Privacy Settings
Overview
Ultimate Social Proof includes privacy settings that help you comply with data protection regulations like GDPR while still showing compelling social proof notifications. These settings control how customer information appears in your toast notifications.
You'll find the privacy settings in your Shopify theme editor under the toast block settings, in the Behavior section.
Privacy Settings Explained
Mask Customer First Names
When enabled, this setting partially obscures customer names in your notifications for enhanced privacy.
How it works:
- Disabled (default): Shows full first names — "Jane from Sydney just purchased..."
- Enabled: Masks names with asterisks — "J*** from Sydney just purchased..."
Name masking shows only the first letter of the customer's name, replacing the remaining characters with asterisks. This approach maintains the personal, authentic feel of your notifications while protecting customer privacy.
Show City If Available
This setting controls whether location information appears in your notifications.
How it works:
- Enabled (default): Displays the customer's city — "Jane from Sydney just purchased..."
- Disabled: Hides location entirely — "Jane just purchased..."
City information adds authenticity and relatability to your notifications. However, some merchants prefer to hide it for privacy reasons or when their customer base is highly localized.
GDPR and Privacy Compliance
If you sell to customers in the European Union, you should be aware of how these settings relate to GDPR compliance.
Key Considerations
First names and cities are generally considered non-identifying data when shown in isolation. A notification showing "Jane from Paris" doesn't uniquely identify a specific person. However, privacy regulations vary by jurisdiction, and best practices continue to evolve.
Order information displayed in notifications is derived from your existing Shopify orders — data you already process as part of normal business operations. The social proof notifications don't collect any additional customer data.
No email addresses, last names, or specific addresses are ever shown in notifications. Ultimate Social Proof only uses first names and general city-level location data.
Privacy-First Approach
For maximum privacy compliance, you can:
- Enable name masking to partially obscure customer names
- Disable city display to remove location information entirely
- Use visitor count notifications instead of order notifications (these show aggregate numbers like "15 people viewing this" with no personal data)
Recommended Settings by Region
For EU and UK Merchants (GDPR/UK GDPR)
If most of your customers are in the EU or UK, consider the more privacy-conscious approach:
| Setting | Recommended | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Mask customer first names | Enabled | Adds an extra layer of privacy protection |
| Show city if available | Your choice | City-level location is generally acceptable, but disable if you prefer extra caution |
For US and Other Regions
Privacy requirements are generally less strict in the US and many other regions:
| Setting | Recommended | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Mask customer first names | Disabled | Full names create more authentic, trustworthy notifications |
| Show city if available | Enabled | Location adds credibility and relatability |
For Global Merchants
If you sell worldwide and want a single configuration that works everywhere:
| Setting | Recommended | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Mask customer first names | Enabled | Satisfies the strictest privacy requirements |
| Show city if available | Enabled | City information is widely accepted globally |
Important Notes
- This is not legal advice. Consult with a legal professional familiar with your specific situation and applicable laws.
- Consider your privacy policy. If you use social proof notifications, your privacy policy should mention that recent purchases may be displayed on your site (without personally identifying information).
- Settings apply site-wide. The privacy settings affect all notifications across your entire store.
Need Help?
If you have questions about which settings are right for your store, contact our support team. We're happy to help you find the right balance between effective social proof and customer privacy.