Community Guidelines

1. Purpose and Philosophy

1.1 Why These Guidelines Exist

The Platform exists to enable: Expression, Interaction, Creativity, and Community building. At the same time, we are committed to: User safety, Legal compliance, Platform integrity, and Responsible expression. These Guidelines define clear boundaries to protect users and the Platform.

1.2 Balance Between Expression and Safety

We aim to balance freedom of expression with protection from harm, abuse, and illegal activity. Not all harmful behavior is illegal, and not all legal behavior is acceptable on the Platform.

1.3 Scope of Application

These Guidelines apply to:

• Posts, Comments, Images, videos, audio
• Usernames and bios, Messages (where applicable)
• Profile behavior
• Off-platform behavior that directly and demonstrably impacts Platform safety

2. General Community Standards

All users must adhere to the following baseline standards.

2.1 Respect and Dignity

Users must treat others with respect, avoid harassment or humiliation, and engage in good faith interactions.

We do not tolerate behavior intended to: Degrade, Dehumanize, Intimidate, or Silence others.

2.2 Authenticity

Users must not:

• Impersonate individuals or organizations
• Misrepresent identity, affiliation, or credentials
• Operate fake or deceptive accounts

Authenticity is critical to trust and safety.

2.3 Lawful Use

Users must not use the Platform to:

• Violate any applicable law
• Evade law enforcement
• Promote illegal activity

Illegal content will be removed and may be reported to authorities where required.

3. Prohibited Content Categories

The following content is strictly prohibited.

3.1 Hate Speech and Harassment

Content is prohibited if it includes:

• Attacks based on race, caste, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, or similar protected characteristics
• Slurs, demeaning language, or dehumanizing expressions
• Calls for exclusion, segregation, or discrimination

This includes: Direct attacks, Indirect coded language, Memes or symbols used to harass.

3.2 Threats, Violence, and Harm

Prohibited content includes:

• Threats of physical harm
• Calls for violence
• Celebration or glorification of violence
• Instructions to harm oneself or others

Credible threats may result in immediate account suspension and escalation.

3.3 Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

We strictly prohibit:

• Sexual exploitation
• Non-consensual sexual content
• Sexual violence or coercion
• Pornographic content involving minors (zero tolerance)

Any content involving child sexual exploitation will be: Removed immediately and Reported to appropriate authorities.

3.4 Terrorism and Extremism

Prohibited content includes:

• Promotion of terrorist organizations
• Praise or advocacy of extremist ideology
• Recruitment or fundraising for such groups

Educational or journalistic discussion may be allowed in limited contexts.

3.5 Misinformation Causing Harm

We may remove content that:

• Intentionally spreads false information
• Causes public harm (health, safety, civic processes)
• Is part of coordinated misinformation campaigns

Context, intent, and impact are considered.

4. Abuse, Spam, and Manipulation

4.1 Harassment and Bullying

Harassment includes:

• Repeated unwanted contact
• Targeted insults
• Coordinated attacks
• Doxxing or threats of exposure

Harassment severity and repetition affect enforcement level.

4.2 Spam and Platform Abuse

Prohibited spam behaviors include:

• Mass posting or commenting
• Scam links
• Fake engagement
• Automated or bot activity
• Engagement manipulation

5. Impersonation

Impersonation includes:

• Using another person's name or image deceptively
• Pretending to represent organizations or officials
• Fake verified-style accounts

Impersonation may lead to immediate removal.

6. Intellectual Property

Users must respect intellectual property rights. Do not post content that infringes on copyrights, trademarks, patents, or other proprietary rights without proper authorization or legal basis (such as fair use).

7. Child Safety

We have zero tolerance for content that exploits, endangers, or sexualizes minors. Any such content will be removed immediately and reported to relevant authorities. Users are encouraged to report any suspected child exploitation content.

8. Reporting Content and User Behavior

8.1 Who Can Report

Any User may report: Content, Accounts, Messages (where applicable), Behavior that violates these Guidelines or applicable law.

Reports are available to: Affected users, Bystanders, Rights holders (e.g., IP owners).

8.2 What Can Be Reported

Reportable violations include, but are not limited to:

• Hate speech or harassment
• Threats or violence
• Sexual exploitation or abuse
• Child safety violations
• Spam, scams, or fraud
• Impersonation
• Intellectual property infringement
• Terrorism or extremist content
• Privacy violations

8.3 How to Submit a Report

Reports may be submitted via:

• In-platform reporting tools
• Designated reporting forms
• Email or other official communication channels (for legal notices)

Reports should include:

• Identification of the content or account
• Description of the issue
• Supporting context or evidence (if available)

Incomplete reports may delay review.

8.4 Anonymous Reporting

Where supported, reports may be submitted anonymously. However: Anonymous reports may limit follow-up, and false or malicious reports remain prohibited.

8.5 Report Review Process

Upon receiving a report, the Platform may:

• Perform automated checks
• Queue the report for human review
• Take temporary precautionary action (e.g., visibility restriction)

8.6 Review Criteria

Reported content or behavior is assessed based on:

• These Community Guidelines
• Applicable laws
• Context and intent
• Severity and potential harm
• User history and patterns

8.7 Review Timelines

We aim to review reports within a reasonable timeframe. Timelines may vary depending on: Volume of reports, Complexity of the case, Severity and risk level. Emergency cases may be prioritized.

8.8 Outcomes of Reports

After review, we may:

• Take no action
• Remove or restrict content
• Apply warnings or strikes
• Suspend or terminate accounts
• Escalate to authorities where required

8.9 Notification

Where appropriate, we may notify: The reporting User, The affected User. Notifications may be limited to protect privacy, safety, or investigation integrity.

9. Enforcement Actions

9.1 Enforcement Philosophy

Enforcement exists to:

• Protect users from harm
• Maintain trust in the Platform
• Prevent misuse and abuse
• Comply with legal obligations

Enforcement is not punitive by default. It is protective and corrective, escalating only when necessary.

9.2 Enforcement Action Types

Content-Level Actions (applied to individual posts, comments, or media):

• Content removal
• Content visibility restriction
• Warning labels or notices
• Temporary blocking of interactions
• Demonetization of specific content

Account-Level Actions (applied to user accounts):

• Warning notices
• Feature restrictions (posting, commenting, messaging)
• Temporary suspension
• Permanent account termination
• Device, IP, or identity-based restrictions in cases of abuse, evasion, or repeat violations

Emergency Actions (in cases involving):

• Credible threats
• Child safety risks
• Terrorism or extremism
• Court or government orders

We may take immediate action without prior notice.

9.3 Severity Tiers

Tier 1 – Low Severity Violations

Examples: Minor spam, Off-topic posting, Accidental guideline breaches, Non-malicious policy misunderstandings

Typical Enforcement: Educational warning, Content removal, No strike or limited impact

Tier 2 – Medium Severity Violations

Examples: Repeated harassment, Hate-adjacent language, Spam with intent, Impersonation without widespread harm

Typical Enforcement: Content removal, Formal warning, Temporary feature restrictions, Strike added to account

Tier 3 – High Severity Violations

Examples: Hate speech, Threats of violence, Coordinated harassment, Scams or fraud, Non-consensual sexual content

Typical Enforcement: Immediate content removal, Temporary suspension, Multiple strikes, Monetization removal

Tier 4 – Zero-Tolerance Violations

Examples: Child sexual exploitation, Terrorist propaganda, Credible violent threats, Severe criminal activity

Typical Enforcement: Immediate permanent account termination, Reporting to authorities where required, No appeal eligibility in most cases

9.4 Strike System

A "strike" is a formal record of a policy violation. Strikes help identify repeat offenders, escalate enforcement fairly, and protect the Platform community.

Strike Accumulation

Strikes may accumulate based on severity, frequency, and pattern of behavior.

Example escalation:

• 1 strike → Warning / limited restriction
• 2 strikes → Temporary suspension
• 3 strikes → Long suspension or termination

Strike Expiry

Strikes may expire after a defined period, be reduced for good behavior, or remain permanent for severe violations. Strike expiry is not guaranteed.

9.5 Enforcement Matrix

This table is illustrative, not exhaustive.

9.6 Factors Considered in Enforcement

When deciding enforcement actions, we may consider:

• Intent (accidental vs malicious)
• Context and surrounding content
• Targeted vs general behavior
• Prior violation history
• User cooperation
• Potential or actual harm

9.7 No Guarantee of Warnings

We may skip warnings and proceed directly to suspension or termination where: Harm is severe, Risk is imminent, or Law requires immediate action.

9.8 Circumvention and Evasion

Users must not attempt to evade enforcement by:

• Creating new accounts
• Using alternate identities
• Using VPNs or proxies to bypass bans
• Transferring control to others

Circumvention is treated as a separate violation.

10. Appeals Process

10.1 Who Can Appeal

Users may appeal: Content removal, Account suspension, Feature restrictions, Demonetization decisions.

Appeals are generally available to the affected account holder.

10.2 How to Submit an Appeal

Appeals must be submitted through: In-platform appeal tools or Designated support channels.

Appeals should include:

• Reference to the enforcement action
• Explanation or context
• Any relevant supporting information

10.3 Appeal Review

Appeals may be reviewed by: Human moderators, Internal compliance teams, or Automated systems (where appropriate).

Not all appeals are guaranteed human review unless required by law.

10.4 Appeal Outcomes

Appeal decisions may result in:

• Reversal of enforcement
• Modification of enforcement
• Confirmation of enforcement

Decisions are final, subject to statutory rights.

10.5 Reinstatement Eligibility

Temporary Suspensions: Users suspended temporarily may be reinstated after suspension period ends and required actions are completed (if any).

Permanent Terminations: Generally not eligible for reinstatement. Exceptions may apply in rare cases involving clear error, identity theft, or successful appeal based on new evidence.

No Guaranteed Reinstatement: Reinstatement is discretionary and not guaranteed, even after appeal.

10.6 Abuse of Reporting or Appeals

Submitting reports that are knowingly false, misleading, or intended to harass or silence others may result in enforcement action against the reporting User.

Repeated, frivolous, or bad-faith appeals may result in appeal restrictions or additional enforcement actions.

Grievance Redressal Mechanism

In compliance with the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the Platform has appointed a Grievance Officer to address user complaints and concerns related to content moderation, enforcement actions, and policy violations.

• Name: Grievance Officer – Vibeshared
• Designation: Grievance Officer
• Email: support@vibeshared.com
• Address: India (Correspondence via email only)
• Response Timeline: Acknowledgment within 24 hours and resolution within 15 days

11. Special Content Categories

Certain types of content require context-sensitive moderation. These categories are not automatically violations but are reviewed with additional care.

11.1 News, Journalism, and Public Interest Content

Content shared for news reporting, documentary purposes, academic research, or public awareness may include references to violence, extremism, hate speech, or criminal activity.

Such content may be allowed where: The intent is informational or critical, There is no promotion or endorsement, and Context is clear and not misleading.

We may apply reduced distribution, warning labels, or context notices.

11.2 Satire, Parody, and Artistic Expression

Satirical or artistic content may reference public figures, social issues, or controversial topics.

However, satire does not exempt content from enforcement where it targets protected groups with hate, encourages violence, causes real-world harm, or is used as a cover for abuse.

Context, audience, and history are considered.

11.3 Educational and Historical Content

Educational material discussing historical events, extremist ideologies, or criminal cases may be permitted where the purpose is clearly educational, there is no glorification or advocacy, and presentation is responsible.

11.4 Political and Civic Content

Political expression is generally allowed, including opinions, criticism of public policy, and civic discussion.

However, prohibited behavior includes: Voter suppression, Election interference, Coordinated political misinformation, Paid political influence without disclosure (where applicable).

12. Off-Platform Behavior and Platform Safety

12.1 When Off-Platform Behavior Matters

We may consider off-platform behavior where it:

• Poses a credible risk to users
• Demonstrates intent to cause harm on the Platform
• Is directly linked to Platform abuse
• Involves severe criminal activity

This authority is exercised sparingly and cautiously.

12.2 Evidence and Verification

Off-platform enforcement may require credible evidence, clear linkage to Platform activity, and internal review.

13. User Education and Prevention

13.1 Preventive Measures

We may use educational prompts, warnings before posting, safety reminders, and policy explanations.

These measures aim to reduce accidental violations and encourage responsible behavior.

13.2 No Guarantee of Prevention

Preventive tools do not guarantee a violation-free experience or immunity from enforcement. Users remain responsible for compliance.

14. Updates to Community Guidelines

14.1 Right to Update

We may update these Guidelines to reflect legal or regulatory changes, new safety risks, platform feature changes, or community feedback.

14.2 Notification of Changes

Material updates may be communicated via platform notices, updated "Effective Date" date, or in-app messages.

Continued use of the Platform after updates may constitute acceptance, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

15. Relationship to Other Policies

These Community Guidelines must be read together with: Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Additional feature-specific policies.

In case of conflict, Terms & Conditions shall prevail.

16. User Acknowledgement

By accessing or using the Platform, you acknowledge that:

• You have read and understood these Community Guidelines
• You agree to comply with them
• You understand that violations may result in enforcement actions