Free resource
A community guidelines template you can copy.
Community guidelines are the rules you share with your readers and users: what is welcome in your comments, debates and forums, and what is not. This template is written in plain, friendly language so people actually read it. Copy it, fill in the [brackets], and publish. It works for news media and for brands running their own community.
Welcome
Welcome to the [your platform / publication name] community. This is a place to share opinions, ask questions and talk with other readers. We want everyone to feel comfortable joining in, so we ask you to follow a few simple rules.
Be civil
Treat others the way you would like to be treated. You can disagree, strongly, but criticise ideas and arguments, not the people making them. No personal attacks, insults or name-calling.
Stay on topic
Keep your comments relevant to the article, discussion or topic at hand. Off-topic posts make it harder for everyone to follow the conversation.
No hate or harassment
We do not allow content that attacks or demeans people based on who they are, including race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability. Threats, intimidation and harassment of any user are not allowed.
No spam or self-promotion
Please do not post advertising, repeated identical messages, or links whose only purpose is to promote a product, service or website. If you share a link, make it relevant to the discussion.
Protect privacy
Do not share private information about yourself or anyone else, such as full names, home addresses, phone numbers or email addresses. Respect other people’s privacy as you would expect them to respect yours.
How we moderate
Our team [and/or automated tools] review contributions to keep the conversation safe and on topic. We may edit, hide or remove content that breaks these rules. We aim to be fair and consistent, and to act quickly when something is reported. You can report a comment using the [report] button.
What happens if you break the rules
If a post breaks these guidelines, we may remove it. Depending on how serious or how often it happens, we may also warn you, temporarily restrict your account, or, for repeated or severe breaches, suspend it. We take action on the content, and we keep your right to take part seriously.
How to appeal
If you think we got it wrong, let us know. Contact us at [contact email / link] and tell us what happened and why you disagree. We will review the decision and reply to you at [your typical response time].
[Optional: Thanks for helping us keep this a place worth being part of.]
How to use this template
- Replace every [bracketed] field with your own names, links and contact details before you publish.
- Match the tone to your audience: keep it warm for a general readership, more formal for a regulated or professional community.
- Link to it from the places people actually post: under the comment box, in your forum header and in account settings.
- Review it once or twice a year, and update it when your moderation approach or your tools change.
Put your guidelines into practice
Guidelines work best when they are backed by moderation and a community people want to join. See how Logora can help.