Privacy

TheSite.org and YouthNet UK (referred to here as "we") take your personal privacy seriously.

Under the Data Protection Act 1998, YouthNet UK is known as a "Data Controller". In simple terms, this means that we determine what personal information about you is collected and what it will be used for.

In a situation where information is collected, you will be told what is being collected and for what purpose we will use it. In particular, please see our privacy policy governing your use of our askTheSite section of the site.

Generally, any information you provide us with is kept in confidence. We do not sell, rent, share, or otherwise disclose personally identifiable information with any other parties.

Polls

Although we do not collect personal information as such, we do use "cookies" in connection with our site polls. These are small data files that we send to your Internet browser, which are stored on your computer's hard-drive and subsequently "read back" if you visit TheSite.org again.  This enables us to recognise you when you return and to know if you have already voted.  The only information stored is your IP address.
 
You can set your Internet browser to reject cookies. However, if you do some functions of the site may not work properly. In order to do this, please follow the instructions in askTheSite's Cover your tracks page.

Discussion boards

Registration to our discussion boards requires a user to provide certain basic information, including a valid email address. Whilst this information will not be passed on to any third parties, we may need it to enable use to administer the site and if necessary, contact a particular user.

Cookies are also used in connection with the discussion boards to provide users with a better experience by recognising the user and informing him or her of which postings are new since the previous visit. Cookies can be disabled by following the instructions in askTheSite's Cover your tracks page.

Mailing list (In the loop)

Users subscribe for the mailing list by providing a valid email address at the appropriate point. TheSite.org will only use email addresses to send information about new content and/or promotions. We will not pass it on to third parties unconnected with TheSite.org. Users may unsubscribe simply by requesting so by email.

Surveys

TheSite.org may run online surveys from time to time to find out how our users feel about various topics. User may be asked to provide some basic demographic information, as well as answers to a series of questions. Occasionally, we may incentivise surveys through the use of a promotion, such as a free prize draw, in which case we may ask for an email address so we can contact the winners.
Survey answers and responses are generally handled in anonymous or aggregate form. Individuals' specific answers are not disclosed to third parties, however aggregated data may sometimes be passed on in the form of a press release.

Competitions

TheSite.org may run competitions in which we ask users to supply us with postal address details in case they are chosen as a winner.

Nielsen//Netratings and cookies

TheSite.org uses a service provided by Nielsen//Netratings, an independent measurement and research company to gather non-personal information on our visitors. They do this through cookies and code which is embedded in our website. We use this information to improve this website and the services you receive. If you want to reject the cookie on our website you can do this though your internet browser. The BBC has a particularly good description of how to do this on their privacy page. It is also possible to completely opt out of the Nielsen//Netratings process through the link on their privacy page.

The following is Neilsen//Netratings description of what they collect:

'The types of statistical information we may gather on behalf of our clients include the number of visitors to their Web sites, which pages are visited, duration of page views, advertising click-through metrics, the location of visitors prior to accessing their Web site, and details on browsers (including Internet Protocol 'IP' addresses or browser configurations). We use this information to provide our clients with detailed reports and analyses of the traffic to their Web sites. All of this information is provided to clients on a completely anonymous basis.'