# Platform Community Guidelines > Writes platform community guidelines with acceptable use, content policies, and enforcement procedures. Use when establishing rules for marketplace or community platforms. - Skill: `reaperinvest/platform-community-guidelines` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add reaperinvest/platform-community-guidelines` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/reaperinvest/platform-community-guidelines/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: reaperinvest (https://skillmd.com/u/reaperinvest) - Updated: 2026-09-22 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/reaperinvest/platform-community-guidelines --- # 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.