Privacy Policy

Last updated: February 2026

This is the privacy policy for The Ick App, operated by TheIck.AI. We're going to keep this straightforward because nobody actually reads the legal stuff when it's written like a lawyer bill.

Here's the deal: we built an app that shows you who public Instagram accounts recently followed. That's our whole thing. And we want you to know exactly what happens with your information when you use it.

The short version: We don't ask for your Instagram login. We don't sell your data. We only look at public information that anyone can see on Instagram.

What We Collect

When you use The Ick, we collect some basic stuff to make the app work:

Account Information

If you create an account, we'll ask for an email address. That's it. We use it to send you notifications and let you back into your account if you forget your password. We're not asking for your life story.

The Profiles You Track

When you add an Instagram username to track, we store that. Makes sense, right? We need to know who you want updates on. This stays tied to your account so you can see your tracking list when you open the app.

Usage Data

Standard stuff here. We see when you open the app, which features you use, if something crashes. This helps us fix bugs and figure out what's working. It doesn't include anything personal – just patterns like "50% of users check the app in the morning."

Device Info

We know if you're on iPhone or Android, what version of the operating system you're running, that kind of thing. Again, this is for making sure the app works properly on your device.

What We Don't Collect

This part matters. We never ask for:

Your Instagram password
Access to your Instagram account
Your contacts or photos
Your location (we don't need it)
Any payment information directly (app stores handle that)

Your Instagram account is completely separate from us. We don't touch it. We don't want to.

How We Use Your Information

Pretty simple list:

To show you who the profiles you track recently followed
To send you notifications when there's new activity
To improve the app based on how people use it
To respond if you email us with questions
To keep the app secure and working

Sharing Your Information

We don't sell your data. Not to advertisers, not to data brokers, not to anyone. That's not our business model.

The only times we'd share information:

If the law requires it (like a valid court order)
With service providers who help run the app (hosting, analytics) – and they're bound by contracts not to misuse it
If we ever merge with or get acquired by another company – but you'd be notified

Data from Public Instagram Profiles

Here's something important to understand: the information we show you about who someone followed isn't private data. It's publicly visible on Instagram. Anyone could see it by going to that person's profile and looking at their following list. We just make it easier to keep track of.

If an Instagram account goes private, we stop getting updates. We can't see private accounts and we're not trying to.

How Long We Keep Data

We keep your account info and tracking history as long as you have an account with us. If you delete your account, we remove your data within 30 days. Some anonymized usage data might stick around for analytics, but nothing tied to you personally.

Your Rights

You can:

Access the data we have about you
Delete your account and data
Turn off notifications anytime
Email us if you want a copy of your data

If you're in the EU, you've got additional rights under GDPR. Same deal – just email us.

Security

We use encryption for data in transit and at rest. We don't store passwords in plain text. We keep things reasonably secure. No system is 100% bulletproof, but we're not cutting corners here.

Children

The Ick isn't for anyone under 13. We don't knowingly collect data from children. If you're a parent and think your kid signed up, let us know and we'll delete the account.

Changes to This Policy

If we change how we handle data, we'll update this page and the "last updated" date at the top. Major changes get an email notification to users.

Contact

Questions? Concerns? Just want to say hi?

Email us: hello@theick.ai

We actually read these and respond. Usually within a day or two.