Community Guidelines

Last Updated: 2025-January-20

Lanterns.app is about discovering how we can all lead better lives, and learn from each other in doing so. We value authenticity, honesty, and kindness, and we are proud to offer a platform that empowers users to learn from each other and grow. We want Lanterns.app to be a place where we all feel safe, and where we can express ourselves without harassment or ridicule.

Our Community Guidelines are designed to help ensure that you, and all our users, use our services safely, and they must be taken seriously. They are part of our Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy (together the "User Agreement"). If you don't agree with any part of the User Agreement, including these Community Guidelines, then it might be that Lanterns.app is not for you.

These guidelines are our acceptable use policy, so if you find content that shouldn't be on Lanterns.app, please report it to us. We appreciate your feedback and work hard to review reports and take appropriate action in a timely fashion.

Content Safety

The following content is not easy to read, in that it's all negative. However, documenting it here is useful - it allows us to set clear and transparent expectations that are easy to understand, and should make it easy to see if someone is in violation of them.

Spam

Lanterns.app aims to provide high-quality and inspiring content, so spam and spam-like behaviors are not allowed. Our key guidelines on spam are:

  • Operate Authentic Accounts: Don't create fake accounts, mass-produce accounts, or use new accounts to violate our guidelines.
  • Avoid Unauthorized Automation: Do not use unapproved automated tools or services to perform actions on your behalf.
  • Post Relevant Content: Avoid repetitive, deceptive, or irrelevant content designed solely to make money. Focus on quality and creativity.
  • Avoid unsolicited commercial messages.
  • Use Trustworthy Links: Links should lead to safe, original, and value-added websites, not deceptive or untrustworthy ones.
  • No Unsolicited Messages: Avoid sending repeated, unsolicited, or deceptive messages, especially for commercial purposes.
  • Don't Manipulate the Platform: Avoid using multiple accounts or collaborating with others to manipulate metrics like distribution or clicks.
  • Avoid Deceptive Tactics: Don't buy or sell engagement, stuff keywords, redirect traffic deceptively, or generate fake traffic.

Misinformation

Lanterns.app strictly prohibits misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation that could harm public well-being, safety, or trust. We remove or restrict the following:

  • Hate-Based Misinformation: False or misleading claims about individuals or groups that promote fear, hate, or prejudice.
  • Disinformation Campaigns: Content promoting falsehoods about topics like climate change or civic participation.
  • Manipulated Media: Fabricated or altered content designed to mislead, erode trust, or cause harm.
  • Health Misinformation: Unsupported medical claims, false cures, or misinformation about public health emergencies.
  • Conspiracy Theories: Harmful theories targeting individuals, groups, or events, including election integrity, climate change, and mass atrocities.
  • Election and Census Misinformation: False claims about voting or census processes, such as dates, procedures, eligibility, or safety.
  • Public Safety Threats: Content deterring civic participation through intimidation, doxxing, or threats to voters or census participants.
  • Misrepresentation of Science: Misleading use of scientific data to erode trust in climate science or public safety during emergencies.

Adult content

Lanterns.app isn't a place for adult or sexually exploitative content, including pornography and erotica. We remove or limit the distribution of mature and explicit or exploitative content, including:

  • Explicit depications of sexualised acts
  • Erotica
  • Fetish content
  • Inappropriate profile or list photos
  • Adult sexual services

Dangerous goods and activities

Lanterns.app isn't a place for commenting on, promoting, listing, trading or selling regulated products, substances or exploitative practices that can cause harm when used, altered or manufactured irresponsibly. It also is not a place for the display or encouragement of dangerous activities, such as harmful pranks or challenges that risk imminent physical harm or emotional distress, nor a place for exploitative financial or labour practices or other illegal commercial exploitation.

Hateful or harassing activity

Lanterns.app does not allow hateful content or accounts promoting hate. We may restrict or remove material or users involved in:

  • Slurs, stereotypes, or discriminatory generalizations
  • Support for hate groups or prejudiced activities
  • Trivializing or endorsing violence
  • Promoting white supremacy, misogyny, or other discriminatory ideologies
  • Hate-based conspiracies or misinformation (e.g., Holocaust denial)
  • Denying or attacking someone's gender identity or sexual orientation
  • Targeting individuals, including public figures, based on membership in protected groups
  • Mocking indiviudal or attacking beliefs, symbols, or institutions tied to protected groups.
  • Manipulated images or content intended to degrade or shame
  • Criticisms involving name-calling, profanity and other insulting language or imagery
  • Content supporting extremists or terrorist, gang or criminal organisations

Child safety

We do not tolerate child sexual exploitation of any kind. We enforce a strict, zero-tolerance policy for any content that might exploit or endanger minors. Lanterns.app prohibits any and all illegal child sexual abuse material, or similar content that contributes to the sexualization of minors.

Private information

We do not permit content that discloses personal or sensitive information. The following will be removed:

  • Identification documents, such as passports or personal IDs
  • Private contact details and addresses
  • Online account credentials, including usernames and passwords
  • Photos of individuals shared without their consent
  • Personal financial or medical records

If you find unwanted photos or information about yourself, you can report it to us.

Self-harm and harmful behaviour

Lanterns.app is committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment. Content that promotes, rationalizes, or encourages suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, or substance abuse is not permitted. We may restrict or remove material that includes:

  • Instructions or guides for self-harm
  • Discussions or quotes promoting suicidal thoughts
  • Graphic or triggering descriptions or imagery of self-harm
  • Content glorifying or encouraging self-harm
  • Derogatory or mocking comments about individuals who self-harm or have experienced suicidal ideation
  • Depictions of tools or objects associated with self-harm
  • Negative self-talk or jokes that trivialize self-harming behaviors
  • Suicide-related pacts, challenges, or hoaxes

Harmful or deceptive products and practices

Lanterns.app prohibits harmful or deceptive practices and products, including:

  • Hacking tools or security breach guides
  • Online gambling or lotteries
  • Counterfeit documents
  • Privacy-invading products or services
  • Exploitative financial schemes

Impersonation

We don't allow accounts that impersonate or misrepresent their affiliation with any person or organisation.

If you have a fan account for a public figure or brand, make it clear through your username or Lanterns.app profile that you are not officially affiliated with them.

Intellectual property and other rights

To respect the rights of people on and off of Lanterns.app and our Services, please:

  • Don't infringe anyone's intellectual property, privacy or other rights.
  • Don't do anything or post any content that violates laws or regulations.
  • Don't use Lanterns.app's name, logo or trademark in a way that confuses people.

How to make a report

You can report any violation of these Community Guidelines directly through the reporting tools in Lanterns.app. See our documentation on how to Report Inappropirate Content for usage guidelines. Our team will review the report and reply if needed. We may use your contact information, including your username, full name, and email address, to get in contact with you.

If you are not reporting content through the reporting tools in the application, you should screenshot the content or account that you believe violates the Community Guidelines.

What happens after you make a report?

Any activity or content that we believe is contrary to the Community Guidelines, as well as the accounts of their origin, may be sanctioned, either temporarily or permanently.

We have the right to monitor the content, accounts and the use of the Service, at any time, and at our discretion, in order to verify compliance with the Community Guidelines and the Terms of Use. Our decision as to whether there is a violation of the Community Guidelines is final. Luckily, all of this should remain exceptional if you comply with the Community Guidelines.

Nevertheless, if you consider that a decision taken against you is unfair, you have the opportunity to contest it by contacting us.