Privacy Policy

Effective
September 1, 2026

Purpose/Symmetry, Inc., doing business as Synonym Magazine (“Synonym,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), respects your privacy and is committed to protecting it through this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy describes the types of information we may collect from you or that you may provide when you visit the website synonym-mag.com, subscribe to our digital publication, purchase products from our shop, or otherwise interact with us (collectively, the “Site” or “Services”), and our practices for collecting, using, maintaining, protecting, and disclosing that information.

This Privacy Policy applies to information we collect on the Site, through our newsletter, through digital subscriptions, and through shop purchases. It does not apply to information collected by any third party, including through any application or content that may link to or be accessible from the Site.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By accessing or using the Site, you agree to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, your choice is not to use the Site.

1Who We Are

Purpose/Symmetry, Inc., DBA Synonym Magazine
PO Box 70138
Pasadena, CA 91107
United States
Email: hello@synonym-mag.com

We are the data controller (or, in some jurisdictions, “business” or “organization”) responsible for the personal information described in this Privacy Policy, unless stated otherwise.

2Information We Collect

We collect several types of information from and about users of our Site, depending on how you interact with us.

2.1Information You Provide Directly

  • Newsletter sign-up. When you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your email address and, where provided, your name. This information is processed through our email marketing platform, Mailchimp.
  • Digital subscriptions. When you purchase or manage a digital subscription to Synonym Magazine, our subscription management platform, Memberful, collects and processes information necessary to create and manage your account and process payment, which may include your name, email address, billing information, and payment card details (processed directly by Memberful and its payment processor; we do not store full payment card numbers ourselves).
  • Shop orders. When you purchase merchandise or other products through our shop, our e-commerce platform, Shopify, collects billing and shipping information (such as name, address, phone number), email address, and payment information necessary to fulfill and ship your order.
  • Correspondence. If you email us directly (e.g., at hello@synonym-mag.com) or otherwise contact us, we collect the information you choose to share in that communication.

2.2Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the Site, our hosting provider (Site5), our content management system (WordPress), Shopify, Memberful, and Mailchimp may automatically collect certain technical information, including:

  • IP address and approximate location derived from it
  • Browser type and version, device type, and operating system
  • Referring/exit pages and URLs
  • Pages viewed and the time spent on those pages
  • Date and time stamps and other usage statistics
  • Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Section 3 below)

This information is generally collected through server logs and cookies as a standard function of operating a website, processing e-commerce transactions, and sending email communications (for example, to detect whether a newsletter email was opened).

2.3Information We Do Not Intentionally Collect

We do not knowingly collect sensitive personal information (such as government ID numbers, precise geolocation, health information, or biometric data) through the Site, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children (see Section 11).

3Cookies and Similar Tracking Technologies

Like most websites, Synonym Magazine and the third-party platforms we use rely on cookies and similar technologies (such as pixels and local storage) to operate. These may include:

  • Strictly necessary cookies — required for core site functionality, shopping cart persistence (Shopify), and subscriber authentication (Memberful).
  • Functional cookies — used to remember preferences and improve your experience on the Site.
  • Analytics/performance cookies — used to understand how visitors use the Site so we can improve it.
  • Marketing/email-engagement technologies — used by Mailchimp to track newsletter opens and link clicks so we can understand engagement with our communications.

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings; note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the Site, including your ability to complete a purchase or stay logged into a subscriber account. Where required by applicable law, we will provide a cookie consent banner or similar mechanism allowing you to manage your preferences.

4How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for purposes including:

  • Providing, maintaining, and operating the Site and its editorial content
  • Creating and managing digital subscriptions and subscriber accounts
  • Processing and fulfilling shop orders, including shipping and customer service
  • Sending the newsletter and other communications you have requested or opted into
  • Responding to inquiries and providing customer support
  • Monitoring and analyzing usage and trends to improve the Site
  • Detecting, preventing, and addressing technical issues, fraud, or unauthorized activity
  • Complying with legal obligations

We do not use automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal or similarly significant effects on you.

5Legal Bases for Processing (EEA/UK Users)

If you are located in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, we process your personal information on the following legal bases:

  • Contract — to provide the subscription or shop products you have requested and to fulfill our agreement with you.
  • Consent — for newsletter sign-ups and non-essential cookies, which you may withdraw at any time.
  • Legitimate interests — for operating, securing, and improving the Site, provided those interests are not outweighed by your rights and interests.
  • Legal obligation — where processing is necessary to comply with applicable law (for example, tax and accounting records for purchases).

6We Do Not Sell or Share Your Personal Information

Synonym does not sell your personal information, and we do not “share” personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising as those terms are defined under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA) or similar state laws. We do not disclose personal information to third parties in exchange for money or other valuable consideration, and we do not permit third parties to use your personal information collected on our Site for their own independent advertising or marketing purposes.

7How We Disclose Your Information

We disclose personal information only in the following circumstances:

  • Service providers. We share information with the third-party vendors who help us operate the Site and provide our Services, each acting as a processor/service provider on our behalf and under contractual confidentiality and data protection obligations, including:
    • Site5 (web hosting)
    • WordPress (content management system)
    • Memberful (digital subscription management and billing)
    • Shopify (shop, order processing, and fulfillment)
    • Mailchimp (email newsletter delivery and engagement tracking)
    • Payment processors integrated with Shopify and Memberful, for the purpose of processing payments
  • Legal requirements. We may disclose information if required to do so by law or in response to valid legal requests, such as a subpoena, court order, or governmental request.
  • Protection of rights. We may disclose information where necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of Synonym, our users, or others, including to investigate fraud or security issues.
  • Business transfers. If Synonym is involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets, personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction; we will notify you of any change in ownership or use of your personal information.

We do not otherwise share your personal information with unaffiliated third parties for their own marketing purposes.

8Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, including to provide the Services you have requested, comply with legal, tax, and accounting obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Newsletter subscriber information is retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion. Order and subscription records may be retained longer as required for tax, accounting, and fraud-prevention purposes. When information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to delete or anonymize it.

9Your Privacy Rights

9.1All Users

You may:

  • Unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time using the “unsubscribe” link in any Mailchimp email, or by contacting us
  • Update or correct your subscription or account information through your Memberful account
  • Request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information by contacting hello@synonym-mag.com

9.2California and Other U.S. State Residents

If you are a resident of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia, Utah, or another state with a comprehensive privacy law, you may have the right to:

  • Confirm whether we process your personal information, and access that information
  • Correct inaccurate personal information
  • Delete your personal information
  • Obtain a portable copy of your personal information
  • Opt out of the sale or “sharing” of personal information (not applicable here — see Section 6) and out of targeted advertising or certain profiling
  • Not receive discriminatory treatment for exercising your privacy rights

To exercise these rights, contact us at hello@synonym-mag.com. We will verify your request using information associated with your account or order history before responding. You may designate an authorized agent to make a request on your behalf, subject to verification.

9.3EEA/UK Users (GDPR)

If you are located in the EEA or UK, you have the right to:

  • Access the personal information we hold about you
  • Rectify inaccurate or incomplete information
  • Erase your personal information (“right to be forgotten”)
  • Restrict or object to our processing of your information
  • Receive your data in a portable format
  • Withdraw consent at any time, without affecting the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal
  • Lodge a complaint with your local data protection supervisory authority

9.4Canadian Users (PIPEDA)

If you are located in Canada, you have the right to access, correct, and request deletion of your personal information, and to withdraw consent for its collection, use, or disclosure, subject to legal and contractual restrictions, in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.

9.5Australian Users (Privacy Act)

If you are located in Australia, you may request access to and correction of your personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

10International Data Transfers

Synonym is based in the United States, and the third-party service providers we use (Site5, WordPress, Memberful, Shopify, Mailchimp, and associated payment processors) may store and process information in the United States and other countries. If you are located outside the United States, your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States and potentially other jurisdictions, which may have data protection laws different from those of your home country. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards (such as Standard Contractual Clauses) for such transfers.

11Children’s Privacy

The Site is intended for a general audience and is not directed to children under the age of 13 (or 16 in the EEA/UK). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at hello@synonym-mag.com, and we will take steps to delete such information.

12Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, or disclosure. However, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. Payment information for shop orders and subscriptions is processed by Shopify and Memberful and their respective payment processors, which maintain their own industry-standard security measures (including PCI-DSS compliance).

13Third-Party Links

The Site may contain links to third-party websites or services not operated by us. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party sites, and we encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing them with information.

14Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons. We will post the revised Privacy Policy on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date. Material changes will be communicated through the Site or, where appropriate, via email to newsletter subscribers or account holders.

15Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Purpose/Symmetry, Inc., DBA Synonym Magazine
PO Box 70138
Pasadena, CA 91107
Email: hello@synonym-mag.com