Platform Community Guidelines

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:

• Write community guidelines for a marketplace, forum, or platform
• Define acceptable use policies and content standards
• Create enforcement procedures with escalation levels
• Establish appeal processes for policy violations

DO NOT use this skill for terms of service (consult a lawyer), privacy policies, or employee handbooks. This is for user-facing community guidelines.

Core Principle

COMMUNITY GUIDELINES SET THE CULTURE — THEY MUST BE CLEAR ENOUGH THAT USERS KNOW THE BOUNDARIES AND FAIR ENOUGH THAT ENFORCEMENT FEELS JUST, NOT ARBITRARY.

Phase 1: Brief

Required Inputs

GATE: Confirm the brief before writing.

Phase 2: Structure

Guidelines Outline

1. Introduction — Why these guidelines exist and who they apply to
2. Our Values — 3-5 community principles
3. Expected Behavior — What good participation looks like
4. Prohibited Behavior — What is not allowed (categorized)
5. Content Standards — Rules for listings, posts, reviews, and messages
6. Enforcement — What happens when guidelines are violated
7. Reporting — How to report violations
8. Appeals — How to appeal a decision
9. Updates — How guidelines are updated

GATE: Confirm the structure before drafting.

Phase 3: Write

Introduction

"These guidelines help keep [Platform] a safe, productive place for everyone. They apply to all users — buyers, sellers, and visitors. By using [Platform], you agree to follow these guidelines. We review and update them as our community grows."

Community Values (choose 3-5)

• Respect — Treat every user the way you would want to be treated
• Honesty — Represent yourself, your products, and your services accurately
• Safety — Keep transactions and interactions on the platform for everyone's protection
• Quality — Maintain high standards in what you list, sell, and communicate
• Fairness — Compete on merit, not manipulation

Prohibited Behavior Categories

Fraud and Misrepresentation

• Fake listings, counterfeit goods, or misleading descriptions
• Impersonating another person or business
• Manipulating reviews or ratings
• Bait-and-switch pricing

Harassment and Abuse

• Threats, intimidation, or bullying
• Hate speech based on race, gender, religion, orientation, or disability
• Doxxing or sharing personal information without consent
• Repeated unwanted contact after being asked to stop

Spam and Manipulation

• Posting duplicate or irrelevant listings
• Unsolicited promotional messages
• Creating multiple accounts to circumvent limits
• Artificially inflating metrics (views, reviews, rankings)

Off-Platform Violations

• Soliciting transactions outside the platform to avoid fees
• Sharing contact information to bypass platform communication
• Directing users to competing platforms

Illegal Activity

• Selling prohibited items or services
• Money laundering or payment fraud
• Violating intellectual property rights

Enforcement Levels

Reporting Process

"See something that violates these guidelines? Report it:

1. Click the 'Report' button on any listing, profile, or message
2. Select the type of violation
3. Add any details or screenshots
4. Our team reviews reports within 24-48 hours
5. You will receive a notification when we take action

All reports are confidential. We never share the reporter's identity."

Appeals Process

"If you believe an enforcement action was made in error:

1. Reply to the enforcement notification email within 14 days
2. Explain why you believe the decision was incorrect
3. Include any evidence that supports your case
4. A different team member will review your appeal within 5 business days
5. The appeal decision is final"

Phase 4: Polish

1. Plain Language Review

• Read every sentence aloud. If it sounds like a legal document, rewrite it.
• Use "you" and "we" throughout
• Replace legal terms with everyday language
• Keep sentences under 20 words where possible

2. Accessibility

• Use clear headings and bullet points for scanning
• Provide a summary version (one page) for quick reference
• Make guidelines available in the app, not just a buried link
• Consider translations if your platform is multilingual

3. Quality Checklist

## Community Guidelines Checklist

- [ ] Introduction explains why guidelines exist and who they apply to
- [ ] 3-5 community values are stated clearly
- [ ] Prohibited behavior is categorized and specific (not vague)
- [ ] Examples are included for ambiguous rules
- [ ] Enforcement levels are defined (warning → suspension → ban)
- [ ] Reporting process is clear and accessible
- [ ] Appeal process is documented with timeline
- [ ] Language is plain and readable (no legal jargon)
- [ ] Guidelines are accessible from the app/site navigation
- [ ] Update process is documented (how users are notified of changes)

Example

Platform: Freelance services marketplace

Value statement excerpt: "[Platform] exists to connect talented freelancers with great clients. These guidelines protect that mission. We do not have pages of legalese — just clear expectations that keep the community strong."

Prohibited behavior excerpt: "Do not misrepresent your work. If a portfolio piece was created by a team, say so. If you used AI tools, disclose it. Clients hire you for your skills — be honest about what those skills are."

Enforcement excerpt: "First violation: We will let you know what happened and how to fix it. Most issues are honest mistakes. Second violation: Your account may be suspended for 7-30 days while we investigate. Three or more: Permanent removal from the platform."

Anti-Patterns

• Legalese — guidelines written like a terms of service are never read. Write like a human, not a lawyer.
• Vague rules — "Be respectful" without examples leaves enforcement subjective. Define what respectful means.
• No enforcement escalation — permanent bans for first offenses feel disproportionate. Use a graduated approach.
• No appeal process — people make mistakes and so does moderation. Always provide an appeal path.
• Set and forget — guidelines need updates as the community evolves. Review quarterly.

Recovery

• Community pushback on new guidelines: Explain the reasoning. Share the incidents that prompted the change. Grandfather existing behavior for a transition period.
• Inconsistent enforcement: Document every decision. Create an internal reference guide for moderators so enforcement is consistent.
• User does not understand why they were flagged: Improve the violation notification. Include the specific guideline violated, the content in question, and the action taken.
• Guidelines are too long: Create a summary version with the 10 most important rules. Link to the full document for details.