Community Guidelines

Welcome to PinkQuill. We believe creativity flourishes in spaces built on mutual respect, authenticity, and kindness. These Community Guidelines outline how we expect everyone to behave and what content is welcome on our platform.

These guidelines apply to all content and interactions on PinkQuill—including posts, comments, messages, profiles, communities, and any other features we offer. They work alongside our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

By using PinkQuill, you agree to follow these guidelines. Violations may result in content removal, account restrictions, or permanent bans depending on severity.

Everything at PinkQuill is built on four core values that guide our community:

Creativity

We celebrate all forms of creative expression—poetry, prose, visual art, photography, music, and everything in between. Every voice matters, and every creative journey is valid.

Authenticity

We value genuine self-expression and honest connection. Be yourself, share your true voice, and respect others doing the same.

Respect

Every person in our community deserves to be treated with dignity. We embrace diverse perspectives, backgrounds, identities, and experiences.

Safety

Everyone should feel safe sharing their work and engaging with others. We take harmful behavior seriously and act swiftly to protect our community.

Respect is the foundation of our community. Treat others the way you'd want to be treated—with kindness, empathy, and consideration.

Do

• Engage thoughtfully with others' creative work
• Offer constructive feedback when asked
• Celebrate others' successes and milestones
• Respect different opinions, styles, and perspectives
• Use inclusive language that welcomes everyone
• Acknowledge and credit inspirations and influences
• Be patient with newer members of the community

Don't

• Harass, bully, intimidate, or threaten anyone
• Attack someone's identity, background, or personal characteristics
• Mock, ridicule, or demean others' creative work
• Engage in pile-ons or coordinated harassment
• Share private information about others without consent (doxxing)
• Make unwanted sexual advances or comments
• Deliberately provoke or antagonize others (trolling)
• Spam, flood, or disrupt conversations

Authenticity builds trust and meaningful connections. Be genuine in how you present yourself and your work.

Identity

• Use your real name or a consistent pseudonym—both are welcome
• Don't impersonate other people, brands, or organizations
• Don't create fake accounts to deceive others
• Don't claim false credentials, affiliations, or achievements
• One account per person (no duplicate accounts)

Content authenticity

• Share your own original work
• Credit others when sharing or building on their work
• Don't claim others' work as your own (plagiarism)
• Be honest about AI-assisted or AI-generated content
• Don't manipulate engagement artificially (fake likes, follow-for-follow schemes)

Transparency

• Disclose sponsored content or paid partnerships
• Be clear about commercial intent when promoting products
• Don't use misleading tactics to gain followers or engagement

Safety is everyone's responsibility. Help us maintain a space where people can create and connect without fear.

Protect yourself

• Be cautious about sharing personal information publicly
• Use strong, unique passwords for your account
• Report suspicious accounts or messages
• Trust your instincts—if something feels wrong, it probably is
• Use privacy settings to control who sees your content

Protect others

• Don't share others' personal information without consent
• Report content that could endanger someone
• Reach out if you're concerned about someone's wellbeing
• Don't encourage dangerous or illegal behavior

Crisis resources

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out to professional resources:

• Emergency: Call your local emergency number (911 in the US)
• Suicide Prevention: 988 (US) or your local crisis line
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 (US)

PinkQuill welcomes diverse creative expression. Here's what we encourage and what makes great content on our platform.

What we love to see

• Original poetry, prose, essays, and creative writing
• Visual art, photography, and mixed media
• Thoughtful reflections, journal entries, and personal essays
• Creative experiments and works in progress
• Supportive feedback and meaningful engagement
• Behind-the-scenes looks at creative processes
• Discussions about craft, technique, and inspiration
• Collaborations between creators

Content quality

We don't judge the "quality" of your art—all creative expression is valid. However, content should be:

• Posted in good faith as creative expression or genuine engagement
• Relevant to the communities and spaces where it's shared
• Not spam, advertisements, or solely self-promotional

Artistic freedom

We recognize that art often explores difficult themes—pain, darkness, controversy, and the full spectrum of human experience. We allow content that might be uncomfortable if it has artistic merit and doesn't violate our prohibited content policies.

The following content is strictly prohibited on PinkQuill. Posting this content will result in immediate removal and may lead to account suspension or termination.

Violence & threats

• Credible threats of violence against individuals or groups
• Content that promotes, glorifies, or incites violence
• Terrorist content or support for terrorist organizations
• Instructions for carrying out violent acts
• Graphic violence intended to shock or disturb (not artistic expression)

Hate & discrimination

• Content that attacks people based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, caste, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or serious disease
• Slurs, dehumanizing language, or hate symbols
• Content promoting hate groups or hateful ideologies
• Denying or mocking historical atrocities or genocides

Sexual exploitation & abuse

• Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) — zero tolerance
• Sexual content involving minors in any form
• Non-consensual intimate imagery ("revenge porn")
• Sexual exploitation or trafficking content
• Bestiality or zoophilia content

Self-harm & suicide

• Content that promotes or provides instructions for self-harm or suicide
• Graphic depictions of self-harm intended to shock
• Pro-eating disorder content that promotes harmful behaviors

Note: Artistic exploration of mental health struggles, recovery journeys, and personal experiences is allowed with appropriate content warnings.

Illegal activity

• Content promoting illegal activities
• Drug sales, trafficking, or manufacturing instructions
• Weapons sales or instructions for creating weapons
• Fraud schemes, scams, or deceptive practices
• Hacking instructions or malware distribution

Misinformation

• Dangerous health misinformation that could cause harm
• Election interference or voter suppression content
• Manipulated media presented as authentic (deepfakes)
• Coordinated disinformation campaigns

Some content, while not prohibited, requires special consideration. Use content warnings to help others make informed viewing choices.

When to use content warnings

• Discussions of mental health struggles, trauma, or abuse
• Depictions of violence (even artistic or historical)
• Mature themes including sexuality (non-explicit)
• Content about death, grief, or loss
• Strong language or profanity
• Potentially triggering topics (eating disorders, addiction, etc.)
• Political content that may be divisive
• Flashing images or content that could affect photosensitive individuals

How to use content warnings

When creating a post with sensitive content, use PinkQuill's built-in content warning feature. This hides the content behind a warning that users must click to reveal. Be specific about the type of content (e.g., "CW: Discussion of grief" rather than just "CW").

Nudity & mature content

Artistic nudity may be permitted in certain contexts:

• Classical or fine art depicting the human form
• Educational content about anatomy or art
• Documentary photography

Pornographic content, sexually explicit material, and content created primarily for sexual gratification is not permitted.

Respect for creative ownership is fundamental to our community.

Your rights

You retain full ownership of everything you create and share on PinkQuill. We never claim ownership of your work. When you post content, you grant us only the limited license needed to display and share it according to your settings.

Respecting others' work

• Always credit: If you're inspired by or referencing someone's work, give them credit
• Ask permission: Before using someone's work as a base for your own
• Don't plagiarize: Copying others' work and claiming it as your own is never acceptable
• Understand fair use: Know the limits of fair use and transformative work

Fan art & derivative works

Fan art and derivative works exist in a complex legal space. While many creators welcome fan works, some do not. When creating fan art:

• Research the original creator's stance on fan works
• Credit the original work and creator
• Don't sell fan art unless you have permission or proper licensing
• Be prepared to remove content if requested by rights holders

Reporting infringement

If your work has been used without permission, you can file a DMCA takedown request at dmca@pinkquill.com.

Meaningful interactions make our community special. Here's how to engage in ways that lift everyone up.

Comments & reactions

• Leave thoughtful comments that add to the conversation
• Use reactions to show appreciation (admire, snap, ovation, etc.)
• Offer constructive criticism only when invited or appropriate
• Avoid drive-by negativity or empty criticism
• Remember there's a person behind every post

Following & feeds

• Follow creators whose work resonates with you
• Don't follow-then-unfollow to game the system
• Curate your feed thoughtfully for your wellbeing
• Use mute and block features to manage your experience

Relays (sharing)

• Relay work you genuinely appreciate to share with your followers
• The original creator is always credited
• Don't relay content to mock or ridicule it
• Respect creators who don't want their work shared widely

Mentions & tags

• Only mention people when it's relevant to them
• Don't use mentions to harass, spam, or draw negative attention
• Ask permission before tagging someone in potentially sensitive content

Direct messages are for meaningful one-on-one connections. Use them respectfully.

Good messaging practices

• Introduce yourself when messaging someone new
• Be respectful of people's time and attention
• Accept "no" gracefully if someone declines to engage
• Keep conversations consensual—don't persist if someone stops responding
• Use messages for genuine connection, not just self-promotion

Prohibited messaging behavior

• Sending unsolicited sexual or romantic content
• Harassment via repeated unwanted messages
• Spam or bulk promotional messages
• Requests for personal information, money, or inappropriate content
• Threats, intimidation, or abusive language
• Circumventing blocks through alternate accounts

Message requests

Messages from people you don't follow go to your message requests. You can choose to accept, ignore, or report them. You're never obligated to respond to anyone.

Communities are spaces for creators with shared interests to connect. They have their own rules in addition to platform-wide guidelines.

Joining communities

• Read and follow each community's specific rules
• Contribute meaningfully to discussions
• Stay on topic for the community's focus
• Respect moderators and their decisions
• Report rule violations to community moderators

Creating & moderating communities

• Establish clear, reasonable rules for your community
• Enforce rules consistently and fairly
• Don't create communities for prohibited content or purposes
• Respond to reports and maintain community health
• Build inclusive spaces that welcome diverse members

Community rules

Community-specific rules cannot override PinkQuill's Community Guidelines. If a community rule conflicts with our guidelines, our guidelines take precedence. Communities that consistently violate guidelines may be removed.

Collaboration is one of the most rewarding aspects of creative communities. Here's how to collaborate respectfully.

Collaboration invitations

• Only invite people who might genuinely be interested
• Clearly explain the collaboration and expectations
• Accept declinations gracefully
• Don't pressure or guilt people into collaborating

Working together

• Communicate clearly about roles, credit, and ownership
• Agree on how the work will be shared and attributed
• Respect deadlines and commitments
• Give and receive feedback constructively

Credit & attribution

• Always credit all collaborators on shared work
• Use PinkQuill's collaboration features to properly attribute
• Don't remove or diminish others' contributions
• Resolve attribution disputes privately and respectfully

Everyone has the right to set boundaries and control their own information.

Respecting privacy

• Don't share others' personal information without explicit consent
• Don't screenshot and share private conversations
• Respect when someone uses a pseudonym or keeps details private
• Don't attempt to identify anonymous or pseudonymous users
• Don't stalk or track people across platforms

Setting your own boundaries

• Use privacy settings to control who sees your content
• Block accounts that make you uncomfortable
• You don't owe anyone access to you or your work
• It's okay to decline requests, comments, or messages

Account privacy options

PinkQuill offers various privacy controls:

• Private account: Only approved followers see your posts
• Blocking: Prevent specific users from seeing or interacting with you
• Message filtering: Control who can message you
• Comment controls: Manage who can comment on your posts

PinkQuill is for users 13 and older. We take the safety of young users extremely seriously.

Age requirements

• You must be at least 13 years old to use PinkQuill
• Users 13-17 should have parental permission
• Some features may be restricted for users under 18

Protecting minors

• Never share sexual or inappropriate content with minors
• Don't solicit personal information from minors
• Don't engage in grooming behavior
• Report any concerning interactions with or about minors

Zero tolerance

We have absolute zero tolerance for child sexual abuse material (CSAM), sexual exploitation of minors, or any content that sexualizes children. Such content is immediately removed and reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and law enforcement.

You play a crucial role in keeping our community safe. Here's how to report problems and protect yourself.

When to report

• Content that violates these Community Guidelines
• Harassment or abuse directed at you or others
• Spam or scam accounts
• Impersonation of you or someone you know
• Content that may endanger someone's safety
• Intellectual property theft

How to report

Use the report feature (three dots menu → Report) on any post, comment, message, or profile. Select the appropriate reason and provide any additional context that might help us review the report.

What happens after reporting

• Reports are reviewed by our Trust & Safety team
• We may contact you for additional information
• We'll notify you of the outcome when appropriate
• Your identity is kept confidential from the reported user

Blocking

You can block anyone at any time. When you block someone:

• They can't see your profile or posts
• They can't message you or comment on your work
• You won't see their content
• Any mutual follows are removed

We enforce these guidelines to maintain a healthy community. Here's how our enforcement process works.

How we review content

• Automated systems flag potentially violating content
• Human reviewers make final decisions on flagged content
• We consider context, intent, and artistic merit
• We apply guidelines consistently across all users

Enforcement actions

• Warning: A notice that content or behavior violated guidelines
• Content removal: Violating content is deleted
• Feature restrictions: Limited access to certain features (commenting, messaging, etc.)
• Temporary suspension: Account temporarily disabled
• Permanent ban: Account permanently removed from platform

Factors we consider

• Severity of the violation
• Whether it's a first offense or repeated behavior
• Intent behind the content or action
• Potential for harm
• Account history and standing

Immediate action

Some violations result in immediate permanent bans without warning:

• Child sexual abuse material
• Credible threats of violence
• Terrorist content
• Doxxing or non-consensual intimate imagery
• Severe harassment campaigns

If you believe we made a mistake in an enforcement action, you can appeal.

How to appeal

• Submit an appeal within 30 days of the enforcement action
• Use the appeal link in your notification or email
• Explain clearly why you believe the decision was incorrect
• Provide any relevant context we may have missed

Appeal review

• Appeals are reviewed by a different team member than the original decision
• We aim to respond within 7-14 business days
• Our decision on the appeal is final

What we consider

• New information not available in the original review
• Context that changes the interpretation
• Errors in our original assessment
• Artistic or educational merit we may have overlooked

For appeals, contact appeals@pinkquill.com with your username and details about the enforcement action.

These guidelines may be updated as our community evolves and new situations arise.

• Significant changes will be announced in advance
• The "Last updated" date at the top reflects the most recent revision
• We may notify you of major changes via email or in-app notification
• Continued use of PinkQuill after changes constitutes acceptance

We encourage you to review these guidelines periodically. If you disagree with changes, you may close your account.

Have questions about these guidelines or need to report something? We're here to help.

For urgent safety concerns, use the in-app report feature for fastest response. In emergencies involving immediate danger, contact local law enforcement.