Privacy Policy
Last updated: September 16, 2026
Trend Signal is a private creator research and analytics platform operated by Eric Barker. It helps authorized creators understand their own content performance, compare experiments and retain the reasoning around their creative decisions.
Information you provide
You may provide an account username and password, optional authenticator information, creator intent, predictions, research notes, hypotheses, experiments, analytics snapshots, audience observations and business or product outcome notes. You may also provide TikTok video URLs and publication details. These records can contain personal or commercially sensitive information, so access is restricted by account role.
TikTok information
When you authorize Trend Signal through TikTok Login Kit, the application requests user.info.basic, user.info.stats and video.list. The basic identity response is used to show the authorized TikTok account and to pin the connection to that account. Account statistics may include follower, following, like and video counts. video.list provides the authorized account’s public videos and available metadata and basic counters such as views, likes, comments and shares.
Trend Signal does not request user.info.profile, publishing permissions or engagement permissions. It does not claim access to TikTok Studio retention, traffic-source or other deep analytics unless you enter those separately from an appropriate source.
Tokens and security
OAuth access and refresh tokens are kept on the server and are not sent to browser JavaScript or included in normal research responses. Trend Signal uses server-side sessions, secure HttpOnly cookies, CSRF checks, password hashing, rate limiting and private file permissions. These are practical safeguards, not a guarantee that any system can never be compromised.
Why information is processed
Information is used to authenticate approved users, connect and periodically re-check the authorized TikTok account, append available analytics observations, preserve creator reasoning, compare treatments and produce the private research views you request. Automatic collection is limited to scheduled checks and stores observation timestamps; it does not publish or modify TikTok content.
Storage and providers
The hosted application is designed for Eric’s private DreamHost account. Research data, account records, backups and server-side tokens are stored in private application storage outside the public website directory. DreamHost provides the hosting infrastructure and may process technical data needed to operate the server. Trend Signal does not sell personal information and does not use it for targeted advertising.
Logs and disclosure
The application records limited security and audit information such as login-attempt protection, sign-ins, account changes and connection events. Information may be disclosed to the hosting provider as necessary to run the service, to a person Eric deliberately approves for a particular research release, or when required by law. Private future plans, predictions, competitive observations and unpublished notes remain owner-only by default.
Retention and deletion
Research records and analytics snapshots are retained as historical evidence until Eric or an authorized owner decides to remove them. Disconnecting TikTok or revoking authorization stops future collection; it does not automatically erase already recorded research. To request account deletion or deletion of stored Trend Signal information, email Eric@ericbarker.co with the account username and the records you want removed. Eric will handle the request manually, including consideration of private backups.
Your choices and rights
You can decline TikTok authorization, disconnect the account from the owner settings, revoke access through TikTok, request correction or deletion, and ask what Trend Signal stores about your account. Rights available to you may depend on where you live and the context of the request.
Children
Trend Signal is not intended for children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect information from children under 13.
Changes and contact
This policy may change when the service or its data practices change. The updated date above will change with a revision. Questions and privacy requests: Eric@ericbarker.co.