Legal : Age Appropriate Design


Forly’s Approach to the Children’s Code

As Forly is an app-based storytelling product designed for children’s use on smartphones and tablets, there is a small amount of personal data collected about children who engage with the Forly experience. For more information on what personal data we collect and why, please see our Privacy Policy.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in the UK has released the Children’s Code (also known as the Age-Appropriate Design Code). The Code is designed to ensure that websites and Apps likely to be used by children are not designed in a way that exploits or disadvantages them—such as by pressuring them into making purchases or hiding critical information in the fine print.

Below, we’ve summarized the requirements of the Children’s Code and how Forly complies with them. We welcome your feedback. If you have suggestions or believe we’ve overlooked something important, please contact us at hello@forlygroup.com.

1. Best Interests of the Child

Forly’s app and stories are designed with the best interests of children in mind. Our focus is on providing a safe and engaging storytelling environment that encourages imagination and creativity—without unnecessary data collection or intrusive features.

2. Assessments and Application

  • Risk Assessments: We have assessed and taken steps to mitigate any privacy or security risks associated with children using the Forly App.

  • No Child-Only Accounts: Children are not permitted to create standalone Forly accounts. A parent or guardian must register and manage the account, providing only the minimal child-specific information necessary (such as first name or nickname, and age, if desired).

  • No Social Media Functionality: We do not offer chat rooms or social features where children can interact directly with each other. Our primary goal is to offer age-appropriate content, not create social networks.

  • Intended Age Range: Forly is designed with children aged 3 to 12 in mind. We tailor our user interface and content recommendations accordingly.

3. Detrimental Use of Data

We never use a child’s personal data in ways that could be harmful to their wellbeing or that contravene industry codes of practice, legal requirements, or government guidance. Our aim is to protect children’s privacy and provide a positive experience.

4. Default Settings (“High Privacy” by Default)

  • Minimal On-Screen Information: Forly offers a simple, intuitive interface designed to minimize confusion or risk for children.

  • No In-App Microphone or Camera Usage: We do not access microphones or cameras except where explicitly permitted by an adult user (for example, if a parent records a custom audio snippet).

  • Ad-Free Experience: Forly does not display ads to child profiles within the App.*

  • Parental Controls: Parents or guardians can manage settings, ensuring high-privacy defaults for child users.

*If in the future we offer third-party content that includes ads, we will clearly label and describe such content in the listing or description, so parents are fully informed.

5. Data Minimisation

  • Collection Only When Necessary: We only collect the minimal personal data required to provide our storytelling features.

  • Rolling Account Deletion Policy: If your Forly account remains inactive for two years, we will contact you before deleting the account. This process helps us reduce the unnecessary retention of data.

6. Data Sharing

We do not share children’s personal data with any third parties for marketing or other unrelated purposes. Any third-party services we use (for example, hosting or analytics) are contractually required to comply with strict data protection standards and never to use children’s data for their own benefit.

7. Geolocation

Forly does not actively track your child’s precise location. We may detect the approximate geographic location through IP address when the device is connected to Wi-Fi, but only as needed for specific features (e.g., to ensure regional content availability). We do not store or profile location data for marketing.

8. Profiling

We do not profile children or use automated decision-making to target children with personalized ads, content, or recommendations that could be detrimental to their wellbeing.

9. Policies and Procedures

We maintain and regularly review our internal policies and procedures to ensure they align with the Children’s Code and other data protection regulations. These measures help us safeguard children’s personal data and uphold their rights.

Have Questions or Feedback?

If you have any concerns or suggestions about how we handle children’s data or about any aspect of our compliance with the Children’s Code, please reach out to us at hello@forlygroup.com.

We appreciate your feedback and remain committed to protecting children’s privacy while creating inspiring, age-appropriate storytelling experiences.