Privacy Policy

Effective date: June 30, 2026

This Privacy Policy describes how Shorterest ("we," "us," or "our") collects and uses information when you visit shorterest.com. By using the site, you accept the practices described here.

What We Collect

We collect limited data to operate and improve the site:

• Cookies. The site sets a session cookie (shrt_sid) to support reader features such as feedback submissions. This cookie contains a randomly generated session identifier — no personally identifiable information.
• Analytics visitor ID. A randomly generated visitor ID (sr_vid) is stored in your browser's localStorage and used to count page views. It is not linked to your name, email, or any other personal information.
• Page view data. We record which pages are viewed and how long readers spend on illustrated content. This data is used to improve editorial quality and measure engagement. No IP addresses are stored.
• Feedback submissions. If you submit a star rating on an article, we record the rating along with your anonymous session ID. We do not collect your name or email for this purpose.
• Contact form submissions. If you use the contact form, we collect the name, email address, and message you provide in order to respond to your inquiry.
• Advertising cookies. We use Google AdSense to serve advertisements. Google and its partners may set cookies on your browser to serve ads based on your prior visits to this site and other sites on the internet. For more information, see the section on Advertising below.

Advertising

Shorterest uses Google AdSense to display advertisements. Google AdSense uses cookies and similar technologies to serve ads that are relevant to your interests. Google may use information about your visits to this and other websites to provide targeted advertisements about goods and services that may interest you.

Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to this website or other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to users based on their visit to this site and/or other sites on the internet.

You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google's Ads Settings or by visiting aboutads.info. You may also opt out of a third-party vendor's use of cookies for personalized advertising by visiting networkadvertising.org.

Analytics

We use first-party analytics hosted on shorterest.com to count page views and measure reader engagement. A lightweight beacon posts page views to our own /api/tracking/event endpoint, keyed to the randomly generated visitor ID stored in your browser's localStorage (sr_vid). No personally identifiable information is collected or transmitted as part of this analytics process, and no third-party analytics vendor receives the data.

How We Use Data

The data we collect is used to:

• Operate and maintain the site
• Understand which topics and articles readers engage with, in order to improve editorial quality
• Serve relevant advertising through Google AdSense
• Respond to contact form inquiries

We do not sell personal information to third parties. We do not share contact form data with advertisers.

Your Choices

You can clear cookies and localStorage data in your browser settings at any time. Doing so will reset your session ID and analytics visitor ID. It will not affect your access to content on the site.

To opt out of Google's personalized advertising, visit google.com/settings/ads.

Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or be notified when a cookie is being set. Consult your browser's help documentation for instructions.

Data Retention

Analytics data (page views, dwell time) is retained for up to 12 months. Contact form messages are retained only as long as needed to respond to your inquiry. Session cookies expire at the end of your browser session or within 30 days, whichever comes first.

Children's Privacy

Shorterest is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, contact us and we will delete it promptly.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The effective date at the top of this page indicates when the policy was last revised. Continued use of the site after a revision constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us via our contact page.