Privacy Policy

Last Updated: February 2026

American Literature is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use our website and services.

Information We Collect

When You Create an Account

We collect the following information when you create an account:

  • Username: Your chosen display name
  • Email Address: Used for account management and communication
  • Password: Securely hashed and stored

When You Sign In with Google

If you choose to sign in using your Google account, we access and collect:

  • Your Name: From your Google profile
  • Your Email Address: Your Google account email
  • Google Account ID: A unique identifier for authentication

When You Use Our Services

We automatically collect:

  • Your reading preferences and saved stories
  • Library selections and bookmarks
  • Basic usage data through cookies and Google Analytics

How We Use Your Information

We use your information exclusively for the following purposes:

  • Account Management: To create and maintain your account
  • Authentication: To securely sign you in
  • Personalization: To save your reading preferences and library
  • Communication: We may contact you via the email you provided for:
    • Password reset requests
    • Important security alerts
    • Essential service updates
    • Response to your inquiries
  • Service Improvement: To understand how our services are used and improve them

Important: We do NOT sell, rent, or share your personal information with any third parties for marketing or any other purposes.

Data Storage and Security

Your data is protected through:

  • Encrypted connections using SSL/TLS protocols
  • Secure password hashing (passwords are never stored in plain text)
  • Regular security updates and monitoring
  • Restricted access to personal data

Data Retention and Deletion

We keep your account information only as long as your account is active.

Deleting Your Account:

  • You can permanently delete your account at any time using the "Delete Account" option on your Account Management page
  • Account deletion immediately and permanently removes:
    • Your user account and profile
    • All your saved stories and library items
    • Your reading history and preferences
    • Any associated Google OAuth connections
  • Once deleted, this data cannot be recovered

Third-Party Services

Mediavine Programmatic Advertising (Ver 1.1)

The Website works with Mediavine to manage third-party interest-based advertising appearing on the Website. Mediavine serves content and advertisements when you visit the Website, which may use first and third-party cookies. A cookie is a small text file which is sent to your computer or mobile device (referred to in this policy as a "device") by the web server so that a website can remember some information about your browsing activity on the Website.

First party cookies are created by the website that you are visiting. A third-party cookie is frequently used in behavioral advertising and analytics and is created by a domain other than the website you are visiting. Third-party cookies, tags, pixels, beacons and other similar technologies (collectively, "Tags") may be placed on the Website to monitor interaction with advertising content and to target and optimize advertising. Each internet browser has functionality so that you can block both first and third-party cookies and clear your browser's cache. The "help" feature of the menu bar on most browsers will tell you how to stop accepting new cookies, how to receive notification of new cookies, how to disable existing cookies and how to clear your browser's cache. For more information about cookies and how to disable them, you can consult the information at All About Cookies.

Without cookies you may not be able to take full advantage of the Website content and features. Please note that rejecting cookies does not mean that you will no longer see ads when you visit our Site. In the event you opt-out, you will still see non-personalized advertisements on the Website.

The Website collects the following data using a cookie when serving personalized ads:

  • IP Address
  • Operating System type
  • Operating System version
  • Device Type
  • Language of the website
  • Web browser type
  • Email (in hashed form)

Mediavine Partners (companies listed below with whom Mediavine shares data) may also use this data to link to other end user information the partner has independently collected to deliver targeted advertisements. Mediavine Partners may also separately collect data about end users from other sources, such as advertising IDs or pixels, and link that data to data collected from Mediavine publishers in order to provide interest-based advertising across your online experience, including devices, browsers and apps. This data includes usage data, cookie information, device information, information about interactions between users and advertisements and websites, geolocation data, traffic data, and information about a visitor's referral source to a particular website. Mediavine Partners may also create unique IDs to create audience segments, which are used to provide targeted advertising.

If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices to opt-in or opt-out of this data collection, please visit National Advertising Initiative opt out page. You may also visit Digital Advertising Alliance website and Network Advertising Initiative website to learn more information about interest-based advertising. You may download the AppChoices app at Digital Advertising Alliance's AppChoices app to opt out in connection with mobile apps, or use the platform controls on your mobile device to opt out.

For specific information about Mediavine Partners, the data each collects and their data collection and privacy policies, please visit Mediavine Partners.

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to understand site usage patterns. This data is aggregated and does not identify individual users.

Cookies

We use cookies to:

  • Keep you signed in to your account
  • Remember your display preferences
  • Provide analytics about site usage

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect your ability to use some features of our site.

Children's Privacy

While we provide children's literature content, we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 years of age. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately at amlit.editor@gmail.com.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Access your account information
  • Update your account information
  • Delete your account and all associated data
  • Opt out of non-essential communications

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. When we make significant changes, we will notify registered users via email. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy indicates when it was last revised.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:

Email: amlit.editor@gmail.com
American Literature
Privacy Inquiries

This privacy policy complies with GDPR, CCPA, Google API Services User Data Policy, and Mediavine advertising partner requirements.