Cookie Policy
What’s in this policy
1. What cookies and local storage are
A cookie is a small text file a website stores on your device so it can remember things between requests and visits. Similar technologies include browser local storage, session storage, and pixel tags. In this policy, “cookies” refers to all of them. Cookies can be set by the site you visit (first-party) or by another company (third-party). Helm uses only first-party cookies and local storage.
2. Why we use them
We use cookies to:
- Sign you in and keep you signed in securely between pages and visits;
- Protect the Service against fraud, bots, and cross-site request forgery;
- Remember your preferences, such as theme and language; and
- Measure and improve the Service using our own first-party analytics.
3. Cookies we use
Essential (always on)
These are required for the Service to function and cannot be turned off in our settings.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| helm_access_token | Keeps you signed in after you log in. | 15 minutes (rolling) |
| helm_refresh_token | Issues a new access token without asking you to log in again. | 30 days |
| helm_session_user | Stores basic profile info (handle, display name) for fast page loads. | 30 days |
| helm_csrf | Protects against cross-site request forgery. | Session |
| helm_cookie_consent | Remembers your cookie choice so we do not ask again. | 1 year |
Preferences (optional, on by default)
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| helm_theme | Remembers your light or dark mode choice. | 1 year |
| helm_feed_tab | Remembers which feed tab you last opened. | 30 days |
| helm_lang | Remembers your language preference. | 1 year |
Analytics (optional, first-party, you can opt out)
We run first-party analytics to understand which features work and which do not. This data is not shared with third parties for advertising.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| helm_visit_id | Anonymous identifier for a single browsing session. | Session |
| helm_first_seen | Measures how many days since you first signed up. | 2 years |
4. Categories: session, persistent, first-party
- Session cookies are deleted when you close your browser (for example, helm_csrf and helm_visit_id).
- Persistent cookies stay until they expire or you clear them (for example, helm_refresh_token and helm_theme).
- First-party cookies are set by Helm. We do not set third-party cookies.
5. What we do not use
- Third-party advertising cookies.
- Cross-site behavioral tracking pixels.
- Data-broker or ad-network SDKs.
- Device fingerprinting libraries.
6. How to control cookies
When you first visit Helm, we show a cookie banner with three choices:
- Essential only. Just the cookies needed to run the Service. You stay signed in, but preferences and analytics are off.
- Accept all. Essential plus preferences plus first-party analytics.
- Customize. Choose category by category.
You can change your choice anytime in Settings > Privacy. You can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings, but doing so will sign you out and you will be asked to choose again. Because essential cookies are required to run the Service, disabling them may break sign-in and other features.
7. Third-party cookies
Helm does not set third-party cookies. The platform links on your profile are plain links, not tracking embeds, so they set nothing until you click them. We do not embed third-party advertising trackers or social widgets that track you.
8. Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control
We honor the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal from your browser as a request to opt out of any sale or sharing of personal information. As explained in our Privacy Policy, Helm does not sell or share personal information regardless of GPC. Because there is no consistent industry standard for “Do Not Track” browser signals, we treat GPC as the controlling opt-out signal.
9. Updates
If we add or change a cookie, we will update this page and the “Last updated” date and, where required by law, re-prompt you in the cookie banner. Material changes will be announced in advance.
10. Contact
Helm Social, Inc.
Privacy: privacy@helmsocial.app