Cookies Policy
Effective Date: July 6, 2025
WatchAlong.me is designed with a minimal data footprint. We use cookies and similar tracking technologies sparingly — only where they are necessary to provide the Service or improve it in meaningful ways. This Cookies Policy explains exactly what cookies we use, what they do, and how you can manage them.
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that a website stores on your browser or device when you visit. They serve a variety of purposes — from keeping you logged in to remembering your preferences to helping site owners understand how their platforms are used.
Cookies can be:
- Session cookies — temporary files that expire when you close your browser
- Persistent cookies — files that remain on your device until they expire or you delete them
- First-party cookies — set directly by WatchAlong.me
- Third-party cookies — set by external services embedded on our platform
2. Cookies We Use
2.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the Service to function. Without them, core features like watch party rooms, real-time synchronization, and session management would not work. Because they are strictly necessary, they cannot be disabled.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| `wa_session` | Maintains your current session and room connection state | Session | First-party |
| `wa_room_token` | Associates your browser with a specific watch party room for synchronization | Session | First-party |
| `wa_csrf` | Protects against cross-site request forgery attacks | Session | First-party |
2.2 Functional Cookies
These cookies remember your preferences to provide a more personalized experience. They are not strictly necessary but improve your experience significantly.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| `wa_theme` | Remembers the last chat theme you selected | 30 days | First-party |
| `wa_video_quality` | Remembers your preferred video quality setting | 30 days | First-party |
| `wa_cam_preference` | Remembers whether you had your camera on in your last session | 30 days | First-party |
2.3 Analytics Cookies
We use anonymized analytics to understand how users interact with WatchAlong.me — which features are used, which pages are visited, and how traffic flows through the site. This helps us improve the platform. All analytics data is aggregated and anonymized; it is never linked to individual users.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| `_wa_analytics` | Tracks anonymized page views and feature usage | 12 months | First-party |
We do not use Google Analytics or other third-party analytics services that involve sharing your data with external companies.
2.4 Third-Party Video Player Cookies
When you watch a video on WatchAlong.me through an embedded player (YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion), that platform's own cookies may be set in your browser. These are set by the respective platform and governed by their own cookie policies:
- YouTube (Google): https://policies.google.com/technologies/cookies
- Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/cookie_policy
- Dailymotion: https://www.dailymotion.com/legal/cookiemanagement
WatchAlong.me does not control these third-party cookies and recommends reviewing each platform's policy if you have concerns.
2.5 Browser Extension Local Storage
The WatchAlong browser extension uses your browser's local storage (not traditional cookies) to remember:
- Your last used room ID for quick reconnection
- Your video chat preference (on/off)
- Your chat theme preference
This data is stored locally on your device and is never transmitted to our servers.
3. What We Do NOT Use Cookies For
We want to be explicit about what our cookies are not used for:
- We do not use cookies for targeted or behavioral advertising
- We do not share cookie data with advertising networks
- We do not use cookies to track your activity across other websites
- We do not use cookies to build personal profiles or infer demographic characteristics
- We do not use any tracking pixels or beacon technologies
4. Managing Your Cookie Preferences
4.1 Browser Settings
You can control and delete cookies through your browser settings. Here's how to manage cookies in the major browsers:
- Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
- Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
- Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
- Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Cookies and site data
Please note that disabling strictly necessary cookies may prevent parts of WatchAlong.me from functioning correctly.
4.2 Opt-Out of Analytics
If you wish to opt out of our anonymized analytics tracking, you can do so by:
- Enabling "Do Not Track" in your browser settings (we honor this signal)
- Using a browser extension such as uBlock Origin or Privacy Badger
- Contacting us at [email protected] to request opt-out
4.3 Managing Third-Party Cookies
To control cookies set by YouTube, Vimeo, and other embedded video platforms, you can use the privacy settings within those platforms' accounts, or use browser-level cookie controls to block third-party cookies.
5. Cookie Consent
On your first visit to WatchAlong.me, you may be presented with a cookie consent banner. This banner distinguishes between strictly necessary cookies (which we use by default) and functional/analytics cookies (which require your consent where applicable under GDPR and similar laws).
You can update your consent preferences at any time by clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in our website footer.
6. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookies Policy to reflect changes in our cookie use or applicable law. The "Effective Date" at the top will always reflect the most recent revision. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
7. Contact
Questions about our use of cookies? Email: [email protected] Website: https://watchalong.me
Frequently Asked Questions About Cookies
Does WatchAlong.me use advertising cookies? No. We do not use any advertising, retargeting, or behavioral tracking cookies. Our cookies are limited to session management, functional preferences, and anonymized analytics.
Will disabling cookies break WatchAlong.me? Disabling strictly necessary cookies will prevent the synchronization service from working. Disabling functional cookies will mean your preferences (chat theme, camera setting) won't be remembered between sessions. Disabling analytics cookies has no impact on functionality.
Does the browser extension use cookies? The extension uses browser local storage (not cookies) to remember preferences. This data stays on your device and is not transmitted to our servers.