Cookie Policy

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1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device when you visit our website. They help us provide you with a better experience by remembering your preferences and improving our services.

2. How We Use Cookies

STEMists uses cookies for several purposes:

Essential Functions: Enable core platform features and security
User Experience: Remember your preferences and settings
Performance: Analyze how our platform is used to make improvements
Personalization: Customize content and learning recommendations

3. Types of Cookies We Use

Cookie Name	Purpose	Duration
session_id	Maintains your login session	Session
csrf_token	Security protection against cross-site attacks	Session
user_auth	Authentication and account access	30 days

Cookie Name	Purpose	Duration
user_preferences	Stores your display and notification settings	1 year
language_pref	Remembers your language selection	1 year
theme_mode	Saves your light/dark mode preference	1 year

Cookie Name	Purpose	Duration
_ga	Google Analytics - distinguishes users	2 years
_gid	Google Analytics - distinguishes users	24 hours
usage_analytics	Tracks feature usage and performance	90 days

Cookie Name	Purpose	Duration
learning_path	Tracks your learning progress and interests	6 months
content_recommendations	Personalizes suggested content and courses	3 months

4. Third-Party Cookies

We may use third-party services that set their own cookies:

Google Analytics

Helps us understand website usage and performance
Data is anonymized and aggregated
You can opt out using Google's opt-out tool

Educational Content Providers

Some embedded educational content may set cookies
These are governed by the provider's privacy policy
Used to enhance learning experience and track progress

5. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

Browser Settings

You can control cookies through your browser settings:

Chrome: Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies
Firefox: Options > Privacy & Security > Cookies
Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Cookies
Edge: Settings > Cookies and Site Permissions

Platform Cookie Settings

You can manage your cookie preferences in your account settings:

Go to Settings > Privacy > Cookie Preferences
Toggle different cookie categories on/off
Essential cookies cannot be disabled
Changes take effect immediately

6. Impact of Disabling Cookies

Disabling certain cookies may affect your experience:

Essential Cookies Disabled

You may not be able to log in or access your account
Security features may not function properly
Some platform features may be unavailable

Functional Cookies Disabled

Your preferences will not be saved between sessions
You may need to re-enter settings each visit
Personalization features will be limited

Analytics Cookies Disabled

Your usage data will not be collected
You won't contribute to platform improvement analytics
No impact on core functionality

7. Mobile Apps and Local Storage

Our mobile applications may use similar technologies:

Local storage for offline functionality
Device identifiers for analytics
Push notification tokens
Cached content for better performance

8. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy when:

We add new features that require different cookies
We change our analytics or tracking providers
Legal requirements change
We improve our privacy practices

We will notify you of significant changes through the platform or via email.

9. Contact Us

For questions about our use of cookies or this policy:

Email: support@stemists.com
Subject Line: "Cookie Policy Inquiry"
Address: TEC-Bridge AI, 4445 Corporation Ln, 163, Virginia Beach, VA 23462

10. Additional Resources

Privacy Policy - How we handle your personal information
User Agreement - Terms of service and platform rules
All About Cookies - Learn more about cookies
Google Analytics Opt-out - Disable Google Analytics tracking