Content Policy

Effective date: February 13, 2026

This Content Policy outlines what is and is not permitted on the Prism Writing platform. All users — readers, creators, and collaborators — must abide by these guidelines. Violations may result in content removal, account restrictions, or permanent bans.

1. Prohibited Content

The following content is strictly prohibited and will be removed immediately upon discovery:

• Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM): Any sexual or exploitative content involving minors. This will be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and law enforcement.
• Pornography: Pornographic content — including images, video, or written descriptions whose primary purpose is sexual gratification — is strictly prohibited. This includes hardcore sexual imagery, hentai, and any content that would be classified as pornographic under community standards. This is distinct from mature content; see Section 2.
• Terrorism & Violent Extremism: Content that promotes, glorifies, or provides material support for terrorist organizations or violent extremist ideologies.
• Illegal Activity: Content that promotes or facilitates illegal activity, including but not limited to drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, or weapons trafficking.
• Non-Consensual Intimate Images: Sharing intimate or sexual images of any person without their consent (commonly known as "revenge porn").
• Doxxing: Publishing private, personally identifiable information of others without consent with intent to harass or endanger.

2. Restricted Content (Allowed with Rating)

The following content is permitted under specific conditions. It must be properly rated and will be age-gated:

• Graphic Violence: Depictions of violence may be permitted in journalistic, educational, documentary, or creative contexts when appropriately labeled with content warnings and a TEEN or MATURE maturity rating.
• Graphic / Mature Themes (18+): Content with adult themes — including literary erotica, discussions of sexuality, nudity in artistic or educational contexts, and other mature subject matter — is permitted when properly rated MATURE and gated behind age verification (18+). This content must not cross the line into pornography (see Section 1).
• Strong Language: Profanity is permitted in creative works and commentary when the content carries at least a TEEN rating.
• Controversial Opinions: We support diverse viewpoints and vigorous debate. However, opinions must be expressed without harassment, threats, or incitement to violence.

3. Content Rating Guidelines

Creators are responsible for accurately rating their content using the following system:

• GENERAL: Suitable for all audiences. No profanity, violence, sexual content, or substance references.
• TEEN: Mild language, non-graphic violence, discussion of sensitive topics. Readers see a content advisory banner.
• MATURE (18+): Graphic descriptions, strong language, adult themes. Requires readers to be 18+, age-verified, and opt-in via account settings. Content is gated behind an interstitial warning. Note: MATURE does not include pornography, which is prohibited regardless of rating.

The platform may adjust content ratings via automated scanning or moderator review. Persistent misrating of content is a policy violation.

4. Harassment & Hate Speech

• Targeted harassment, bullying, or intimidation of any individual or group is prohibited.
• Hate speech — defined as content that attacks individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin — is prohibited.
• Constructive criticism of ideas, policies, and public figures is encouraged and protected.

5. Misinformation & Manipulation

• Deliberately fabricated news or misleading content presented as factual is prohibited.
• Satire and opinion pieces must be clearly labeled as such.
• Manipulated media (deepfakes, deceptively edited images/video) must be disclosed.
• Coordinated inauthentic behavior (astroturfing, sock puppets, fake engagement) is prohibited.

6. Intellectual Property

• Only publish content you own or have permission to share.
• Properly attribute quoted material and cite sources.
• Fair use excerpts for commentary, criticism, or education are permitted with attribution.
• Copyright violations are handled per our DMCA Policy.

7. Spam & Commercial Abuse

• Unsolicited commercial content, affiliate link spam, and SEO manipulation are prohibited.
• Automated bulk posting or scraping is prohibited without platform authorization.
• Deceptive practices (clickbait titles misrepresenting content, hidden redirects) are prohibited.

8. Reporting Violations

If you encounter content that violates this policy:

• Use the "Report" button on any piece of content to flag it for review.
• Email our moderation team at moderation@prismwriting.com.
• For copyright claims, see our DMCA Policy.

All reports are reviewed by our moderation team within 48 hours. Emergency reports (CSAM, imminent threats) are escalated immediately.

9. Enforcement Actions

Violations are addressed through a graduated enforcement system:

• Warning: First-time or minor violations receive a written warning with explanation.
• Content Removal: Violating content is removed or restricted.
• Temporary Suspension: Repeated or serious violations result in temporary account suspension (7-30 days).
• Permanent Ban: Severe or persistent violations result in permanent account termination.

Enforcement decisions are logged in our audit system for transparency. Decisions regarding creator content that affect revenue standing are communicated with specific policy citations.

10. Appeals Process

Users may appeal enforcement decisions within 30 days:

• Email appeals@prismwriting.com with your account details and the specific decision you are appealing.
• Appeals are reviewed by a different moderator than the one who made the original decision.
• You will receive a response within 5 business days.
• For verified creators, appeal decisions may be elevated to the cooperative governance board upon request.

11. Changes to This Policy

This Content Policy may be updated to address new categories of content or evolving legal requirements. Significant changes will be communicated to registered users via email and announced on the platform. Creator-members of the cooperative may participate in policy revision through the democratic governance process.

Related policies: Terms of Service · DMCA Policy · Editorial Standards