Privacy Policy

LonelyChat · Last updated: July 9, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how Tongwei Zhang (“we”, “us”) collects, uses, and protects your information when you use the LonelyChat mobile application (the “App”). By using the App you agree to this policy.

1. Information we collect

• Account information — the username and display name you choose, and a securely hashed password.
• Email address (optional) — if you choose to add one, we store your email address so you can verify your account and recover your password. An email is not required to use the App.
• Messages — the content of the messages you send and receive, including any photos you share, so we can deliver them and show your conversation history.
• Device token — if you enable notifications, an Apple Push Notification service (APNs) token so we can notify you of new messages.
• “To the World” posts (public) — any line you publish to “To the World” is shown publicly to all other users of the App on the Lonely-mode globe, alongside your username and display name, and is stored until you replace or delete it. Other users can react to it. Please do not include anything you would not want to be public.
• Technical data — limited logs (e.g. timestamps, error information) needed to operate and secure the service.

2. How we use your information

• To provide core functionality: authentication and real-time 1:1 messaging.
• To verify your account and let you recover your password, if you added an email.
• To deliver push notifications you have opted into.
• To keep the service safe — for example, to act on user reports and to enforce blocking between users.
• To diagnose problems and protect against abuse and fraud.

3. How we share information

We do not sell your personal information. We share data only with service providers that help us run the App (for example, Apple’s APNs to deliver notifications, our email provider to send verification and password-reset messages, and our hosting provider, Alibaba Cloud), and where required by law. Separately, your “To the World” posts are public by design (see section 1) and are visible to all users of the App, shown with your username and display name.

4. Data retention and deletion

We keep your account and messages until you delete your account. You can delete your account at any time from Settings → Delete account inside the App. Deleting your account permanently removes your profile and your messages from our systems. You may also contact us at zhangtongwei@gmail.com for assistance.

5. Security

Passwords are stored only as salted hashes, and traffic between the App and our servers is encrypted in transit using TLS (HTTPS/WSS). No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, but we take reasonable measures to protect your information.

6. Children

The App is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. Because the App enables unrestricted messaging between users, it is rated for users 17 and older.

7. Your rights

You can access your basic profile in the App, delete your account and data, and block or report other users. Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights under laws such as the GDPR or CCPA; contact us at zhangtongwei@gmail.com to exercise them.

8. International users and where your data is stored

The App is hosted on Alibaba Cloud servers located in Hong Kong. This is where your account information, messages, media files, and push notification tokens are processed and stored. Alibaba Cloud acts only as our infrastructure provider and does not use your data for its own purposes. Data is protected in transit with TLS (HTTPS/WSS), passwords are stored only as bcrypt hashes, and access to the server is restricted to the developer. If you use the App from another country, including the United States, your information will be transferred to and stored in Hong Kong, and you consent to processing your information as described in this policy.

9. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be posted at https://lonelycell.com with an updated “Last updated” date.

10. Contact us

Questions about this policy? Email us at zhangtongwei@gmail.com.