Cookie & Data Usage Policy

What Are Cookies and Tracking Technologies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit our website. Think of them as digital bookmarks that help us remember your preferences and provide personalized experiences. We also use web beacons, pixel tags, and local storage technologies to collect information about how you interact with our financial education platform.

These technologies work quietly in the background, capturing data about your browsing patterns, course progress, and feature usage. This information helps us understand what's working well and where we can improve your learning journey.

Types of Tracking We Use

Essential Cookies

These cookies are necessary for basic website functionality. Without them, you wouldn't be able to log into your account, maintain your session, or access course materials. We don't need your permission for these because they're fundamental to the service you've requested.

Functional Cookies

These enhance your experience by remembering your choices and preferences. They're not strictly necessary, but they make using our platform much more convenient. For instance, they remember your preferred language settings or which courses you've bookmarked.

Analytical Cookies

We use analytics tools to understand how people use our financial education resources. This data helps us identify popular content, spot areas where users struggle, and optimize our course materials. The information is aggregated and anonymized, so we can't identify individual users from this data.

Marketing and Advertising Cookies

These cookies help us show you relevant content and advertisements both on our site and across the web. They track your interests based on your browsing behavior, allowing us to present financial education topics that align with your learning goals.

How Tracking Enhances Your Experience

Data collection isn't just about gathering information – it's about creating a better learning environment. Here's how we use tracking data to improve your experience on teachwork.com:

Data Retention and Storage

We don't keep your data forever. Different types of information have different retention periods based on their purpose and legal requirements. Session cookies expire when you close your browser, while preference cookies might last up to two years so we can remember your settings.

Analytics data is typically retained for 26 months, giving us enough historical information to spot trends and make improvements. Marketing cookies usually expire after 90 days, though some advertising partners may have different timeframes.

Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You have several options for controlling how cookies work on your device. Most web browsers allow you to view, manage, and delete cookies through their settings menus. Here's how to access these controls in popular browsers:

Keep in mind that blocking all cookies might affect your ability to use certain features of our platform. Essential cookies are necessary for basic functionality, so disabling them could prevent you from accessing your account or completing course purchases.

Third-Party Services

We work with trusted partners to provide analytics, advertising, and other services. These companies may place their own cookies on your device when you visit our site. Each has their own privacy policies and data handling practices:

Our analytics providers help us understand user behavior and site performance. Advertising partners enable us to show relevant content and measure campaign effectiveness. Payment processors handle transaction security and fraud prevention.

While we carefully select our partners and require them to follow data protection standards, we recommend reviewing their privacy policies if you want to understand how they handle your information.

Your Rights and Choices

You have significant control over your personal data and how we use it. Under South African data protection laws and international privacy regulations, you can:

Updates to This Policy

Digital privacy regulations and our own practices evolve over time. When we make significant changes to this policy, we'll notify you through email or a prominent notice on our website. Minor updates, like clarifying existing practices or fixing typos, might not trigger a notification.

We encourage you to review this policy periodically, especially if you have concerns about data privacy or want to understand new features we've added to the platform.