Privacy Policy
LittleWorld English
Last updated: July 7, 2026
Short version: LittleWorld English is a learning app for children, used under a parent or guardian's supervision. We do not sell personal information, do not show third-party ads, do not use third-party advertising analytics, and do not track users across apps or websites. Photos and voice recordings used for learning practice stay on the device unless a parent chooses to use account sync for learning progress.
1. Who we are
This Privacy Policy describes how LittleWorld English ("LittleWorld," "we," "us," or "our") handles information in the LittleWorld English mobile app and related website pages. The app is designed to help children learn English with parent-facing controls, reports, and subscription management.
2. Children and parental supervision
LittleWorld English is intended for children and families. A parent or legal guardian sets up, manages, and supervises the child's use of the app. Parent-only areas, purchases, external links, and account actions are placed behind a parental gate in the app.
We aim to collect only the information reasonably needed to operate the app, preserve learning progress, provide parent reports, process purchases through Apple, and keep the app reliable.
3. Information we collect or process
Account information
| Information | When collected | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Firebase user ID, anonymous account status, authentication provider, account creation date, last seen date | When the app creates a temporary anonymous account or a parent signs in | Account security, syncing learning progress, restoring progress across devices, preventing account mix-ups |
| Parent email address and display name | Only when a parent signs in with Email, Apple, or Google and the provider supplies it | Parent account sign-in, password reset, progress backup and restore, account support |
Child learning profile and progress
| Information | Where stored | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Child profile settings such as display name, age band, avatar choice, content language, reminder settings, and daily goal | Primarily on the device | Personalizing the learning experience and parent settings |
| Lesson progress, word progress, review state, stars, attempts, answer counts, completed lessons, unlocked phases, and last updated time | On the device; synced to our Firebase backend when an account is available | Saving learning progress, restoring progress, generating parent reports, and continuing lessons across sessions |
| Daily study statistics such as minutes, words learned, words reviewed, and streaks | On the device | Parent reports and learning reminders |
Photos and audio
| Information | How it is used | Where stored |
|---|---|---|
| Photos selected or taken by a parent to customize vocabulary words | Displayed inside the app for the selected word | Stored locally on the device. We do not upload these photos to our backend. |
| Child voice recordings for pronunciation or read-aloud practice | Played back in the app and, where supported, checked with Apple's speech recognition to give child-friendly feedback | Stored locally on the device. We do not upload these recordings to our backend. |
| Speech recognition transcript or pronunciation result | Used to decide whether the child can continue the exercise | Processed for the activity. We do not store transcripts in our backend. |
Apple's microphone and speech recognition permission prompts are used before microphone or speech recognition features. Speech recognition is used only when on-device recognition is available. If permission is denied or on-device speech recognition is unavailable, the app lets the child continue without being blocked.
App usage and diagnostics
| Information | Purpose |
|---|---|
| First-party app events such as lesson started, lesson completed, paywall shown, trial started, purchase success, and cooldown reached | Understanding whether core learning and purchase flows work. These events are stored in our Firebase backend under the user's account ID and are not used for advertising or tracking. |
| Crash and error diagnostics, including limited technical details needed to diagnose failures | App reliability and debugging through Firebase Crashlytics |
Purchases
Subscriptions and free trials are processed by Apple through the App Store. We receive subscription status information from StoreKit, such as whether access is active and the product ID. We do not receive or store full payment card numbers.
4. How we use information
We use information to:
- provide lessons, reviews, speech practice, parent reports, and progress tracking;
- save and restore progress across devices when a parent uses account sync;
- manage subscriptions and free-tier access;
- send local learning reminders if enabled by the parent;
- protect accounts, prevent accidental account data mixing, and provide support;
- maintain security, debug crashes, and improve reliability.
We do not use children's personal information for behavioral advertising, targeted advertising, third-party advertising, or cross-app tracking.
5. Disclosure to service providers
We use service providers that help us operate the app. They may process information only for the purposes described below and subject to their own privacy and security commitments.
| Provider | Purpose | Information involved |
|---|---|---|
| Google Firebase | Authentication, Firestore cloud storage, Cloud Functions, and Crashlytics diagnostics | Account identifiers, parent email/display name when provided, synced learning progress, first-party app events, and crash diagnostics |
| Google Sign-In | Optional parent sign-in | Parent account sign-in information supplied by Google |
| Apple | Sign in with Apple, StoreKit purchases, device permissions, local notifications, and speech recognition APIs | Information needed by Apple to provide those platform services |
We do not permit service providers to use app data for third-party advertising or tracking. We may also disclose information if required by law, to protect safety or security, or as part of a business transfer, subject to applicable law.
6. No third-party advertising or tracking
LittleWorld English does not display third-party ads, does not use the IDFA, and does not track users across apps or websites owned by other companies. The app does not include social sharing, public profiles, chat, or user-generated public content.
7. Data retention
- Local learning progress: kept on the device until the app is deleted or the parent resets/removes the data.
- Synced account and progress data: kept while the account remains active, so families can restore progress. If an account is deleted, our backend deletion function deletes the related user and analytics documents.
- Anonymous accounts: inactive anonymous accounts may be deleted automatically after a period of inactivity.
- Photos and recordings: stored locally on the device until the parent deletes them, replaces them, resets the app, or deletes the app.
- Crash diagnostics and first-party analytics: retained only as long as reasonably needed for security, reliability, support, and product operation.
8. Parent rights and choices
A parent or legal guardian may contact us to request access to, correction of, or deletion of personal information associated with their child's app account. Parents may also ask us to stop further collection or use of their child's personal information.
Parents can also control many items directly:
- delete local photos or recordings in the app or by deleting the app;
- turn off reminders in app settings or iOS Settings;
- deny camera, microphone, speech recognition, or notification permissions in iOS Settings;
- cancel subscriptions through the App Store subscription settings;
- delete the account from the app where account deletion is available.
9. Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect information. Firestore security rules restrict user profile and progress access to the authenticated account owner. No method of transmission or storage is perfectly secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.
10. International users
The app may be used in different countries. Information may be processed in countries where we or our service providers operate. Where required, parents may have rights to access, correct, delete, object to, or restrict processing of personal information.
11. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy when the app, legal requirements, or our data practices change. The updated policy will show a new "Last updated" date. If we make material changes involving children's personal information, we will provide notice and obtain consent where required by law.
12. Contact us
For privacy requests, child privacy questions, account deletion, or support, contact:
LittleWorld EnglishEmail: support@littleworldenglish.com