Short answer
A public moderation policy says what you remove, what you hide, what you report and how people can appeal, in plain language and in a few hundred words. Publish it on your site, link it from your profiles, and turn each line into a concrete rule so moderators apply it the same way every time.
Key takeaways
- Keep it short enough that people actually read it.
- Describe behavior, not opinions: you remove spam and abuse, not disagreement.
- Say how to appeal, and mean it.
- Every line should map to a rule a moderator can apply.
What should a moderation policy include?
What you remove, what you hide, what you report, how fast you act, and how someone can ask you to reconsider.
Keep it to one screen. People read a policy when they're annoyed that a post vanished, so clarity matters more than completeness. Write it in the same voice as your account.
Template
Copy this, replace the bracketed parts, and cut anything that doesn't apply.
How we moderate [account or site name]
We want [replies / comments / our event wall] to be useful for everyone who reads them. Disagreement and criticism are welcome. These are the things we remove or hide:
- Spam, including repeated messages, unrelated promotion and follower or engagement selling
- Scams and phishing, including fake support accounts and requests for passwords, payment details or wallet connections
- Harassment, threats and slurs aimed at anyone
- Other people's personal information (addresses, phone numbers, private documents)
- Sexual content and graphic violence
- Anything illegal where we operate
We'll never ask for your password or payment details in replies or DMs. Our only official accounts are [list handles].
How we act: we hide or delete posts that break these rules, block accounts that repeatedly do so, and report serious cases to the platform. [On our event wall, posts appear after a moderator approves them.]
Think we got it wrong? Email [contact address] with a link to the post. We read every message and reply within [time frame].
Last updated: [date]
How do I turn the policy into rules?
Take each line and decide what text pattern, account list or action enforces it, then write that down as a rule.
| Policy line | Rule |
|---|---|
| Spam and follower selling | Reject phrases: "free followers", "dm for promo", "check my bio" |
| Scams and fake support | Reject phrases: "seed phrase", "connect your wallet"; hold "support team"; hold all shortened links |
| Slurs | Reject list maintained by the team, tested for false positives |
| Personal information | Hold posts containing phone numbers; moderator reviews |
| Official accounts | Allow list of your handles |
Build these in the rule builder, export the JSON, and keep it next to the policy. When the policy changes, change the rules the same day.
Where should the policy live?
On a page of your own site, linked from your X profile, your community guidelines and your event pages.
A pinned post works too, but posts get buried. A page you control can be updated with a "last updated" date, and it gives moderators something to link when someone asks why a reply disappeared.
Common questions
Do we need a lawyer to write a moderation policy?
For a brand account or comment section, a plain policy like the template is usually enough. If you run a platform where users create content at scale, or you operate under specific regulations, get legal advice.
Should we moderate criticism?
No. Removing honest criticism almost always backfires and erodes trust. Remove spam, abuse, personal information and illegal content; answer criticism or let it stand.