Privacy Policy

Introduction

Parallel Works, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company, doing business as (“d/b/a”) The True Norm (“we,” “us,” or “our”), operates the website thetruenorm.com (the “Service”). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our Service. By using the Service, you consent to the practices described in this policy.

Information we collect

The only direct identifier we collect is the email address (and, if you sign in with Google, the display name) associated with your account. That data is held by our authentication provider — it is never written into the database that stores your survey answers.

Account information

When you sign in with Google Sign-In we receive your email address and display name from Google. When you sign in with a magic link, we receive only the email address you enter. This information is stored with our authentication provider and kept in a separate system from your survey answers.

Survey answers

When you answer a question, we store the numeric value you chose alongside an identifier for the question and a random identifier for you. The survey database contains no names, email addresses, or other direct identifiers. Answers submitted before you sign in are held anonymously for up to 48 hours. They are either linked to your account if you sign in during that window, or automatically discarded afterward.

Optional cohort selections

You may optionally pick a life stage, situation, and work mode from a short list of non-identifying tags (for example “parent of young children” or “hybrid worker”). These tags power “people like you” comparisons and are stored against your account identifier only. They are optional, and individual tag choices are never shown to other users.

Geographic and device context (only with cookie consent)

If you accept non-essential cookies, we derive an approximate country, region, and city from your IP address using a third-party geolocation service, and we record your browser’s timezone and language preference. This context sizes regional cohorts and formats dates in your local timezone. If you decline cookies, none of this is collected. Values already collected are removed when you delete your account.

Analytics and error monitoring (only with cookie consent)

If you accept non-essential cookies, we use an analytics provider to understand how people use the Service (aggregate clicks, scrolls, and session replay with input fields masked) and an error-monitoring service to capture errors so we can fix them. Both load only after you accept cookies via the consent banner. We do not use advertising cookies or tracking cookies from ad networks.

Cookies

We use essential cookies for authentication (keeping you signed in). Non-essential cookies (analytics, session replay, geolocation) only load after you accept them via our cookie consent banner and can be declined at any time.

How we use your information

We use the information we collect to provide the Service, including displaying your percentile ranking compared to other users; to improve and optimize the Service based on usage patterns; to generate anonymized, aggregated insights and statistics that do not identify any individual; to communicate with you about your account if necessary; and to comply with legal obligations.

How we protect your data

Your responses are stored with a unique identifier, not your name or email. The database that stores responses does not contain personally identifiable information. Authentication data (your email and name) is managed by our authentication provider in a separate system from your responses. All data is encrypted at rest and all connections use TLS/HTTPS encryption in transit. Access to your personal data is restricted through row-level security policies that ensure users can only access their own information.

What we never do

We do not sell your personal information as defined by CCPA. We do share aggregated, de-identified statistical data as described in the Anonymized Data section below. We never share your individual responses with anyone — Room members only see group averages, never individual answers (see “Rooms” below). We never use your data for targeted advertising. We never combine your responses with external data sources to re-identify you. We never contact you for marketing purposes unless you have explicitly opted in.

Rooms

The Service allows you to create and join Rooms — private groups where members answer the same questions and see the group portrait. Here is how data works in Rooms:

• Room members see only group averages — never individual answers
• In small Rooms (fewer than 5 members), a disclosure warns that individual answers may be inferable from the average
• Room creators see the member count; in open Rooms, no display names are shown
• When you leave a Room, your data is removed from Room aggregates
• Anonymous users can join open Rooms without an account; their contributions expire after 48 hours unless they sign in

Your responses in a Room also contribute to the global TTN dataset. Room invite links are active until the creator revokes them. You may leave a Room at any time.

Data export

You may export your data at any time from your profile page. The export includes all questions you have answered and your response values, delivered as a CSV file. This file is generated in your browser and is not transmitted to any server.

Aggregated data and third-party sharing

We may create, publish, license, or share anonymized, aggregated statistical data derived from user responses. For example, we may report that “hybrid workers average 6.8 hours of sleep per night.” Aggregates are only published for cohorts of sufficient size to prevent individual identification (minimum 50 respondents per data point). This aggregated data may be shared with researchers, academic institutions, media organizations, or other third parties. Aggregated data never contains information that could reasonably be used to identify any individual.

Data retention

Your responses and profile data are retained as long as your account exists. When you delete your account, your individual responses and profile data are permanently removed from our systems. Aggregated statistics that were computed before deletion are not retroactively adjusted, as they contain no individually identifiable information.

Your Privacy Choices

California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Texas, and other state residents have rights to access, delete, correct, and limit processing of their personal information. TTN does not sell your personal information. TTN does share aggregated, de-identified statistical data (minimum 50 respondents per data point) with researchers, licensees, and media — this may be considered “sharing” under some state laws. To exercise any right, including opting out of aggregated sharing that could theoretically identify you, email privacy@thetruenorm.com. We respond within 45 days.

Your rights

All users

You may access, review, and delete your data at any time by visiting your profile page. Account deletion permanently removes all your responses and profile data.

European Economic Area (GDPR)

If you reside in the EEA, you have additional rights including the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict processing, data portability, and objection. Our legal basis for processing is consent (which you provide by creating an account and accepting cookies) and legitimate interest (improving the Service). You may withdraw consent at any time by deleting your account. To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@thetruenorm.com.

California (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, you have the right to know what personal information we collect and how it is used, to request deletion of your personal information, and to opt out of the sale of personal information. We do not sell personal information. To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@thetruenorm.com or use the self-service deletion feature on your profile page.

Other jurisdictions

We comply with applicable data protection laws in the jurisdictions where we operate. If your jurisdiction provides additional privacy rights, please contact us and we will work to accommodate your request.

Third-party services

The Service uses third-party providers that may process data on our behalf, including authentication services, database hosting, analytics, and web hosting. These providers process data in accordance with their own privacy policies and applicable data protection agreements. Analytics services are only activated after you provide consent via our cookie banner.

Children's privacy

The Service is not intended for anyone under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If we become aware that we have collected data from someone under 18, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.

Data breach notification

In the event of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will notify affected users via email within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach, in accordance with applicable law.

Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your data rights, or have concerns about how your data is handled, contact us at: privacy@thetruenorm.com

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy. We will post the updated policy with a revised “Last updated” date. For material changes affecting your rights, we will provide at least 30 days’ advance notice via email to account holders or a site-wide banner. Your continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance.