Skip to main content

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: September 15, 2026

1. Introduction

The Hobbinomicon ("we," "us," or "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard information when you visit our website.

This Privacy Policy applies to information we collect on this website and through email or other electronic communications.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

  • Submit our contact form (name, email address, subject, and message content)
  • Subscribe to our newsletter (email address only, submitted directly to Substack — see section 4.6)
  • Contact us via email

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our Site, we automatically collect certain information about your device through Google Analytics and the Meta pixel, including:

  • IP address (anonymized)
  • Browser type and version
  • Device type and operating system
  • Pages visited and time spent on pages
  • Referring website addresses
  • Date and time of visits
  • General location information (country/city level)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

  • Contact Form Submissions: To respond to your inquiries, comments, or questions
  • Website Analytics: To understand how visitors use our Site and improve user experience
  • Site Maintenance: To monitor and analyze Site performance and technical issues
  • Content Improvement: To understand what content is most valuable to our visitors
  • Security: To protect against malicious activity and maintain Site security
  • Advertising and Measurement: To measure how our advertising performs and to show ads to people who have visited the Site or signed up for our newsletter

WE DO NOT AND WILL NEVER:

  • Sell your personal information to third parties
  • Rent or lease your personal information
  • Share your email address with marketers or advertisers
  • Use your information for purposes other than those stated in this policy

4. Third-Party Services

4.1 Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to analyze how visitors use our Site. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect anonymous information including:

  • Number of visitors and page views
  • Traffic sources
  • Time spent on pages
  • Browser and device information

Google Analytics does NOT collect personally identifiable information. The data collected is used solely for understanding Site usage and improving content.

For more information on how Google uses data, visit: Google Privacy Policy

You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

4.2 Netlify Hosting

Our Site is hosted on Netlify. Netlify may collect technical information such as IP addresses and server logs for the purpose of providing hosting services. Netlify's privacy practices are governed by their Privacy Policy: Netlify Privacy Policy

4.3 Netlify Forms

Our contact form is processed through Netlify Forms. Information submitted through the contact form is stored securely by Netlify and accessed only by The Hobbinomicon for the purpose of responding to your inquiry.

4.4 Meta Pixel

We use the Meta pixel (Facebook and Instagram) to measure our advertising and to reach people who have already visited the Site. The pixel loads on every page and reports:

  • That a page on this Site was viewed, and which page it was
  • That a newsletter signup form was submitted, recorded as a "Lead" event
  • Standard technical information sent with any web request, including IP address, browser and device type, and referring page

We do not send your email address, name, or any other information you typed to Meta. The newsletter signup event records only that the form was submitted, not who submitted it or what address was entered. It carries two fixed labels identifying it as a newsletter signup on this Site, so we can tell it apart from activity on the other site that shares this pixel; those labels describe the event, not you. Because it reports the submission rather than a confirmed subscription, it fires even if the signup is not completed on Substack.

Data from this Site may be combined with data from other sites we operate. The Hobbinomicon and Yellow Imp Miniatures are both run by MDG Growth LLC and share advertising and measurement infrastructure. Meta may also combine what it collects here with information it already holds about you from your Facebook or Instagram account and from other sites and apps that use its tools.

Meta's handling of this data is governed by the Meta Privacy Policy and the Meta Business Tools Terms.

How to opt out. You have several options, and they work independently of each other:

  • Meta ad settings: If you have a Facebook or Instagram account, use Meta Ad Preferences to control how activity from other websites is used to target ads to you. Off-Facebook Activity lets you see and disconnect the activity businesses like ours have sent about you.
  • Browser controls: Blocking third-party cookies, using your browser's tracking protection, or using private browsing will limit or prevent the pixel from working. Content blockers stop it outright.
  • Do not use the Site: The pixel only runs while you are on our pages.

We do not currently show a cookie consent banner, so the pixel loads for every visitor. If we add one, it will control the pixel along with our other analytics, and this policy will be updated to say so.

4.5 YouTube

Our Site may embed YouTube videos. When you view pages with embedded YouTube videos, YouTube may set cookies on your device. YouTube's data practices are governed by Google's Privacy Policy.

4.6 Substack (Newsletter)

Our newsletter is published and delivered by Substack. The signup forms on this Site, including the one in the footer of every page, submit directly to Substack rather than to us. When you enter your email address and press the button, your browser sends that address to Substack and you are taken to Substack's site to finish signing up.

We never receive or store your email address ourselves. The subscriber list lives in our Substack account, where we can see it and send issues to it, but it is held and processed by Substack on their systems. We do not keep a copy anywhere else.

Substack may also collect information about how you interact with issues we send, such as whether an email was opened and which links were clicked, along with technical information about your device. We see this only in aggregate reporting inside Substack.

Substack is based in the United States, and your address is stored and processed there. Its handling of your information is governed by the Substack Privacy Policy and the Substack Terms of Use.

How to unsubscribe. Every issue has an unsubscribe link at the bottom, and it takes one click. You can also manage the subscription from your Substack account. Unsubscribing removes you from the list; if you want your data deleted from Substack entirely, contact Substack directly, since they hold it.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track activity on our Site. Cookies are small data files stored on your device.

We use the following types of cookies:

  • Analytics Cookies: Google Analytics cookies to understand Site usage
  • Advertising Cookies: Meta pixel cookies to measure advertising and show ads to previous visitors
  • Essential Cookies: Cookies necessary for the Site to function properly

You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, some portions of our Site may not function properly.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy:

  • Contact Form Submissions: Retained for as long as necessary to respond to your inquiry and for our records
  • Analytics Data: Retained according to Google Analytics retention settings (typically 26 months)
  • Advertising Data: Retained by Meta according to its own retention policies, which we do not control
  • Newsletter Subscriptions: Held by Substack for as long as you stay subscribed. Unsubscribing removes you from the list. We hold no copy of your address ourselves, so any further deletion is a matter for Substack

7. Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. Our Site uses HTTPS encryption to secure data transmission.

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

  • Access: Request access to the personal information we hold about you
  • Correction: Request correction of inaccurate personal information
  • Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
  • Objection: Object to processing of your personal information
  • Data Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at matt@hobbinomicon.com.

9. Children's Privacy

Our Site is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you become aware that a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us, and we will take steps to delete such information.

10. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws that are different from the laws of your country.

By using our Site, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and other countries where our service providers operate.

11. Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers have a "Do Not Track" feature that lets you tell websites that you do not want to have your online activities tracked. Currently, we do not respond to Do Not Track signals.

12. Links to Other Websites

Our Site may contain links to other websites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party's site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit.

We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date.

You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Email: matt@hobbinomicon.com

Website: https://hobbinomicon.com

15. Your Consent

By using our Site, you consent to this Privacy Policy and agree to its terms.