Platform Community Guidelines

---
name: platform-community-guidelines
description: "Writes platform community guidelines with acceptable use, content policies, and enforcement procedures. Use when establishing rules for marketplace or community platforms."
allowed-tools: Read Write Glob
metadata:
  author: matthewhitcham
  version: "1.0"
---

# 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

| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|-------|------------|---------|
| **Platform type** | "What kind of platform? Marketplace, forum, social, community?" | No default — must be provided |
| **User base** | "Who are your users? Demographics, professional context." | Business professionals |
| **Key risks** | "What behavior are you most concerned about? Spam, fraud, harassment?" | Spam and misrepresentation |
| **Tone** | "Should guidelines feel strict/corporate or casual/community-driven?" | Professional but approachable |
| **Existing issues** | "Have there been any incidents that prompted needing guidelines?" | None — proactive setup |

**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

| Level | Trigger | Action |
|-------|---------|--------|
| **Warning** | First minor violation | Written notice, content removed |
| **Temporary Suspension** | Repeat minor or first major violation | 7-30 day account suspension |
| **Permanent Ban** | Severe violation or 3+ warnings | Account terminated, funds held per policy |
| **Immediate Ban** | Illegal activity, threats, fraud | Instant termination, reported to authorities if applicable |

### 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.