Better Youtube: Reduce Distraction Privacy Policy

1.1 Purpose of This Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to the Chrome extension Better Youtube: Reduce Distraction (the "Extension"). It explains what data the Extension processes, how it is used, where it is stored, and what choices users have.

1.2 Product Function

The Extension helps users reduce distractions on YouTube by allowing them to hide selected interface elements (for example, recommendations, Shorts sections, comments, live chat, and sidebar entries) through a page-based popup control panel. The Extension also shows a local "Today's YouTube Watch Time" counter.

1.3 Scope

This policy applies only to the Extension itself. It does not apply to YouTube, Google, Ko-fi, Discord, or any other third-party websites, services, or their privacy practices.

2.1 Data Processed for Core Functionality

The Extension processes only the data necessary to provide its interface customization and watch-time features.

• (a) User-selected feature toggle states (for example, which YouTube UI elements to hide).
• (b) Popup interface preferences, including selected language.
• (c) Local daily watch-time data (date key, accumulated seconds, timing state).
• (d) The current active tab and window focus state, used to determine whether watch time should be counted.
• (e) The current YouTube page context (for example, Home, Video, Shorts, Subscriptions, or You) to show the most relevant popup tab.
• (f) YouTube page labels or structural elements needed to match and hide user-selected interface items.

2.2 Data Not Collected by the Extension

The Extension is not designed to collect personally identifying information such as your name, email address, phone number, passwords, payment information, or private messages.

The Extension does not operate a remote backend for feature settings or watch-time storage and does not send this data to the developer's server.

2.3 Data Sources

Data processed by the Extension comes from the following sources:

• (a) User interactions with the popup UI (turning features ON/OFF, changing language, using search, opening support links).
• (b) The YouTube page currently open in the browser tab, only to detect page type and apply selected hiding rules.
• (c) Browser extension storage used to persist settings and the local watch-time counter.

3.1 Interface Customization

The Extension reads the user's saved toggle settings and applies those settings on YouTube pages to hide or show selected interface elements. This includes page-specific controls for Home, Video, Shorts, Subscriptions, and You pages.

3.2 Watch-Time Counter

The Extension calculates a local daily watch-time counter by checking whether the active, focused tab is a YouTube watch or Shorts page. It stores the counter value so the popup can display "Today's YouTube Watch Time."

3.3 Popup Experience and Language

The Extension stores the selected popup language and uses it to render translated UI labels and support content. It may also use multilingual keyword matching to improve reliability when identifying certain YouTube entries across supported languages.

4.1 Chrome Storage (Settings and Preferences)

The Extension stores feature settings and popup preferences using Chrome extension storage so users do not need to reconfigure the Extension each time the browser is opened.

4.2 Local Watch-Time State

The daily watch-time counter is stored locally in Chrome extension storage and resets by date. The Extension uses this stored state only to update and display the watch-time total in the popup UI.

4.3 Retention and Removal

Settings and local watch-time data are retained in the browser's extension storage until they are changed, cleared, or the Extension is removed by the user. Users can remove the Extension at any time through the browser's extension management page.

5.1 "storage" Permission

Used to save feature toggle settings, popup language preference, and local daily watch-time state so the Extension can function consistently across sessions.

5.2 "tabs" Permission

Used to detect the current active YouTube page for page-based popup navigation, communicate with the active tab's content script, support watch-time counting logic, and open optional user-initiated links (Donate and Discord) in new tabs.

5.3 "alarms" Permission

Used to run a lightweight periodic background task so the local watch-time counter can stay accurate while the browser is open.

5.4 Website Access (YouTube Domains Only)

The Extension runs content scripts on YouTube domains only (including subdomains) so it can detect page type and apply user-selected interface hiding rules. The Extension does not request host access for unrelated websites.

6.1 No Sale or Server-Side Sharing by the Extension

The Extension does not sell user data and does not transmit feature settings or local watch-time data to a developer-operated server as part of its normal functionality.

6.2 User-Initiated External Links

The popup includes optional buttons that may open external websites (for example, Ko-fi and Discord) only when the user clicks them. When a user leaves the popup to visit a third-party website, that website's own terms and privacy policy apply.

7.1 Local Processing Design

The Extension is designed to perform its UI customization and watch-time features locally in the browser. However, no software can guarantee absolute security, and users should keep their browser updated and review installed extensions regularly.

8.1 Optional Use of Features

Users can enable or disable features individually, use bulk ON/OFF controls, change popup language, and stop using the Extension at any time.

8.2 Removing the Extension

Users may uninstall the Extension through the browser extension manager to stop all processing by the Extension.

9.1 Policy Updates

This Privacy Policy may be updated to reflect changes to the Extension's features, permissions, or legal requirements. The updated version will be published on this page with a revised effective date.

10.1 Contact Email

For questions about this Privacy Policy or the Extension, contact: ThatDeveloperSteven138@gmail.com