Privacy Policy

Last Updated: July 27, 2026

Observed Effect respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how Observed Effect collects, uses, processes, stores, and shares information when you visit or interact with the Observed Effect website, including its polls, surveys, quizzes, accounts, comments, analytics, and other features.

For purposes of this Privacy Policy, “Observed Effect,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to the owner and operator of the Observed Effect website and services.

By using Observed Effect, you acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

The information we collect depends on how you interact with Observed Effect.

Information You Provide

You may voluntarily provide information when you:

• Participate in a poll, survey, or quiz;
• Create or manage an account;
• Submit comments, feedback, suggestions, or other content;
• Contact us;
• Subscribe to communications;
• Participate in promotions or other Site features; or
• Otherwise provide information directly to Observed Effect.

Depending on the feature, information you provide may include your name, username, email address, account information, poll or survey responses, quiz responses, demographic information, comments, written submissions, and other information you choose to provide.

You should not submit highly sensitive personal information through polls, comments, contact forms, or other Site features unless Observed Effect specifically requests that information for a legitimate purpose.

Poll, Survey, and Quiz Responses

Observed Effect collects responses submitted through polls, surveys, quizzes, and similar interactive features.

These responses may include opinions, preferences, experiences, knowledge, demographic information, or other information related to the subject of the poll, survey, or quiz.

Responses may be used individually for technical and administrative purposes and in aggregate for results, statistics, analytics, reports, visualizations, articles, rankings, historical comparisons, social media content, and other Observed Effect content.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, public poll or survey results are intended to display aggregated information rather than publicly identify individual participants.

However, participation should not necessarily be interpreted as technically anonymous. Observed Effect may process technical information associated with a response for security, fraud prevention, response-limit enforcement, analytics, and poll-integrity purposes.

2. Information Collected Automatically

When you access Observed Effect, certain information may be collected automatically by the Site or by service providers acting on our behalf.

This information may include:

• Internet Protocol (IP) address;
• Browser type and version;
• Device type;
• Operating system;
• Approximate geographic information derived from an IP address;
• Referring and exiting pages;
• Pages viewed;
• Dates and times of visits;
• Interaction with Site features;
• Cookie identifiers;
• Device or browser identifiers;
• Session information;
• Error and diagnostic information; and
• Other standard website log and usage information.

This information may be collected through server logs, cookies, local storage, analytics technologies, security tools, and similar technologies.

3. Poll Integrity and Response Limits

Observed Effect may use technical information to maintain the integrity of polls, surveys, quizzes, and other interactive features.

For example, we may use IP addresses, cookies, browser information, account information, device identifiers, or other technical signals to:

• Detect duplicate participation;
• Enforce response limits;
• Identify automated submissions;
• Detect suspicious voting patterns;
• Prevent bots, fraud, or manipulation;
• Investigate technical problems;
• Protect the integrity of published results; and
• Enforce the Observed Effect Terms of Use.

The specific methods used may vary depending on the poll or feature.

Observed Effect may retain certain technical information for a reasonable period when necessary to prevent circumvention of response restrictions, investigate suspected manipulation, or protect the Site.

We are not required to publicly disclose the specific technical methods used to detect or prevent manipulation.

4. How We Use Information

Observed Effect may use collected information to:

• Operate, maintain, and improve the Site;
• Provide polls, surveys, quizzes, results, accounts, and other Site features;
• Calculate and display poll and survey results;
• Create aggregate statistics and analytics;
• Generate charts, graphs, reports, rankings, and visualizations;
• Compare responses across polls, time periods, categories, or groups;
• Detect duplicate, fraudulent, manipulated, or automated responses;
• Enforce participation limits;
• Secure the Site and prevent abuse;
• Diagnose technical problems;
• Understand how visitors use the Site;
• Develop new features and content;
• Personalize aspects of the user experience where appropriate;
• Respond to questions, requests, or support inquiries;
• Send communications you have requested or consented to receive;
• Administer advertising, sponsorships, or affiliate programs;
• Protect the rights, safety, and property of Observed Effect, its users, and others;
• Comply with legal obligations; and
• Enforce our Terms of Use and other policies.

We may also use aggregated or de-identified information for research, analysis, publication, business, editorial, marketing, and other lawful purposes.

5. Aggregate and De-Identified Information

A primary purpose of Observed Effect is to collect responses and transform those responses into meaningful aggregate results.

We may combine responses from multiple users and use them to create statistics, percentages, charts, graphs, rankings, comparisons, reports, articles, downloadable materials, social media posts, historical datasets, and other content.

Once information has been aggregated or de-identified so that it cannot reasonably be associated with a particular individual, we may use and retain that information for any lawful purpose.

Deleting an account or requesting deletion of personal information does not necessarily require removal of your contribution from previously created aggregate statistics or de-identified datasets when those results can no longer reasonably be associated with you.

For example, if 500 users participated in a poll and your response contributed to a published percentage, deletion of your account would not ordinarily require Observed Effect to remove or recalculate previously published aggregate results unless required by applicable law.

6. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Observed Effect may use cookies and similar technologies to operate and improve the Site.

Cookies are small pieces of information stored on or associated with your browser or device.

Cookies and similar technologies may be used for purposes including:

• Maintaining sessions and account functionality;
• Remembering preferences;
• Enforcing poll or survey response limits;
• Preventing duplicate responses;
• Detecting fraud or abuse;
• Measuring Site traffic and usage;
• Understanding how users interact with content;
• Supporting security features;
• Providing or measuring advertising; and
• Improving Site performance.

Some cookies may be necessary for the Site to operate properly, while others may support analytics, advertising, personalization, or other functions.

Your browser may allow you to block, restrict, or delete cookies. Disabling certain cookies may prevent some Site features from functioning properly, including features designed to remember participation in polls or prevent duplicate responses.

Where required by applicable law, Observed Effect will provide appropriate choices regarding non-essential cookies and similar technologies.

7. Analytics

Observed Effect may use third-party analytics providers or analytics technologies to understand how visitors use the Site.

Analytics providers may collect information such as IP addresses, device information, browser information, pages visited, interaction data, referral information, and approximate location.

We may use analytics information to measure traffic, evaluate content performance, understand audience behavior, improve Site design, identify technical problems, and develop new features.

Information collected by third-party analytics providers may also be subject to those providers’ own privacy policies and terms.

8. Advertising, Sponsorships, and Affiliate Tracking

Observed Effect may display advertisements, sponsored content, affiliate links, or other commercial material.

Advertising and related service providers may use cookies, pixels, browser identifiers, device identifiers, or similar technologies to deliver, measure, limit, or evaluate advertising.

Some advertising technologies may use information about your activity on Observed Effect and other websites to provide advertising that may be more relevant to your interests.

Where applicable law provides a right to opt out of targeted advertising, cross-context behavioral advertising, the sale of personal information, or the sharing of personal information for advertising purposes, Observed Effect will honor those rights as required by law.

Observed Effect does not sell personal information to third parties in exchange for money.

However, certain disclosures involving advertising or analytics technologies may be legally defined as a “sale,” “sharing,” or “targeted advertising” activity under the privacy laws of certain jurisdictions even when no money is exchanged. Where those laws apply, users may exercise the applicable opt-out rights.

9. How We Share Information

Observed Effect does not disclose personal information to third parties simply because they request it.

We may disclose information in the following circumstances.

Service Providers

We may provide information to companies or individuals that perform services on our behalf, such as:

• Website hosting;
• Database hosting;
• Content delivery;
• Security and fraud prevention;
• Website analytics;
• Email delivery;
• Advertising;
• Technical support;
• Data storage;
• Backup services; and
• Other infrastructure or operational services.

These providers may process information only as necessary to perform their services or as otherwise permitted by their agreements and applicable law.

Legal Requirements and Protection

We may disclose information when we reasonably believe disclosure is necessary to:

• Comply with applicable law, regulation, court order, subpoena, or other valid legal process;
• Respond to lawful requests from governmental or law-enforcement authorities;
• Investigate suspected fraud, abuse, manipulation, or security incidents;
• Enforce our Terms of Use;
• Protect the rights or property of Observed Effect;
• Protect the safety or security of users or others; or
• Establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.

Business Transactions

If Observed Effect or substantially all of its assets are sold, transferred, merged, reorganized, acquired, or otherwise involved in a business transaction, information associated with the Site may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to applicable law.

With Your Direction or Consent

We may disclose information when you direct us to do so or provide consent for a particular disclosure.

Aggregated or De-Identified Information

We may share, publish, distribute, or commercially use aggregated or de-identified information that cannot reasonably be associated with a particular individual.

10. Public Information and User Content

Certain Site features may allow you to post or submit information that is intended to be publicly visible.

For example, comments, usernames, profile information, written responses, submissions, or other User Content may be publicly displayed depending on the feature.

Information you intentionally submit to a public area of Observed Effect should be considered public information.

Other users may view, copy, quote, screenshot, share, or otherwise interact with publicly available information. Observed Effect cannot control what third parties do with information after it has been made publicly available.

Poll and survey responses are not treated as publicly identifying information unless the applicable feature clearly indicates that individual responses or participant identities will be displayed.

11. Third-Party Websites, Services, and Embedded Content

Observed Effect may contain links to or embedded content from third-party websites and services.

Examples may include video platforms, social media services, advertising providers, analytics platforms, combat sports organizations, event websites, retailers, or other external resources.

Embedded content may allow the applicable third party to receive information about your device, browser, IP address, or interaction with that content.

Observed Effect does not control the privacy practices of third-party websites or services.

Your interaction with third parties is governed by their respective privacy policies and terms.

12. Account Information

If Observed Effect offers user accounts, we may collect information necessary to establish, maintain, secure, and administer those accounts.

This may include a username, email address, password or password credential, account preferences, account activity, and information associated with features you use.

Passwords should be stored using appropriate security protections rather than in readable form when technically supported by the systems used to operate the Site.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials.

13. Communications

If you subscribe to newsletters, notifications, or other marketing communications, we may use your contact information to send those communications.

You may unsubscribe from promotional email communications using the unsubscribe method included in the communication or another method we make available.

We may still send non-promotional communications when necessary to operate an account, respond to a request, provide security notices, or communicate about a transaction or Site-related matter.

14. Data Retention

Observed Effect retains personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including operating the Site, maintaining security, enforcing response restrictions, resolving disputes, complying with legal obligations, and enforcing agreements.

Different categories of information may be retained for different periods.

For example, information used to prevent duplicate poll participation may be retained for the duration of a poll or for an additional reasonable period necessary to detect manipulation or enforce response restrictions.

Account information may ordinarily be retained while an account remains active and for a reasonable period afterward as necessary for legitimate operational, security, legal, or recordkeeping purposes.

Aggregate and de-identified poll results may be retained indefinitely because they form part of Observed Effect’s historical datasets, publications, analyses, and content and are no longer reasonably associated with an identifiable individual.

We may also retain information when required to do so by law or when reasonably necessary to establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.

15. Data Security

Observed Effect uses reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures intended to protect information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure.

However, no website, database, transmission method, or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

You acknowledge that information transmitted or stored electronically involves some degree of security risk.

If we become aware of a data-security incident requiring notification under applicable law, we will provide legally required notifications.

16. Your Privacy Choices and Rights

Depending on where you live and the laws that apply to Observed Effect, you may have certain rights concerning your personal information.

These rights may include the ability to:

• Request access to personal information associated with you;
• Request correction of inaccurate personal information;
• Request deletion of certain personal information;
• Obtain information about categories of personal information collected or disclosed;
• Obtain a copy of certain personal information;
• Opt out of certain targeted advertising;
• Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information where legally defined and applicable;
• Limit certain uses of sensitive personal information where applicable;
• Withdraw consent when processing depends upon consent; and
• Appeal certain decisions concerning a privacy request where applicable law provides that right.

These rights are subject to applicable legal limitations and exceptions.

Observed Effect may need to verify your identity before fulfilling certain requests. We may also need additional information to determine which records relate to you.

You will not be discriminated against for exercising privacy rights provided to you by applicable law.

Privacy requests may be submitted through the contact methods provided on the Observed Effect website.

17. Privacy Preference Signals

Some browsers and extensions allow users to transmit automated privacy preference signals.

Where applicable law requires Observed Effect to recognize a legally valid opt-out preference signal, such as Global Privacy Control, we will process the signal as required by that law.

Other browser-based “Do Not Track” signals may not be recognized because there is no single universally adopted standard governing those signals.

18. Children’s Privacy

Observed Effect is a general-audience website and is not directed to children under 13 years of age.

Children under 13 should not create accounts, participate in polls or surveys, submit comments or other content, or otherwise provide personal information through Observed Effect.

Observed Effect does not knowingly collect personal information online from children under 13 without legally required parental consent.

If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 in circumstances where parental consent or another legal basis was required and was not obtained, we will take reasonable steps to delete the information as required by applicable law.

A parent or legal guardian who believes that a child under 13 has provided personal information to Observed Effect may contact us using the contact methods provided on the Site.

Content discussing children’s martial arts, youth competition, parenting, coaching, or other youth-related subjects does not mean that Observed Effect is directed toward children. Such content may be intended for parents, coaches, instructors, adult practitioners, organizers, and other members of the general combat sports community.

19. Users Outside the United States

Observed Effect is operated from the United States.

If you access the Site from another country, your information may be transferred to, stored in, or processed in the United States or other countries in which our service providers operate.

Privacy and data-protection laws in those countries may differ from the laws in your country.

Where applicable law imposes additional requirements regarding international data transfers or processing, Observed Effect will comply with those requirements to the extent they apply.

20. Changes to This Privacy Policy

Observed Effect may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in the Site, technology, business practices, legal requirements, or the ways we collect and use information.

When this Privacy Policy is updated, the “Last Updated” date at the top of the page will be revised.

When required by applicable law, we may provide additional notice or obtain consent before materially different privacy practices take effect.

We encourage users to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

21. Relationship to Other Observed Effect Policies

This Privacy Policy should be read together with the Observed Effect Terms of Use and Disclaimer.

The Terms of Use govern your use of the Site and contain additional provisions concerning accounts, User Content, Site access, intellectual property, limitations of liability, governing law, and dispute resolution.

Any disputes relating to the use of Observed Effect are subject to the governing-law and jurisdiction provisions contained in the Terms of Use to the extent permitted by applicable law.

22. Contact

Questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or Observed Effect’s privacy practices may be submitted using the contact information or contact methods provided on the Observed Effect website.

When submitting a privacy request, please provide enough information for us to reasonably identify the information or account involved and understand the request.