Teens Privacy Guide

Note: Our app is not intended for children under 13, and certain services are restricted to those under 18. Additionally, certain privacy settings are restricted to users under 16 or 18. Learn more about age restrictions and age-related settings on Rakuten Viber here.

When you sign up for Rakuten Viber, we ask for your phone number and name. You can also share personal details like your photo, date of birth, and email address, but that’s optional (we will still need you to confirm your age though). In addition, Rakuten Viber automatically collects some information from your device, like your device ID (a unique number for your phone) and information on how you use the app.

We use your information to allow you to use and enjoy Rakuten Viber. For example, we use your phone number to create your account and enable you to connect with your contacts, and use our various features, like lenses, stickers, participating in your favorite channels and communities, etc. We may also use information about your device to keep Rakuten Viber running smoothly, improve its services, ensure security and safety, and comply with the law. In order to keep our app viable, we also use some information to make the marketing messages you receive and ads you see on the app more personal and relevant.

Yes, other Rakuten Viber users can see some information about you, for example:

• People you’re chatting with can see your username, photo, and phone number. If you are below 16 and from the EEA or below 18 and from the UK, only your phone contacts will see your profile picture (but you can change that).
• They can also see if you’re online or if you’ve read their messages (but you can change that).

But don’t worry - strangers can’t see your phone number unless you’ve messaged them first. And no one can see your phone number when you interact in public spaces like communities or channels.

If you post content in public spaces like communities or channels, your posts can be seen by anyone on Rakuten Viber. They might even show up on search results.

Remember: Once you share something publicly, you lose control over it. Even if you delete your post, someone might have already saved or shared it. So, think carefully before posting personal information or anything you don’t want others to share.

We keep your data safe and mainly share it with companies who work with us to provide our services and improve the app. We never sell your personal data, and your private messages and calls stay private thanks to end-to-end encryption. Also, when we cooperate with authorities to protect safety or prevent illegal activity or comply with the law, we may have an obligation to share some information. Finally, we work with advertisers to show ads on Rakuten Viber, and for that, we share with them only very minimal info, for example, your device ID, the city you are from, or which age group you belong to.

Rakuten Viber is popular worldwide, and we work globally. That is why your information might be processed in other countries. We follow strict rules to keep your data safe no matter where it’s handled.

Yes, you might see advertising on Rakuten Viber. If you’re under 16 and live in the EEA /US, or you’re under 18 and live in the UK, then you’ll only see general ads. They are not customized based on your activity or preferences. In any case, you will never see ads intended for a mature audience until you reach 18.

No, Rakuten Viber does not see or read your personal messages or listen to your calls. Messages on private chats and 1-on-1 calls are encrypted, which means they’re turned into a secret code that only you and the person you are chatting with can read. Even Rakuten Viber doesn’t have the key to unlock this code.

We take your safety seriously and work hard to protect your information. We use strong security measures to protect your account and personal data, like tools that ensure your data stays private and secure. We also regularly check and update these protections to stay ahead of risks. Want to learn more? Check out our security page.

You have the right to know, access, correct, or delete your information. You can make these changes in your Rakuten Viber privacy settings or submit a request to our support team, who will be happy to guide you and help exercise any of your rights. Your parent or guardian can also make these requests for you.

Rakuten Viber gives you control over your privacy. Here is what you can do:

• Disappearing Messages: In your private chats, you can set a timer for your messages to disappear.
• Hide your online status: Choose whether others can see if you’re online.
• Hide “read” receipts: Choose whether others can see when you read a message.
• Friends suggestions: Choose whether to get suggestions of people who may know you.
• Control who can add you to groups: Decide if you want people not from your contacts to add you to group chats.
• Block List: You can always block contacts who bother you on Rakuten Viber and unblock them later.
• Hidden Chat: You can make your chats extra private, so that they won’t appear in your regular chat list, and secure them with a PIN code.
• Trusted Contacts:  Add extra security to private calls and chats by marking people you trust to have a secure connection with. You'll get notified if something goes wrong or changes with that secure connection. Message Requests: View and manage message requests from unknown senders in a separate inbox.
• Manage your profile picture: Decide who can see your picture—everyone, just your contacts or no one.
• Share your birth date: Control whether you want your friends to be notified of your birthday (sharing restricted for EEA/US/UK users below 16).

To access these settings, go to Settings > Privacy in the Rakuten Viber app.

Once a message is delivered, it is deleted from Rakuten Viber's servers. If the message can't be delivered within 14 days, it will be deleted from our servers. If you back up your chats (for example, using iCloud or Google Drive), they are stored by those services and will no longer be protected by Rakuten Viber’s encryption.

To delete your account completely, go to Settings > Account > Deactivate Account. This action will delete your Rakuten Viber account for good. But if you only want to delete your data, go to Settings > Privacy > Personal Data > Delete my data. This doesn’t delete your account, so your phone number, calls, and message history will stay with you.

If someone you don't know reaches out to you on Rakuten Viber, here is what you can do:

• Block them: This will prevent them from contacting you again.
• Report them: if their message is inappropriate or makes you feel uncomfortable, report them to Rakuten Viber. If you need any advice, feel free to contact our support team.

Always be cautious and avoid sharing personal information like your address, school, or passwords with strangers, even if they sound or look official.

Yes, we sometimes update our privacy policy to keep things fresh, so check back every now and then, and read our update notifications.

For more information, please review the rest of the Rakuten Viber Privacy Policy with your parent or guardian. If you have more questions about your privacy on Rakuten Viber, you can contact Rakuten Viber's Data Protection Officer using the online form, by email at DPO@viber.com, or by mail at: Viber Media S.à r.l., Attention: Data Privacy Officer, 2, rue du Fossé, L-1536 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.