This privacy policy explains how Don't Be THAT Guy (DBTG) handles information when you use our public learning website.

DBTG is a read-only learning hub. We do not offer user registration, accounts, or paid services on this site. Our aim is to publish helpful articles — not to build profiles of visitors.

Who we are

Don't Be THAT Guy is a public-learning project focused on bullying, harmful behaviour, and prevention. This policy applies to the DBTG website and its published content.

If a separate support or routing service (such as Lantern) is offered in future, it will have its own privacy notice. Learning on DBTG and getting hands-on support are not the same product.

What we do not do

To be clear upfront:

• We do not require you to register or log in to read DBTG articles.
• We do not sell your personal information.
• We do not aim to track you as an identifiable person across the web.
• We do not use your reading history to build advertising profiles.

Information we may collect

Reading the site without contacting us

When you browse DBTG, standard web server and security logs may temporarily record technical information such as:

• browser type and device category
• approximate region or network information
• pages requested and time of request
• referrer URL (where you came from)

This information helps keep the site secure and reliable. It is not used to identify you personally unless the law requires us to investigate abuse of our systems.

Analytics about articles (not about you)

If we introduce analytics, our intention is to measure which articles are read and how often — for example, to understand which topics are useful and which pages need improvement.

We do not want analytics that:

• identify individual readers
• follow you across other websites
• build marketing or advertising profiles
• combine article views with your name, email, or account (because we do not offer accounts here)

If analytics are enabled, we will describe the tool and what it records in an updated version of this policy before or when it goes live.

Information you choose to send us

If you contact us voluntarily by email, we will use that information only to respond to you and for the purpose you intended.

We will not keep it longer than we reasonably need. When it is no longer required, we will delete or de-identify it where practicable.

We do not ask for ID numbers, passport numbers, or payment details on DBTG.

Cookies and similar technologies

DBTG may use:

• Essential cookies — needed for basic site operation, security, or remembering simple preferences (for example, dismissing a notice).
• Analytics cookies or similar tools (if enabled later) — only to understand aggregate article readership, not to identify individual visitors.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Blocking essential cookies may affect how some parts of the site work.

How we use information

We may use information only for purposes such as:

• operating and securing the website
• understanding which articles are read (in aggregate)
• improving content, structure, and accessibility
• responding to messages you send us
• complying with law or protecting rights, safety, and the integrity of the site

We do not use information from DBTG for unsolicited marketing.

How we protect information

We apply reasonable technical and organisational safeguards appropriate to the information we hold. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we aim to protect information against unauthorised access, loss, or misuse.

Sharing with others

We do not sell or trade personal information.

We may share limited information only when:

• a trusted service provider helps us operate the website (for example hosting), under confidentiality obligations
• we are required to do so by law
• we believe disclosure is necessary to protect someone's safety or to respond to misuse of our systems

Aggregate, non-identifying statistics about article readership may be used internally to improve DBTG. We will not share personally identifying visitor profiles because we do not intend to create them.

Third-party links

DBTG articles may link to external websites, helplines, schools, employers, or support organisations. Those sites have their own privacy practices. We are not responsible for how they handle information, and we encourage you to read their policies before sharing personal details with them.

Children

DBTG publishes material that may be read by young people, parents, teachers, and other adults. We do not knowingly require children to register or provide identifying information to use the public site.

If a child contacts us directly with personal information, we will handle it carefully and only use it for the purpose of responding appropriately.

South African privacy law

We take privacy seriously under South African law, including the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and consumer-protection principles where they apply.

You may have rights to:

• ask what personal information we hold about you
• request correction or deletion where appropriate
• object to certain processing
• lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator

Reasonable requests will be handled in good faith. Because DBTG is a volunteer-led learning project, complex requests may take time — but we will not unreasonably withhold information you are entitled to.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when our practices change — for example, if we introduce article analytics or a contact form. When we do, we will update the last modified date below.

Contact

For questions, feedback, or privacy requests relating to DBTG, email support@dontbethatguy.org.

Last modified

This policy was last updated on 11 July 2026.