(Applies to comments, social-media posts, user-submitted articles, reviews and any other user-generated content across our website, mobile apps and official social channels.)
1. Purpose & Spirit
Our mission is to share uplifting, informative and family-friendly stories. These guidelines exist to keep conversations civil, inclusive and safe for readers of all ages while upholding Australian law and global best practice.
2. Scope
These rules apply to:
| Where | Examples |
|---|---|
| On-site | Article comments, photo captions, polls, on-site forums |
| Social | Replies, tags, DMs and original posts on w2Awesome-branded accounts (Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Threads, YouTube, etc.) |
| Submissions | Guest articles, press releases, tips, reviews, opinion pieces, event listings |
3. Core Principles
- Respect & kindness first – disagree with ideas, not people.
- Protect minors & vulnerable groups – keep content suitable for a broad audience.
- Accuracy matters – share verifiable facts; flag rumours or satire clearly.
- No harm, no hate – we reject harassment, discrimination and illegal activity.
- Constructive participation – add value to the community; avoid derailment or spam.
4. Content Standards
| Allowed / Encouraged | Strictly Prohibited |
|---|---|
| • Polite, on-topic discussion • Family-friendly language • Constructive criticism & fact-based debate • Source-backed assertions (link reputable sources) • Personal experiences relevant to the topic | • Hate speech: slurs or demeaning remarks about race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or medical condition • Harassment, threats, bullying, doxxing • Graphic violence or gore; glorification of self-harm • Sexual content intended to arouse; exploitation or depiction of minors in any sexual context • Profanity or vulgarity used to insult or shock (mild language acceptable when contextually necessary and censored: e.g., “d—n”) • Illegal behaviour: instructions to commit crimes, promotion of drug abuse, sale of weapons • Defamation or unverified allegations presented as fact • Disinformation (health, political, financial, etc.) spread knowingly or recklessly • Copyright-infringing material (full articles, large excerpts, licensed images, pirated files) • Malware, phishing links, URL shorteners that obscure destination • Commercial spam, multi-level marketing, affiliate links (unless prior written approval) |
5. Formatting & Presentation
- Stay on topic – comment on the article’s subject, not unrelated issues.
- Keep it readable – no ALL-CAPS paragraphs, excessive emojis or line breaks.
- Same language preferred; on posts in a particular language, posts and comments must include a summary in the same language.
- Trigger or spoiler warnings – use a clear label (e.g., [Spoiler]).
- Quote responsibly – limit excerpts to ≤75 words and always credit the source.
6. Intellectual Property & Plagiarism
- Submit only content you own or have the right to share.
- Properly attribute quotes, data, photos or artwork (creator + source link).
- Guest articles must be original, unpublished elsewhere and free of AI-generated plagiarism. Our editors run plagiarism and AI-generated content checks.
7. Privacy & Personal Data
- Do not post private or identifying information about yourself or others (addresses, phone numbers, personal documents, financial data).
- Photos or videos that show minors require verifiable parental or guardian consent.
- Respect ongoing legal proceedings – no contempt-of-court material or identifying protected parties.
8. Self-Promotion & Advertising
- Limited promotion is allowed only when directly relevant to the discussion and disclosed (e.g., “I work for X, and here’s our free guide on this topic”).
- No affiliate codes, crypto or NFT pumps, giveaway schemes or link-stuffing.
- Sponsored or branded content must receive prior approval and will be clearly labelled by w2Awesome staff.
9. Safety & Security
- Do not impersonate w2Awesome staff or other users.
- Report suspicious links or behaviour using the Report button or get in touch.
- If you believe someone may be in danger, notify emergency services first, then inform moderators.
10. Moderation Workflow
- Automated filters remove obvious spam or disallowed terms.
- Human moderators review flagged items 24/7 for context.
- Possible actions:
- Edit: obscuring profanities or removing personal data.
- Warning: reminder of guidelines.
- Hide: comment visible only to author until corrected.
- Removal: serious breaches.
- Suspension / Ban: repeat or egregious offenders.
- Appeals – get in touch within 7 days. Include original username, URL and explanation. A senior moderator unconnected to the initial decision will review.
11. Liability & Disclaimers
- Opinions expressed by users are their own; w2Awesome is not liable for user content but will act promptly on valid legal notices.
- We comply with the Australia Defamation Act 2005, the Online Safety Act 2021, the EU Digital Services Act, and other relevant legislation.
- Law-enforcement requests or court orders may require us to share user data.
12. Updates
These guidelines may evolve. The “Last updated” date at the top shows current version. Continued use after updates constitutes acceptance. Material changes will be announced via site banner or email.
Help Us Keep It Awesome
If you see something that breaks these rules or feels off, flag it. Together we can keep w2Awesome inspiring, inclusive and safe for everyone.