LocalNews plays a crucial role in promoting safety, fostering connections, and cultivating vibrant communities by empowering our valued members to express their opinions and ideas.
In order to cultivate a positive community experience, it is important for everyone to adhere to a set of principles, standards, and guidelines. At LocalNews, we prioritize transparency and firmly reject any attempts by governments, advertisers, or other stakeholders to influence the content within our community. We actively combat disinformation and misinformation while ensuring our coverage remains unbiased, inclusive, and sourced from reliable sources. We are dedicated to combating extremism and discrimination based on factors such as race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, and more. If any mistakes occur, we take responsibility for them and work promptly to rectify them.
Additionally, LocalNews has established specific guidelines for each content category within our ecosystem. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in disciplinary actions, such as reduced distribution or removal from the community.
Please note that these policies and guidelines are part of a broader set of rules governing community use, including our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. LocalNews reserves the right to remove content or profiles at its sole discretion whenever necessary.
The LocalNews Principles
LocalNews's mission is to establish a dynamic community where users can access reliable local information and actively participate in engaging discussions. We are dedicated to upholding rigorous content moderation standards and fostering meaningful connections within communities. Our meticulously crafted principles serve as guiding values, creating a secure, inclusive, and genuine environment for all members. By embracing these principles, we aim to empower users with trustworthy content while fostering a sense of belonging and facilitating constructive exchanges that enhance the overall LocalNews experience.
Authenticity
The LocalNews community emphasizes the importance of sharing authentic information and genuine perspectives. We encourage users to engage in honest, open dialogues that contribute to fostering an atmosphere of trust and reliability within the community. By focusing on authenticity, we empower users to express their true opinions, insights, and experiences without misrepresentation or manipulation. This nurtures a vibrant and engaged community where members can learn from each other's diverse viewpoints and gain a richer understanding of news topics.
Compliance
The LocalNews community expects all users to comply with applicable national and international laws and regulations when participating in discussions or sharing content. Posting material that violates copyright, intellectual property rights, trade secrets, or other legal protections is strictly prohibited. Moreover, sharing content promoting or depicting illegal activities - such as pornography, gambling, drug use, or violence - is not allowed. Ensuring legality in our community not only protects users' rights but also maintains a responsible and law-abiding space for dialogue.
Fairness
In the LocalNews community, we expect all users to treat each other with courtesy and respect. This means refraining from using offensive language, personal attacks, or prejudiced remarks. We acknowledge that people have diverse opinions and backgrounds, so promoting a culture of understanding, empathy, and open-mindedness is vital for constructive discussions. Harassing, intimidating, or discriminating against other members based on their race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or physical appearance will not be tolerated. By maintaining respectful communication, we can create an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone.
Safety
LocalNews maintains a safe space for open discussion and community engagement. We remove content posing risks to physical security or threatening people, as it may intimidate, exclude, or silence others. Ensuring such content isn't allowed on LocalNews helps preserve a secure and inclusive environment for all.
Shared Community Guidelines
At LocalNews, our goal is to establish a secure and trustworthy community that enables users from around the world to access reliable and relevant information while freely expressing their thoughts. We are committed to creating an environment that prioritizes authenticity, well-being, and safety for all members, fostering a strong sense of community and belonging. The following guidelines apply to all user-generated content within the app, serving as a foundational framework. Please note that these guidelines are not exhaustive but provide a basis for content evaluation. We reserve the right to enforce our policies when reviewing all forms of content, including text, images, videos, comments, profiles, and external links (if applicable). Any content found to be in violation of these guidelines will be promptly removed, and a violation notice will be issued. Repeated violations may result in further action by NewsNow, including account suspension. Prohibited content includes but is not limited to:
- VIOLENCE AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR
- SAFETY
- OBJECTIONABLE AND BIAS CONTENT
- INTEGRITY AND AUTHENTICITY
- INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
This list is not exhaustive, and we reserve the right to remove any content that we determine, in our sole discretion, promotes or glorifies violence or incitement. These guidelines don't limit factual reporting or well-informed analysis/commentary.
We take the safety and well-being of our community seriously, and we will remove any content that we determine, in our sole discretion, promotes or supports dangerous individuals and organizations.
If you have any concerns or reports about contents on LocalNews, please don't hesitate to email us at shhaoivan@gmail.com.
see more below.
VIOLENCE AND CRIME
At LocalNews, the safety and well-being of our community are of utmost importance to us. We are dedicated to creating a secure space where everyone feels safe and respected. This section outlines the content that is strictly prohibited as it promotes violence, crime, and other forms of harm. By adhering to these guidelines, we can prevent any potential physical or mental harm and ensure the removal of offensive or inappropriate content. In cases where these guidelines are repeatedly violated, we may disable accounts to maintain the integrity of our community. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a positive and secure environment for all members.
1. Violence and Incitement
In the LocalNews community, we strictly prohibit any content that promotes or glorifies violence or incitement. This encompasses content that depicts graphic violence or encourages others to engage in violent behavior. The safety and well-being of our community members are of paramount importance to us, and we are committed to creating a space that is free from harm.
Examples of prohibited content in this category include, but are not limited to:
- Intentions to carry out high-intensity violent behavior expressed through the use of symbols representing targets and/or symbolic images of weapons or attack methods representing violent behavior will not be tolerated.
- Speech inciting high-intensity violent behavior, including those without specified targets but using symbols to represent them, and/or using symbolic images of weapons or attack methods to represent violent behavior, will not be allowed.
- Speech advocating for high-intensity violence will not be allowed.
2. Dangerous Individuals and Organizations
Our utmost commitment is to establish a secure and inclusive online community for all users. We have a zero-tolerance policy towards any content that promotes dangerous individuals or organizations, incites violence or terrorism, or propagates hate speech or discriminatory ideologies.
Examples of prohibited content in this category include, but are not limited to:
- Posts that praise or glorify individuals or organizations associated with terrorism or violent acts.
- Content that incites or encourages others to commit violent or terrorist acts.
- Promotion of hate speech or discriminatory ideologies that legitimize the cause of designated entities.
- Advocacy or representation of criminal activities, such as drug or human trafficking.
- Support for extremist ideologies or groups that promote violence or harm to others.
3. Coordinating Harm and Promoting Crime
At LocalNews, we strictly prohibit any content that facilitates or promotes criminal activity. This includes, but is not limited to, the sale of illegal drugs, instructions on how to make weapons, or organizing rioting or looting. Additionally, we do not allow content that promotes or supports harm to animals or damage to property. The safety and well-being of our community members are of paramount importance to us, and we are dedicated to maintaining a space that is free from harm.
Examples of prohibited content in this category include, but are not limited to:
- Instructions on how to manufacture or obtain illegal substances
- Posts offering to sell or buy illegal drugs or firearms
- Coordinating or promoting rioting or looting
- Advocacy for malicious harm or injury to animals
- Posts encouraging or glorifying damage to property or vandalism
- Content that encourages or promotes fraud or identity theft
4. Restricted Goods and Services
In our community, we strictly prohibit any content that promotes or facilitates the sale of regulated or illegal goods and services. This includes, but is not limited to, content that promotes the sale of firearms, tobacco products, drugs, or gambling services. Our aim is to create a space that is both safe and compliant with legal standards for all members of our community.
- Posts promoting the sale of illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia
- Content offering to sell firearms or ammunition without proper licenses or permits
- Posts promoting the sale of tobacco products to minors
- Content promoting or facilitating online gambling or illegal gambling activities
- Instructions or guides on how to engage in illegal activities, such as hacking or pirating copyrighted materials.
5. Fraud and Deception
At LocalNews, we have a strict policy against content that aims to deceive or defraud our users. This encompasses activities such as phishing scams, pyramid schemes, and other forms of fraudulent behavior. We place great importance on these matters and are committed to fostering a safe and reliable environment for our community.
Examples of prohibited content in this category include, but are not limited to:
- Phishing scams, including attempts to obtain sensitive information such as login credentials or financial details
- Pyramid schemes or other forms of investment fraud
- Fake or misleading offers for goods or services
- Impersonation of individuals or entities for fraudulent purposes
- False or deceptive claims about products, services, or businesses
SAFETY
We are dedicated to establishing a secure and respectful community for all our users. In order to prioritize the well-being of our community members, we have a zero-tolerance policy towards comments that pose a threat to user safety. Our goal is to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment where individuals feel at ease expressing their opinions and engaging in discussions, free from any form of harassment or exploitation.
1. Suicide and Self-Injury
We strictly prohibit any content that promotes or glorifies self-harm or suicide. Our community's safety and well-being are of utmost importance to us, and we strive to provide a community that supports mental health and well-being. Therefore, we do not tolerate any content that may encourage or glorify self-injury or suicide.
Examples of prohibited content in this category include, but are not limited to:
- Posts encouraging or promoting self-harm or suicide
- Graphic descriptions or depictions of self-injury or suicide methods
- Suicide challenges or games
- Content that glorifies or romanticizes suicide or self-harm
- Instructions on how to self-harm or commit suicide
2. Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Nudity
We do not allow content or activities that exploit children or cause harm to children in any way. This includes, but is not limited to, threatening, depicting, glorifying, supporting, providing instructions, making intentional statements, admitting involvement or sharing links to content or activities that involve the sexual exploitation of children (real or fictitious minors, infants or toddlers), including:
- Explicit or sexual activity, implied intercourse or oral sex, where at least one person's genitalia is exposed, and including imminent or not directly visible contact.
- Stimulating genitals or anus, including when activity is imminent or not directly visible.
- Products of sexual activity.
Prohibited content includes sexualized content of children, including but not limited to:
- content featuring children in a pedophilic context.
- Content that supports, promotes, advocates, or encourages involvement in pedophilia, unless it is for neutral discussion in academic or scientifically validated health contexts.
- Content that identifies or mocks so-called victims of child sexual exploitation by name or image.
3. Adult Sexual Exploitation:
As a community committed to fostering a safe and respectful community, we prohibit any content that sexualizes non-consenting adults or promotes non-consensual sexual acts. We take this issue very seriously and strive to create an environment where all users feel comfortable and free from harm.
Examples of prohibited content in this category include, but are not limited to:
- Non-consensual sexual acts or sexual assault
- Sexual content that exploits or objectifies non-consenting individuals
- Revenge pornography or sharing intimate content without consent
- Sexual harassment or comments that create a hostile environment for others
We want to maintain a safe and respectful community where everyone can engage with LocalNews and events without fear of harassment or exploitation. Therefore, we do not allow any content that solicits or promotes sexual favors or activities from individuals, including but not limited to prostitution. Such content can be harmful and offensive, and it goes against our values of respect and decency. Examples of prohibited content include explicit requests for sexual services or offers, advertisements for escort services or adult and explicit language or offers for sexual services.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- Offering sexual services in exchange for money or other benefits, either explicitly or implicitly.
- Posting sexually suggestive content or comments on someone else's profile or public forum with the intention of soliciting sexual activity.
- Sending unsolicited sexual messages or images to individuals who have not consented to receive them.
- Sharing personal information or contact details of individuals with the intention of soliciting sexual activity.
- Participating in or promoting online sex trafficking or prostitution.
We believe that our users have the right to use our community without fear of being subjected to inappropriate or harmful sexual content, and we encourage all members of our community to report any violations of our guidelines.
4. Bullying and Harassment
Our community guidelines strictly prohibit any content that is intended to harass, intimidate, or bully an individual or group. We believe in creating a safe and respectful space for all members of our community. Examples of prohibited content in this category include, but are not limited to:
- Personal attacks or insults directed towards an individual or group
- Threats of physical or emotional harm
- Hate speech targeting a specific race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation
- Posting of personal information or images without consent in order to shame or embarrass someone
We take bullying and harassment seriously and will not tolerate any behavior that violates our guidelines.
5. Human Exploitation
As a community-driven community, we are committed to creating a safe and inclusive space for our users. We prohibit any content that promotes or supports human exploitation, including forced labor and sex trafficking. We take these issues seriously and aim to foster a community that values the dignity and well-being of all individuals.
Examples of prohibited content in this category include, but are not limited to:
- Posts offering to buy or sell individuals
- Advertisements for forced labor or sex work
- Content promoting or advocating for the exploitation of vulnerable groups
- Instructions on how to engage in human trafficking or forced labor.
6. Privacy Violations
Respecting privacy is vital in the LocalNews community. Avoid disclosing personal information without explicit consent and refrain from sharing private messages publicly without permission. By protecting privacy, we foster a comfortable space for open discussions without concern for unwanted exposure.
If you find that someone has posted your personal information or uploaded your content without your knowledge or consent, please email shhaoivan@gmail.com and we will investigate and promptly remove the relevant content. LocalNews prohibits users from posting non-public personal information of others without their permission, such as personal phone numbers or addresses. We will remove content that shares, solicits, or provides personal identity information or other private information that could lead to physical or economic harm, such as financial, residential, or medical information, as well as illegally obtained personal information. As private information may be made public through news reporting, court filings, and press releases, we may allow this use.
Examples of prohibited content in this category include, but are not limited to:
- Personal information that identifies individuals with a combination of their ID and name. This includes government-issued numbers, such as social security numbers, passport numbers, and government IDs; civil registration information, such as driver's licenses, immigration documents.
- Digital identity cards, including email addresses with passwords and independent passwords or email addresses with digital IDs that allow further access to information.
- Medical information containing detailed psychological, physiological, or genetic or biological characteristics of others.
- Personal contact information such as addresses and phone numbers, unless the owner voluntarily provides it in certain situations.
- Residential information, including private residential images combined with GPS coordinates, or further identifying residents of that residence.
- Disclosing the address of a safe house or identity information of a home or resident.
- Financial information such as personal bank statements, account or credit card information with PIN or validity information.
- Corporate financial information, unless the company shares or publicly discloses it.
OBJECTIONABLE CONTENT
In the LocalNews community, our foremost commitment is to nurture a safe, respectful, and inclusive space for all users. We firmly believe in the freedom of expression; however, we also acknowledge that certain types of content can be detrimental, offensive, or unsuitable. To maintain the integrity of our community's values and standards, we have implemented stringent guidelines to prohibit objectionable content. By adhering to these guidelines, we strive to cultivate a welcoming environment where everyone feels comfortable and respected.
1. Hate Speech
We do not tolerate hate speech on our community. This includes any content that promotes or condones discriminatory, defamatory, or derogatory towards individuals or groups based on their race, ethnicity, age, skin color, caste, nationality, immigration status, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, mental illness, disabilities, severe medical conditions, socioeconomic status, or veteran status.
Examples of prohibited content in this category include but are not limited to:
- Ridiculing, shaming, insulting, excessively profaning, expressing contempt or hatred, or verbally abusing individuals or groups based on any of the above attributes.
- Advocating for hate ideologies that show hostility towards people because their protected attributes are contrary to the inclusivity we strive to achieve. This includes content with symbols, logos, slogans, images (such as flags or t-shirts), salutes, or other artwork, as well as items associated with hate ideologies.
- Denying recorded violent events targeting protected groups (such as denying genocide) and other conspiracy theories that aim to defend hate ideologies.
- Advocating or glorifying hate groups and individuals as cataloged by reputable organizations.
- Claiming that one group is superior to another when referring to protected attributes.
- Deliberately misleading or misnaming a person when identified as such.
- Containing inflammatory religious comments intended to incite violent reactions from readers.
2. Violent and Graphic Content
We aim to provide a safe and respectful community for all members. Therefore, we prohibit content that is excessively violent or graphic, such as depictions of extreme gore or animal cruelty.
Examples of prohibited content in this category include, but are not limited to:
- Videos or images depicting extreme violence, such as murder or physical abuse
- Graphic images of wounds, mutilations, or surgeries
- Depictions of animal cruelty, including animal fighting or torture
- Content promoting or glorifying violent acts or terrorism
- Gore or violent content in the form of text, audio, or other media
3. Adult Nudity and Sexuality
This category of prohibited content pertains to any material that displays nudity or sexual acts. This includes explicit images, videos, or text that is designed to be sexually arousing or titillating. While some forms of nudity may be allowed, it must be tasteful, non-sexual in nature, and in appropriate contexts. The promotion or distribution of pornography, which includes explicit depictions of sexual activity, is strictly prohibited.
We do not allow the following content:
- Exposure of female breasts, nipples, buttocks, or genitals, as well as exposure of male buttocks or genitals. This includes the minimal covering of the aforementioned content, where images are not in a context such as a beach, swimming pool, red carpet, or performance.
- Video clips or images of inanimate sexual objects (such as sex toys, replicas of genitalia, etc.).
- Shots, images, or graphic descriptions of sexual intercourse, genital or anal stimulation, or other byproducts of sexual activity, including illustrations, simulations, and animations.
- Celebrity or personal sexual life or history that is not voluntarily provided by the celebrity or individual.
- Content that is intended to attract consumer attention through stripping or other sexual behavior or depictions.
- Content that promotes or provides links to pornography, adult, or X-rated websites.
- Nudity in photographs, paintings, and sculptures where the focus of the image is genitalia.
- Content that promotes or facilitates human trafficking or compensated sexual activity in any way.
- Explicit or implicit sexual enticement regarding sex, sexual partners, sexual chatting, or sexual imagery.
INTEGRITY AND AUTHENTICITY
Integrity and authenticity are core principles that hold paramount importance within our community. We hold the expectation that all members will conduct themselves with honesty, transparency, and respect towards one another. Trust is the foundation of the LocalNews community, and we are dedicated to upholding that trust by ensuring that all content and interactions are genuine and truthful. Consequently, we strictly prohibit any content that undermines our unwavering commitment to accuracy and truthfulness.
1. Account Integrity and Authentic Identity
At LocalNews, we value transparency and authenticity in our community. We do not tolerate any content that violates our policies regarding fake or misleading accounts or impersonation.
Examples of prohibited content include:
- Creating fake accounts or profiles with the intent to deceive or mislead others.
- Impersonating individuals, organizations, or entities in a way that misrepresents their identity or intentions.
- Using automated systems or bots to create or manage accounts.
2. Spam
We do not tolerate spam in the LocalNews community. Content that is designed to mislead, deceive, or otherwise manipulate individuals for financial gain or other incentives is strictly prohibited. This includes but is not limited to fraudulent advertisements, phishing scams, and pyramid schemes. We strive to create a community that is transparent and trustworthy, and we take any attempt to undermine that goal seriously. Any content that violates this policy will be removed, and repeat offenders may face suspension or termination of their account.
- Unsolicited commercial or promotional messages (e.g. email, direct messages, or comments)
- Phishing attempts or scams
- Fraudulent investment or money-making schemes
- Clickbait articles or headlines designed to mislead or deceive readers
- Repetitive, low-quality, or irrelevant content posted solely for the purpose of increasing views or engagement
- Fake reviews or testimonials promoting a product or service
- Automated messages or bots sending repetitive messages or comments to multiple users.
3. Cybersecurity
The LocalNews community takes the security and integrity of our community and our users very seriously. Therefore, we do not allow any content that poses a threat to our community's safety and security.
This includes but is not limited to:
- Content that contains malware, viruses, or other harmful software that can compromise our community or users' devices.
- Attempts to hack, phish, or steal personal or sensitive information from users or our community.
- Distribution of content that promotes or facilitates illegal activities related to cybercrime, such as selling stolen information or providing hacking services.
- Any other content that poses a significant risk to the security or integrity of our community or users.
4. Inauthentic Behavior
In order to maintain a fair and authentic community, we prohibit inauthentic behavior that artificially boosts engagement or traffic. Our goal is to ensure that our community is built on genuine engagement and meaningful interactions between users. This includes actions:
- Buying fake likes or followers to artificially boost engagement
- Using bots or automated programs to generate likes, comments, or views
- Engaging in follow-for-follow or like-for-like schemes to increase followers or likes
- Using fake or multiple accounts to manipulate engagement metrics
- Engaging in clickbait or sensationalist tactics to artificially increase engagement
- Posting irrelevant or misleading content in order to drive traffic to other sites or communities
- Engaging in deceptive practices to trick users into providing personal information or downloading malware.
5. Misinformation
LocalNews is committed to providing accurate and trustworthy information to our readers. We recognize that misinformation can have serious consequences and therefore prohibit the dissemination of false or misleading content. This includes content that promotes conspiracy theories, propaganda, or any other information that has been debunked or proven to be false.
And here are some examples of what falls under the category of Misinformation:
- Presenting unverified or unconfirmed claims as factual.
- Making unverified accusations of illegal or unethical behavior against individuals, groups, or companies, including content that implies guilt of those who have been arrested or are on trial.
- Promoting conspiracy theories that could cause harm in the real world.
- Spreading unverified rumors that could lead to impending violent events or harm to individuals in the community. These claims are difficult or impossible to trace, lack authoritative sources, and are not specific enough to be refuted.
- False implications that associate or endorse other individuals, organizations, products, or services.
- Manipulating and synthesizing media, including significant and deceptive alterations, fabrications, or manipulations of media shared in a deceptive or misleading manner. Coordinated inauthentic behavior, such as using fake accounts in coordination to mislead others into believing the behavior is authentic.
- Misleading quotes or references to religious scriptures.