Requesting to delete a user
Currently, a user may request to have their account deleted by reaching out to the help email within their specific community.
If a user makes a deletion or privacy-related request directly to Gradual, we will process their request as governed by our Data Processing Agreement with our customers and the relevant privacy regime.
Once you receive a deletion request from a user, you may pass that to Gradual by emailing [email protected].
How We Handle Data When a User Account Is Deleted
When a user account is deleted on Gradual, we take steps to protect their privacy while maintaining the integrity of community content and analytics. This process is designed to comply with data protection regulations such as GDPR and CCPA.
When a user is deleted:
Personal data is permanently removed
Content remains but is fully anonymized
Analytics and counts remain accurate
Deleted users cannot be identified or accessed
Below is a detailed summary of what happens to a user’s data after deletion in specific cases.
What Gets Fully Removed
Once a user is deleted, their personal profile and identifiable information are removed across the platform.
Profile and Account Data
The user’s profile is permanently removed.
Their profile will no longer appear in:
People directory
Contributors lists
Club member and leader lists
Search results
Bookmarks
Attempting to access their profile via a direct link will result in a 404 (page not found).
At the time of writing, once a user account is deleted, that same email cannot be used to sign up for the same Gradual community in the future.
Admin and Dashboard Records
The user is removed from all admin and dashboard views, including:
Member lists
Segments and reports
Permissions and roles
Event staffing (hosts, moderators, collaborators)
Club memberships and leadership roles
Any roles tied to the user (such as speaker or moderator) are unlinked.
What Gets Anonymized (Not Deleted)
To preserve conversations, analytics, and overall platform integrity, some data remains but is fully anonymized.
Identity Replacement
Wherever the user previously appeared:
Their name is replaced with “Deleted User”
Their title and company are removed
Their profile photo is replaced with a default avatar
Their profile can no longer be accessed
Content Created by the User
User-generated content is not deleted, but anonymized.
Forum Posts, Comments, and Content
Posts and comments remain visible
The author is shown as “Deleted User”
No personal information is displayed
Profile links and pop-ups are disabled
Notifications
Notifications reflect anonymized activity, for example:
“Deleted user commented on your post”
“Deleted user replied to your comment”
Engagement and Activity Data
Messages (Direct, Group, and Channels)
Conversations remain intact
The user appears as “Deleted User”
No profile access is available
Likes and Reactions
Reaction counts remain unchanged
Notifications are anonymized, for example:
“Deleted user reacted to your post”
Mentions
Mentions of the deleted user are updated to “Deleted user”
Mentions made by the deleted user remain unchanged
Events, Attendance, and Analytics
To maintain accurate reporting:
Event attendance and registrations remain counted
The user appears as “Deleted User” in:
Attendee lists
Livestream and event participation views
Analytics and statistics (such as forum activity and reactions) are not altered
Admin Views and Data Exports
In admin tools and exported files:
The user’s personal data is removed
Any remaining references display “Deleted user” with no identifiable information
This applies to:
Event attendee lists
Forum moderation logs
Comments and posts
Leads and contribution records
If you have questions about data deletion or privacy, please contact our support team at [email protected] or our privacy team at [email protected].