domains other than the one you’re visiting. Ezoic and our partners may place third-party cookies, tags, beacons, pixels, and similar technologies to monitor interactions with advertisements and optimize ad targeting. Please note that disabling cookies may limit access to certain content and features on the website, and rejecting cookies does not eliminate advertisements but will result in non-personalized advertising. You can find more information about cookies and how to manage them here.
The following information may be collected, used, and stored in a cookie when serving personalized ads:
- IP address
- Operating system type and version
- Device type
- Language preferences
- Web browser type
- Email (in a hashed or encrypted form)
Ezoic and its partners may use this data in combination with information that has been independently collected to deliver targeted advertisements across various platforms and websites. Ezoic’s partners may also gather additional data, such as unique IDs, advertising IDs, geolocation data, usage data, device information, traffic data, referral sources, and interactions between users and websites or advertisements, to create audience segments for targeted advertising across different devices, browsers, and apps. You can find more information about interest-based advertising and how to manage them here.
You can view Ezoic’s privacy policy here, or for additional information about Ezoic’s advertising and other partners, you can view Ezoic’s advertising partners here.
4. How We Use Information
We use information to:
- Operate, maintain, and secure the Site (including fraud/abuse prevention and debugging).
- Measure usage, improve content, and monitor performance.
- Show and measure advertising; where permitted, personalize ads.
- Respond to messages you send us.
5. Cookies & Similar Technologies
We and our partners use cookies and similar technologies for:
- Strictly necessary: Required for core functionality, security, and load balancing.
- Analytics: GA4, Vercel Web Analytics, and Speed Insights to understand usage and improve the Site.
- Advertising: Ezoic to deliver, limit, and measure ads and—where permitted—personalize them.
6. Third-Party Services We Use
- Google Analytics (GA4): Site measurement and reporting.
- Ezoic: Ad delivery and measurement; may use data for personalization where allowed.
- Vercel Web Analytics & Speed Insights: Privacy-minded analytics and performance telemetry.
7. Your Choices & Controls
- Manage Cookies on this Site: Open Manage Cookies to set your preferences.
- Google Analytics Opt-out: Install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
- Browser Controls: Block or delete cookies in your browser (some features may be limited).
8. Data Sharing
We share information with service providers only to operate the Site and provide ads/analytics as described (e.g., Ezoic and Vercel). We may disclose information if required by law or to protect our rights, users, or the public.
9. Region-Specific Information
EEA/UK/Switzerland: We obtain consent for cookies and advertising through the Ezoic Consent Management Platform (CMP), which participates in the IAB Europe Transparency & Consent Framework (TCF 2.2). When you visit the Site, the CMP will ask for your choices regarding the use of cookies and the processing of personal data for purposes such as ad selection, delivery, measurement and analytics. Some vendors may rely on legitimate interests for certain purposes; where available, you can object to those purposes within the CMP. Your choices are stored in a standard TCF consent string and shared with participating vendors so they respect your selections across our pages. You can review or change your choices at any time via Manage Cookies.
United States (including California): We capture and honor your privacy preferences using the IAB Global Privacy Platform (GPP) implemented through the Ezoic CMP. Where applicable, you can set “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” and “Limit Use of Sensitive Personal Information” preferences. We also honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals as a valid opt-out. You can revisit and change these settings at any time via Manage Cookies.
10. Legal Bases (EEA/UK)
- Consent: For storing/reading cookies and for analytics/ad personalization that require consent.
- Legitimate interests: For essential operations such as security, fraud prevention, and basic site functionality.
- Contract/Legal obligations: Where necessary to respond to your requests or comply with law.
11. Data Retention
- Google Analytics (GA4): We retain user-level analytics data for 14 months.
- Vercel Web Analytics: Uses short-lived session identifiers intended for aggregate statistics.
- Vercel Speed Insights: Stores anonymous, non-identifying performance data points.
- Emails you send us: Kept as long as needed to respond and maintain records, then deleted unless law requires longer retention.
12. Children’s Privacy
The Site is for a general audience but not directed to children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 (or the age defined by local law). If you believe a child has provided personal information, contact us so we can delete it.
13. International Transfers
Our service providers (such as Google and Vercel) may process data in countries other than where you reside. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards (e.g., standard contractual clauses and regional data-handling practices).
14. Security
We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect information. However, no Internet transmission or storage system is 100% secure.
15. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If changes are significant, we will provide a clear notice on the Site. The “Last Updated” date shows the latest revision.
16. Contact
If you have questions or requests about this Privacy Policy or your rights, please contact us.