COMMUNITY GUIDELINES
Last updated: January 29, 2026
OnlyDeaf is a community built by and for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. These guidelines ensure a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for everyone. By using OnlyDeaf, you agree to follow these guidelines.
OUR CORE VALUES
1. Deaf Culture First - We celebrate Deaf identity, ASL, and deaf culture
2. Respect & Inclusion - Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity
3. Safety & Privacy - We protect our community members
4. Authenticity - Be yourself, be honest
I love turning complex problems into simple, beautiful, and user-friendly experiences. With a strong focus on UX/UI, I design products that not only look great but also feel effortless to use.
PROHIBITED CONTENT AND BEHAVIOR
1. Hate Speech & Discrimination
- No content promoting hatred against individuals or groups
- No discrimination based on: hearing status, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or national origin
- No audism (discrimination against deaf people)
- Zero tolerance for slurs or derogatory language
2. Harassment & Bullying
- No targeted harassment of individuals
- No coordinated attacks or brigading
- No threats of violence or physical harm
- No doxxing (sharing private information)
- No stalking or unwanted persistent contact
- No encouraging others to harass someone
3. NSFW & Sexual Content
- No nudity or sexually explicit content
- No sexual solicitation
- No content sexualizing minors (immediate permanent ban)
- Artistic nudity may be allowed with age restrictions
4. Violence & Dangerous Content
- No content promoting violence or terrorism
- No graphic violence or gore
- No content promoting self-harm or suicide
- No dangerous challenges or harmful activities
- If you’re in crisis, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (TTY: 711)
I love turning complex problems into simple, beautiful, and user-friendly experiences. With a strong focus on UX/UI, I design products that not only look great but also feel effortless to use.
More Prohibited Content and Behavior
5. Spam & Manipulation
- No spam, including repetitive posts or comments
- No fake engagement (buying likes, followers, etc.)
- No coordinated inauthentic behavior
- No pyramid schemes or MLM promotion
- No misleading clickbait
6. Fraud & Deception
- No impersonation of other people or brands
- No fake accounts or catfishing
- No scams or phishing attempts
- No false claims about products or services
- No deliberately misleading information
7. Privacy Violations
- No sharing others’ private information without consent
- No unauthorized sharing of DMs or private content
- No recording private conversations to share publicly
- No sharing location data of others
8. Illegal Activity
- No content promoting illegal activities
- No drug sales or solicitation
- No weapons sales
- No stolen goods
- No pirated content
9. Intellectual Property
- No posting content you don’t own or have rights to
- Respect copyright and trademark laws
- We respond to DMCA takedown requests
- 3 copyright strikes = account removal
I love turning complex problems into simple, beautiful, and user-friendly experiences. With a strong focus on UX/UI, I design products that not only look great but also feel effortless to use.
CONTENT MODERATION
How We Enforce Guidelines:
Automated Detection:
- NSFW content is scanned automatically
- Spam patterns are detected algorithmically
- High-risk content is flagged for review
Human Review:
- All reported content is reviewed by humans
- Context is considered in all decisions
- Appeal process is available
I love turning complex problems into simple, beautiful, and user-friendly experiences. With a strong focus on UX/UI, I design products that not only look great but also feel effortless to use.
STRIKE SYSTEM
Violations result in escalating consequences:
1st-2nd Violation: Warning
- You’ll receive a notification explaining the violation
- Content may be removed
- Your account remains active
3rd Violation: 24-Hour Suspension
- You cannot post, comment, or message
- You can still view content
- Warning notification sent
4th Violation: 7-Day Suspension
- Full account suspension
- No access to any features
- Final warning before permanent action
5th+ Violations: Permanent Ban
- Account permanently terminated
- Cannot create new accounts
- May be reported to law enforcement if applicable
I love turning complex problems into simple, beautiful, and user-friendly experiences. With a strong focus on UX/UI, I design products that not only look great but also feel effortless to use.
IMMEDIATE PERMANENT BAN (ZERO TOLERANCE)
Some violations result in immediate permanent ban:
- Child sexual abuse material (CSAM)
- Credible threats of violence
- Terrorism or violent extremism
- Severe harassment or stalking
- Human trafficking content
- Coordinated exploitation
SPECIAL RULES FOR SPECIFIC FEATURES
Posts (“Gossip”):
- Captions must be accurate and not misleading
- No spam posting (flooding the feed)
- No posting others’ content without credit
Threads:
- Stay on-topic within topic categories
- No off-topic spam in threads
- Healthy debate is encouraged; personal attacks are not
I love turning complex problems into simple, beautiful, and user-friendly experiences. With a strong focus on UX/UI, I design products that not only look great but also feel effortless to use.
Feature-Specific Guidelines cont’d
Stories:
- Close friends content still subject to guidelines
- No using Stories to harass individuals
Reels:
- All videos require captions
- No dangerous stunts or challenges
- No deceptive editing that misleads viewers
Direct Messages:
- Unwanted sexual messages = harassment
- Respect when someone says stop
- No spam or promotional messages
Events:
- Event details must be accurate
- No fake events to collect data
- Hosts responsible for event safety
I love turning complex problems into simple, beautiful, and user-friendly experiences. With a strong focus on UX/UI, I design products that not only look great but also feel effortless to use.
Marketplace & Creator Program
Marketplace:
- Accurate product descriptions required
- No prohibited products (see Terms of Service)
- Respond to buyers in good faith
Creator Program:
- Creators held to higher standards
- Must set positive example for community
- See Creator Guidelines for additional rules
I love turning complex problems into simple, beautiful, and user-friendly experiences. With a strong focus on UX/UI, I design products that not only look great but also feel effortless to use.
REPORTING VIOLATIONS
How to Report:
1. Tap the three dots (...) on any content
2. Select “Report”
3. Choose the reason
4. Add details if needed
5. Submit
What Happens Next:
- Reports are reviewed within 24 hours
- You’ll receive notification of the outcome
- Reporter identity is kept confidential
- False reports may result in action against reporter
You Can Report:
- Posts, stories, reels, threads
- Comments
- Direct messages
- Profiles
- Events
- Marketplace listings
I love turning complex problems into simple, beautiful, and user-friendly experiences. With a strong focus on UX/UI, I design products that not only look great but also feel effortless to use.
APPEAL PROCESS
If you believe we made an error:
1. You’ll receive notification of any action taken
2. Click “Appeal” in the notification
3. Explain why you believe the decision was wrong
4. Include any relevant context
5. Appeals reviewed within 7 business days
Appeal Rights:
- One appeal per violation
- Decision on appeal is final
- Account remains in current state during appeal
- Permanent bans can be appealed once
I love turning complex problems into simple, beautiful, and user-friendly experiences. With a strong focus on UX/UI, I design products that not only look great but also feel effortless to use.
PROTECTING YOURSELF
Tips for a Safe Experience:
- Use the block feature liberally
- Report harassment immediately
- Don’t share personal information publicly
- Be cautious meeting people in person
- Verify identities before sending money
- Trust your instincts
Privacy Settings:
- Make your account private if desired
- Control who can message you
- Manage story visibility
- Filter message requests
I love turning complex problems into simple, beautiful, and user-friendly experiences. With a strong focus on UX/UI, I design products that not only look great but also feel effortless to use.
DEAF COMMUNITY SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
Respect Deaf Culture:
- ASL is a complete language - treat it as such
- Don’t mock or ridicule sign language
- Avoid “deaf voice” mockery
- Respect the diversity within the deaf community
Inclusive of All Hearing Statuses:
- Deaf, deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, CODA all welcome
- No gatekeeping deaf identity
- No cochlear implant shaming
- No “not deaf enough” attitudes
I love turning complex problems into simple, beautiful, and user-friendly experiences. With a strong focus on UX/UI, I design products that not only look great but also feel effortless to use.
Accessibility & Guideline Updates
Accessibility:
- Caption your videos
- Describe images when helpful
- Be patient with different communication styles
CHANGES TO GUIDELINES
We may update these guidelines to:
- Address new types of harmful content
- Clarify existing rules
- Respond to community feedback
- Comply with legal requirements
Major changes will be announced in-app.
I love turning complex problems into simple, beautiful, and user-friendly experiences. With a strong focus on UX/UI, I design products that not only look great but also feel effortless to use.
QUESTIONS?
Contact us at: theonlydeaf@gmail.com
ASL interpretation available for all support requests.
Remember: OnlyDeaf is YOUR community. Help us keep it safe and welcoming for everyone.
I love turning complex problems into simple, beautiful, and user-friendly experiences. With a strong focus on UX/UI, I design products that not only look great but also feel effortless to use.