Cookie & Storage Policy
Last updated: 11 July 2026
1. What are cookies and similar technologies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. Browser local storage and session storage are similar mechanisms that let websites store data directly in your browser. Under the UK Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR) and the EU ePrivacy Directive, all of these technologies — cookies, local storage, and session storage — are regulated in the same way. Together we refer to them as "storage technologies" in this policy.
Storage technologies cannot run programs or deliver viruses. They allow the site to remember information about your visit, such as your login session, display preferences, or which items you have dismissed.
2. Your consent
Under PECR, we may only store non-essential data on your device if you have given informed consent. There are two categories of storage technology we use:
- Strictly necessary — required for core platform functions (logging in, security, CSRF protection). These are set without consent because the service cannot function without them.
- Functional / preference — remember choices you have actively made (e.g. dark mode, feed filters, dismissed notices). Most are set only in direct response to an action you take. None share data with third parties. We rely on the low privacy-impact nature of these items and, where the storage is triggered by your own action, we treat that action as implicit consent. They are disclosed in full below.
We do not use analytics cookies, tracking pixels, advertising cookies, or any storage technology that shares your data with third parties for targeting purposes. Where third-party media embeds or security services are loaded (see Section 4), those providers may set their own cookies under their own policies — we do not control those cookies and do not use them for advertising.
When you first visit JustVybe, a banner gives you the option to accept or decline optional storage. You can change your preference at any time by clicking "Cookie settings" in the footer.
3. What we store on your device
Essential cookies (always active)
These are strictly necessary for the platform to function. They cannot be switched off without breaking core features such as logging in or form security.
| Name | Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
PHPSESSID |
Cookie | Server-side session identifier — keeps you logged in during a browser session and enables CSRF protection | Session (cleared when browser closes) |
jv_session |
Cookie | Persistent login token for the "Remember me" feature — keeps you logged in across browser sessions | 30 days |
jv_csrf |
Cookie | CSRF protection token — verifies form submissions originate from JustVybe pages, preventing cross-site request forgery | Session |
jv_cookie_consent |
Cookie | Stores your cookie preference (accepted all / essential only) so the banner is not shown on every page | 1 year |
Functional and preference storage
These items remember choices and UI state to improve your experience. They are stored locally on your device only — none of this data is sent to any third party. Most are set only when you actively make a choice (e.g. toggling dark mode, dismissing a notice). The exceptions are noted below.
| Name | Type | Purpose | When set |
|---|---|---|---|
jv_theme |
Cookie + local storage | Stores your chosen colour scheme (light / dark / auto). Stored as both a cookie (so the server can apply the theme before the page renders) and in local storage (for instant client-side application) | Only when you click the theme toggle |
jv_feed_prefs |
Local storage | Remembers your home feed filter preferences (e.g. which content types to show) | Only when you change feed filters |
jv_dismissed_notices |
Local storage | Records which community notice banners you have dismissed, so they do not reappear | Only when you dismiss a notice |
jv_chat_open |
Local storage | Remembers which message conversation panels you have open in the floating chat widget, so they persist as you navigate between pages | When you open or close a chat panel |
jv_more_open |
Local storage | Remembers whether the "More" navigation menu is expanded or collapsed | When you expand or collapse the menu |
jv_avatar_nudge_dismissed |
Local storage | Records that you have dismissed the "add a profile photo" prompt so it does not reappear | Only when you dismiss the prompt |
jv_last_feed_visit |
Local storage | Stores a timestamp of your last home feed visit so the platform can highlight content that is new since you last visited. No personal data is transmitted — the timestamp is compared entirely client-side | Automatically on each home feed visit |
jv_a2hs |
Local storage | Tracks how many times you have visited and whether you have dismissed the "Add JustVybe to your home screen" install prompt, so the prompt is shown only after a few visits and never shown again once dismissed. No data is sent anywhere | Automatically on each page load |
Referral cookie
This cookie is set only if you arrive at JustVybe by clicking an affiliate or referral link. It is not set during normal browsing.
| Name | Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
jv_ref |
Cookie | Stores an affiliate referral code when you click a referral link so that the referring affiliate can be credited if you subscribe. Does not track your browsing outside JustVybe | 30 days |
Analytics cookies
We do not currently use analytics cookies. Basic usage statistics are derived from server-side access logs (anonymised, not linked to individual user accounts). If we introduce client-side analytics in future, this policy will be updated and your consent will be sought before any analytics storage is set.
4. Third-party technologies
Some features of JustVybe load content or scripts from external services. These providers act as independent data controllers and may set their own cookies on your device. JustVybe does not control those cookies — each provider's own privacy and cookie policy applies.
Cloudflare Turnstile (bot protection)
The sign-up page and the "Report a problem" form use Cloudflare's Turnstile service to distinguish real users from automated bots. Turnstile analyses browser signals and may set challenge-related cookies. It is active only for visitors who are not logged in.
| Provider | Location | When active | Privacy policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare, Inc. | United States | Sign-up page and "Report a problem" form (unauthenticated visitors only) | cloudflare.com/privacypolicy |
Media embeds
When you view a vibe or track page that contains an embedded media player, your browser loads an iframe directly from the relevant platform. These platforms may set their own cookies when their player is displayed. Media embeds are only loaded on individual content pages that include them — they are not loaded during general browsing of JustVybe.
| Service | Type | Provider & location | Notes | Privacy policy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube | Video | Google LLC — United States | Privacy-enhanced mode (youtube-nocookie.com) used — cookies are not set unless you interact with the player |
policies.google.com/privacy |
| Vimeo | Video | Vimeo, Inc. — United States | Do Not Track flag (dnt=1) enabled — Vimeo does not track viewers |
vimeo.com/privacy |
| Rumble | Video | Rumble Inc. — United States | rumble.com/s/privacy | |
| Spotify | Audio | Spotify AB — Sweden | spotify.com/legal/privacy-policy | |
| SoundCloud | Audio | SoundCloud Limited — Germany | soundcloud.com/pages/privacy | |
| Mixcloud | Audio | Mixcloud Ltd — United Kingdom | mixcloud.com/privacy | |
| Deezer | Audio | Deezer SA — France | deezer.com/legal/privacy | |
| Audiomack | Audio | Audiomack LLC — United States | audiomack.com/privacy-policy | |
| Bandcamp | Audio | Bandcamp LLC — United States | bandcamp.com/privacy_policy |
Stripe (payments)
When you make a payment or set up a subscription, Stripe's payment forms may set their own cookies on your device for fraud prevention and session management. These are governed by Stripe's Privacy Policy. We do not control these cookies.
Advertising and tracking
We do not use advertising networks, tracking pixels, social media share buttons that track users across sites, or any technology that profiles you for advertising purposes. All fonts (Inter), icons, and scripts used by JustVybe are self-hosted, with the sole exceptions listed above.
5. Marketing communications (PECR)
JustVybe sends transactional and notification emails only to registered users (account alerts, order updates, messages). These are not marketing communications and can be managed in Settings → Notifications.
Where we contact businesses listed in our directory to invite them to verify or claim their listing, we do so under the PECR rules for business-to-business communications. Every such email:
- Clearly identifies JustVybe as the sender
- Provides a valid reply address (rick@justvybe.co.uk)
- Contains a one-click unsubscribe link — clicking it permanently removes the business from our outreach list
- Honours all unsubscribe requests immediately
If you represent a business and wish to unsubscribe from business communications, use the link in any email you received from us, or contact hello@justvybe.co.uk.
6. Managing your preferences
You can change your cookie preference at any time by clicking "Cookie settings" in the footer. This clears your stored consent and shows the banner again.
To clear local storage, you can use your browser's developer tools or storage settings:
- Chrome / Edge: Settings → Privacy and security → Clear browsing data → Cached images and files / Site data
- Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data → Clear Data
- Safari: Settings → Privacy → Manage Website Data
You can also manage cookies through browser settings:
Note: blocking or deleting the essential cookies (PHPSESSID and jv_session) will prevent you from logging in to JustVybe.
For general guidance, visit aboutcookies.org or the ICO's cookies guidance.
7. Changes to this policy
We will update this policy when we introduce new storage technologies or when our practices change materially. Where we introduce a new non-essential cookie or local storage item, we will update this page and, where appropriate, reset consent so you can review and confirm your preferences.
8. Contact us
If you have any questions about our use of cookies or similar technologies, contact us at hello@justvybe.co.uk.