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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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"

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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)

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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."

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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.

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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.