This Privacy Policy explains how Bloomstarz ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, stores, and protects your personal information when you use our mobile application and related services (collectively, the "Platform"). By using the Platform, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use our services.
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Information You Provide Directly
When you create an account or use the Platform, we collect:
- Full name, date of birth, and email address provided at registration
- Government-issued identity document (national ID, passport, or equivalent) submitted for mandatory KYC verification
- Selfie and biometric data collected during identity verification, processed by our third-party KYC provider Smile Identity
- Mobile money account details (phone number and associated network) used for loading Stars and receiving payouts
- Content you upload, create, or share on the Platform, including images, videos, audio files, and written material
- Messages and communications sent through the Platform's chat and Drop features
- Transaction records, including Stars purchases, subscription payments, and creator payouts
1.2 Information Collected Automatically
When you use the Platform, we automatically collect:
- Device information (device model, operating system version, unique device identifiers)
- App usage data (features accessed, content viewed, session duration)
- Network information (IP address, mobile network carrier, connection type)
- Crash reports and performance diagnostics to improve the Platform
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- To verify your identity and confirm that you meet our 18+ age requirement as required by our KYC process
- To create and manage your account, and to authenticate your login sessions securely
- To process Stars purchases, subscription payments, Drop transactions, and creator payouts via mobile money
- To enable the core features of the Platform — Collections, Drops, chat, events, and content discovery
- To enforce our community rules, content policy, and Terms of Service
- To detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, abuse, or illegal activity
- To send service-related communications (receipts, security alerts, policy updates) — not marketing without consent
- To improve, maintain, and develop the Platform through analytics and performance monitoring
- To comply with applicable laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where we operate
3. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal data. We share information only in the following limited circumstances:
3.1 Service Providers
- Smile Identity — receives your identity document and selfie data solely for the purpose of completing KYC verification. Their use of your data is governed by their own privacy policy.
- Payment Processors (Flutterwave / Paystack) — receive your mobile money number and transaction data to process Stars purchases and creator payouts in compliance with local financial regulations.
- Cloud Infrastructure Providers — our hosting, storage, and database providers process data on our behalf under strict data processing agreements.
3.2 Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, court order, or governmental authority, or if we believe in good faith that such disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.
3.3 Business Transfers
In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your data may be transferred to the acquiring entity. You will be notified of any such change via email or a prominent notice on the Platform.
We will never sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for advertising or marketing purposes.
4. Data Retention
We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active and for a reasonable period thereafter to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Specifically:
- Account data is retained for the duration of your account plus 3 years following account deletion
- KYC data is retained for the minimum period required by applicable financial regulation
- Transaction records are retained for 7 years to comply with financial and tax record-keeping requirements
- Content you delete from the Platform is removed from public view immediately and from our servers within 30 days
5. Your Rights
Subject to applicable law, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Access: You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- Correction: You may request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
- Deletion: You may request deletion of your account and associated personal data, subject to legal retention obligations
- Portability: You may request an export of your data in a machine-readable format
- Objection: You may object to certain processing activities where we rely on legitimate interests
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at hello@bloomstarz.com. We will respond within 30 days.
6. Security
We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data, including:
- Encryption of data in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest
- Database isolation — our database is hosted separately from our application servers with IP-restricted access
- Screenshot prevention on the mobile app via Android FLAG_SECURE and iOS secure overlay techniques
- Server-side enforcement of content access controls and Drop expiry timers
- Regular security audits and penetration testing
No system is completely secure. If you believe your account has been compromised, contact us immediately at hello@bloomstarz.com.
7. Children's Privacy
The Bloomstarz Platform is strictly for users aged 18 and above. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 18. Mandatory KYC verification at registration enforces this requirement. If we discover that a user is under 18, their account will be immediately terminated and their data deleted.
8. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will notify you via email and by posting a prominent notice in the app at least 14 days before the changes take effect. Continued use of the Platform after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
9. Contact
For privacy-related enquiries, requests, or complaints, contact our team at:
hello@bloomstarz.com
These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Bloomstarz mobile application and related services. By creating an account or using the Platform, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use our services.
1. Eligibility
- You must be at least 18 years of age to create an account and use the Platform.
- You must successfully complete Bloomstarz's mandatory identity verification (KYC) process using a valid government-issued identity document before accessing any features.
- By creating an account, you represent and warrant that all information you provide is accurate, current, and complete.
- You may not create an account on behalf of another person or entity without explicit authorisation.
2. Accounts
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. You must notify us immediately at hello@bloomstarz.com if you suspect unauthorised access to your account.
Bloomstarz offers a single account type — every verified user can both consume and create content. There are no separate creator or fan account tiers.
3. Stars Currency & Payments
3.1 Stars
Stars are Bloomstarz's in-app virtual currency. Stars are not legal tender, have no cash value outside the Platform, and are not redeemable for real-world currency by fans/supporters (only creators may cash out Stars earned from their content).
- Stars are sold in fixed bundles priced in local currency. Bundle prices are set by Bloomstarz and may be reviewed quarterly.
- Stars are non-transferable between accounts.
- Unused Stars are non-refundable except where required by applicable consumer protection law.
3.2 Creator Earnings
Creators receive 80% of all Stars-denominated payments made to them through subscriptions, Drops, and event tickets. Bloomstarz retains 20% as a platform commission. Creator payouts are processed via mobile money (M-Pesa, MTN Mobile Money, Airtel Money) to the mobile number associated with the creator's verified account.
3.3 Payment Processing
All real-money transactions on the Platform are processed by our licensed payment partners (Flutterwave or Paystack). By making a purchase, you also agree to their terms and conditions.
Bloomstarz is not a bank or financial institution. Stars are a convenience feature, not a financial product. Creators are responsible for any tax obligations arising from their earnings.
4. Content Policy
4.1 Your Content
You retain ownership of all content you upload, create, or share on the Platform ("Your Content"). By posting content, you grant Bloomstarz a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to host, store, display, and distribute Your Content solely for the purpose of operating the Platform.
4.2 Prohibited Content
You may not upload, share, or distribute content that:
- Depicts or sexualises minors in any way — zero tolerance; immediate account termination and report to authorities
- Is obscene, defamatory, or harassing toward identifiable individuals
- Infringes the copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights of any third party
- Contains malware, phishing links, or any form of malicious code
- Constitutes spam, unsolicited commercial messaging, or pyramid scheme promotion
- Promotes violence, terrorism, or illegal activity
- Violates any applicable local, national, or international law or regulation
4.3 Enforcement
Bloomstarz reserves the right to remove content that violates this policy and to suspend or permanently terminate accounts that engage in repeated or severe violations, with or without notice.
5. Platform Features
5.1 Collections
Creators may gate their content library behind a subscription fee they set freely. Subscriptions are billed in Stars on a recurring monthly basis. Subscribers may cancel at any time; access continues until the end of the paid period.
5.2 Drops
Drops are time-limited content messages sent in chat. The server controls access expiry — once a Drop expires, it is permanently inaccessible regardless of client state. Attempting to capture, copy, or redistribute Drop content is a violation of these Terms.
5.3 Direct Messages
Users must be authorised by the recipient before direct messaging is possible. Unsolicited message requests that are declined may result in access restrictions. Blocking a user removes their DM access silently without removing the follow relationship.
5.4 Events
Creators may list live events and sell tickets via Stars. Ticket refund policies are set by the creator, not Bloomstarz. Bloomstarz does not guarantee the quality, safety, or delivery of creator-organised events.
6. Prohibited Conduct
In addition to the content restrictions above, you agree not to:
- Attempt to circumvent screenshot prevention or content protection measures
- Use automated tools, bots, or scripts to access or scrape the Platform
- Attempt to reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any part of the Platform
- Manipulate or artificially inflate subscription counts, Star payments, or engagement metrics
- Impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent your identity or affiliation
- Use the Platform for money laundering or any other illegal financial activity
7. Termination
You may delete your account at any time from within the app. Upon account deletion, your profile, content, and data will be removed in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Bloomstarz may suspend or permanently terminate your account, with or without notice, if you violate these Terms, engage in fraudulent activity, or if we are required to do so by law.
Upon termination, any unspent Stars in your account are forfeited, except where required otherwise by applicable consumer protection law.
8. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability
The Platform is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, express or implied. Bloomstarz does not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free from viruses or harmful components.
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Bloomstarz shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Platform, including but not limited to loss of data, loss of revenue, or loss of profits.
Our total liability to you for any claim arising from these Terms or your use of the Platform shall not exceed the amount of Stars purchases you made in the 3 months preceding the claim.
9. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of Kenya. Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Nairobi, Kenya.
10. Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. We will provide at least 14 days' notice of material changes via email and in-app notification. Continued use of the Platform after the effective date of changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.