Privacy statement

mesh

We know you want to understand what we do with your data. Here you can read exactly what we collect, why, how long we keep it, and what rights you have—without wading through legal jargon.

Questions? Email info@meshfriends.nl.

1. Who are we?

mesh is a platform for platonic friendships, developed and operated by meshfriends V.O.F., based in the Netherlands.

meshfriends V.O.F. is the data controller within the meaning of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

2. What data do we collect?

2.1 Account data

When you register, we ask for:

• Email address
• Place of residence
• Date of birth (for age verification and matching)
• Gender (for matching)
• Life stage (for matching)
• Education (for matching)
• Friendship preferences (for matching)
• Interests (for matching)
• Postcode (for matching)
• Profile text (optional, provided by you)
• Profile photo (optional, provided by you)

2.2 Personality quiz

The heart of mesh is the personality quiz. By completing the quiz and finishing registration, we process your data to:

• Calculate a compatibility profile (the mesh score).
• Suggest potential matches based on personality, location, and life stage.
• Show AI-generated text that gives a character sketch of a profile, or explains why two profiles are compatible.

We never share your individual quiz answers as raw data with other users. A match only sees the shared compatibility dimensions (such as ‘Daily rhythm’ or ‘Social energy’), an AI-generated description, and the interests you have listed on your profile.

We may use anonymised and aggregated insights from quiz data to improve matching.

2.3 Scientific research

We work with universities and research institutions on research into friendship, social connection and loneliness. For this, we may share data about how mesh is used with them. Think of your answers to the questionnaire, your age and region, your matches, mesh requests sent and accepted, and whether a meetup was arranged.

When we do, we stick to these agreements:

• We replace your name and contact details with a code. We never share your photos, your profile text or the content of your chats.
• We only share the data needed for the research question.
• Researchers use the data only for that research, keep it in a secure environment and do not try to find out who you are. We record this per study in an agreement with the institution.
• Results are only published in a form in which you cannot be recognised.
• We never sell your data.

We do this on the basis of our legitimate interest: we want to understand how friendships form, so we can improve mesh and contribute to knowledge about loneliness.

Don’t want your data to be used for research? Let us know via info@meshfriends.nl. We will then no longer include your data in new research datasets.

Sometimes we ask you to take part in a separate questionnaire for research. Taking part is always voluntary, and we ask for your consent separately.

2.4 Usage and behavioural data

While you use the app we collect technical data:

• IP address (and the country it belongs to) and device type
• Session duration and click behaviour (via Microsoft Clarity)
• Page visits and feature usage (via Google Analytics)
• App crashes and error messages

In addition to technical data, we generate insights and derived data based on your quiz answers and use of the platform, such as the mesh score and compatibility dimensions.

We use this data solely to improve the platform. We do not use it for marketing.

2.5 Communication

If you contact us by email, we keep your message and email address so we can respond. In addition, mesh may analyse, access, store, and use messages between users to monitor, develop, and improve our services, in accordance with applicable law.

2.6 Payment data

Payments for subscriptions and mesh credits are processed via Mollie, the App Store (Apple), or Google Play, depending on how you made the purchase. mesh does not receive full payment details such as credit card numbers. We retain payment confirmations for our records.

2.7 Automated decision-making

The mesh score is calculated through automated processing of your quiz answers. This means automated suggestions play a role in assembling your matches. You have the right to object to this via info@meshfriends.nl.

2.8 Activities

When you organise an activity through mesh or sign up for one, we process data about that activity and your participation, including:

• the activities you organise or take part in, and their location, date and time;
• messages you post in an activity’s group chat;
• who you took part in an activity with.

When you organise an activity or sign up for one, this is visible to other users of that activity. Beforehand, your full profile is only visible to members with friend of mesh, both the organiser’s and the participants’; other members see limited information. Afterwards, all participants can view each other’s profiles and approach each other. For private activities, the organiser decides who can take part. We may take taking part in an activity together into account when suggesting new matches.

3. Why do we process your data?

We always process your data on a lawful basis. Below is which basis applies:

4. How long do we keep your data?

If you delete your account, your profile and quiz data are erased immediately.

5. Who do we share your data with?

We never sell your data. Full stop. We do work with a limited number of processors who help us run the platform:

We enter into data processing agreements with all processors in accordance with Art. 28 GDPR. Data is only transferred outside the EU if appropriate safeguards exist (such as an adequacy decision or standard contractual clauses).

In exceptional cases we may disclose data to government bodies if legally required.

6. Cookies and tracking

What are cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit our website or app. They help us run and improve the platform.

Which cookies do we use?

You can change your cookie preferences at any time via the cookie banner on our website.

7. Security

We take protecting your data seriously. Our measures include:

• Encryption of data in transit (HTTPS/TLS) and at rest.
• Limited access to personal data: only staff who need it for their work.
• Your quiz profile is visible only to users you have matched with.
• Regular security reviews and updates.

No system is 100% secure. If you suspect a data breach or security issue, report it immediately to info@meshfriends.nl.

8. Your rights

Under the GDPR you have the following rights:

Send your request to info@meshfriends.nl. We respond within 30 days. To prevent abuse we may verify your identity before fulfilling a request.

If you disagree with how we handle your data, you can lodge a complaint with the Dutch Data Protection Authority via autoriteitpersoonsgegevens.nl.

9. Minors

mesh is only for people aged 18 or over. We do not knowingly collect data from minors. If you notice an underage account, report it to info@meshfriends.nl. We will remove it as soon as possible.

10. Changes to this statement

We may update this privacy statement if the platform or the law changes. For material changes you will receive notice at least four weeks in advance by email or in the app. The latest version is always available at meshfriends.com/privacy.

11. Contact

Questions about this privacy statement or your data?

This privacy statement was last updated on 12 March 2026.