Content Policy

Introduction

Apoet is a home for writers and readers of poetry and short fiction. This Content Policy explains what you can publish on the Service and what we will remove. It applies to every kind of content you create on Apoet — poems, stories, tales, comments, messages, profile information, and any other content visible to others.

This policy works alongside our Terms & Conditions and Community Guidelines. Where they say more about a topic, those documents control.

1. Content Categories

You can create the following kinds of content on Apoet:

• Poems: Original poetry of any form or length
• Stories: Short fiction, prose, and personal essays
• Tales: Long-form serialised fiction with multiple parts
• Comments: Reactions and discussion on others' work
• Messages: Private one-to-one conversations
• Profile content: Your display name, bio, avatar, cover image, and links

All published content (poems, stories, tales, comments) is public by default — anyone on the Service can read it. Drafts are private to you.

2. Original Work & Attribution

• Publish only work you wrote yourself or have the right to publish
• If you adapt, translate, or quote another writer, credit them clearly within the post
• Public-domain work is allowed only when the post makes the source obvious — not passed off as your own
• Reposting another Apoet user's work without permission is plagiarism and will be removed

3. AI-Assisted Content

We allow writers to use AI tools as part of their craft, but transparency is required. If a piece is substantially generated or co-written by an AI model, you must disclose this in the post (for example, in the description, an end-note, or a tag).

• Light AI use (grammar checks, spelling, single-line suggestions) does not need disclosure
• AI-generated work passed off as fully human-written is treated as a form of plagiarism
• Mass-publishing of low-effort AI output (content farming) will be removed and may lead to account action

4. Mature & Sensitive Themes

Poetry and fiction often explore difficult emotions — grief, heartbreak, illness, mental health, addiction, trauma. These themes are welcome on Apoet when handled with care. Use a content warning at the start of any piece dealing with:

• Self-harm or suicide
• Sexual assault or abuse
• Severe violence or gore
• Eating disorders
• Substance abuse

A content warning can be a single line at the top of the piece, e.g. "CW: self-harm". We may add or require warnings on content where appropriate.

5. Prohibited Content

The following are not allowed anywhere on Apoet, in any form, including fiction:

5.1 Child Safety (Zero Tolerance)

• Any sexual or romantic depiction of minors (real or fictional)
• Content that grooms, sexualises, or endangers children
• Sharing private information about a minor

Violations are removed immediately, the account is permanently banned, and where required by law we report to authorities and to NCMEC.

5.2 Sexually Explicit Content

• Pornographic descriptions, explicit sexual acts, or fetish content
• Non-consensual sexual content (real or fictional)
• Sexual solicitation or escort advertising

Sensual or romantic poetry is welcome; explicit pornographic content is not.

5.3 Glorification of Self-Harm or Suicide

• Methods, instructions, or encouragement to self-harm or end one's life
• Pacts, challenges, or content romanticising suicide as desirable

Writing about these experiences with a content warning is allowed; promoting or instructing them is not.

5.4 Hate Speech & Discrimination

• Attacks, slurs, or dehumanising content directed at people based on race, ethnicity, national origin, caste, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or serious illness
• Promotion of hate groups, terrorist organisations, or violent extremism

5.5 Harassment, Threats & Doxxing

• Targeted insults, intimidation, or coordinated attacks against another user
• Threats of violence — direct, conditional, or veiled
• Sharing someone's private information (address, phone, workplace, real identity) without their consent
• Sharing another person's private writing or messages without consent

5.6 Graphic Violence & Gore

• Gratuitous, real-world violent imagery
• Detailed instructions for harming others

5.7 Illegal Goods & Activities

• Sale of drugs, weapons, counterfeit goods, or stolen items
• Instructions for making weapons, malware, or other dangerous items
• Human trafficking, smuggling, or exploitation

5.8 Misinformation & Scams

• Health misinformation that could cause physical harm
• Investment, crypto, or money-making scams
• Phishing, fake giveaways, or fraudulent fundraising
• Manipulated media (deepfakes) presented as real

5.9 Spam & Commercial Abuse

• Mass-posting identical or near-identical content
• Repetitive promotional links or affiliate spam
• Off-platform solicitation that crowds out the writing community
• Coordinated engagement boosting (fake likes, follows, comments)

5.10 Intellectual-Property Infringement

• Reposting copyrighted poems, lyrics, or stories without permission
• Using another writer's name, brand, or trademark to mislead readers
• Using copyrighted images as cover or poster backgrounds without a licence

5.11 Privacy & Personal Content

• Non-consensual intimate imagery ("revenge porn")
• Sharing private conversations without consent
• Identifying victims of crime or assault without their consent

5.12 Impersonation

• Posing as a real person, public figure, or another Apoet user
• Using someone else's photo or work as your profile

Clearly labelled parody and fan accounts are allowed.

6. Profile, Avatar & Cover Images

Avatars, cover images, display names, and bios must follow the same rules as published content. Avatars depicting nudity, hate symbols, gore, or sexualised minors are not allowed and will be reset.

7. Comments & Direct Messages

Comments are public and held to the same standard as poems, stories, and tales. Direct messages are private but must still follow this policy — harassment, threats, illegal content, and spam are removable in DMs as well, and reported messages may be reviewed by our moderation team.

8. Reporting Content

Anyone can report a poem, story, tale, comment, profile, or message that violates this policy. Tap the menu (•••) on any item and choose Report. Provide enough context for our team to review.

False or malicious reporting (e.g., mass-reporting a writer you disagree with) is itself a violation and may lead to account action against the reporter.

9. How We Enforce This Policy

Depending on severity and history, our moderation team may take any of the following actions:

• Warning: A note explaining what crossed the line
• Content removal: The piece is taken down or hidden from public feeds
• Content warning added: The piece stays, but a warning is shown
• Soft ban: Temporary limits on posting, commenting, messaging, appearing in discovery, or using selected features
• Suspension: Account access locked for a defined period while the issue is reviewed or the restriction runs
• Permanent ban: Account closed, access revoked, and remaining coins forfeited (see Terms §10)
• Legal reporting: Where required (child safety, terrorism, credible threats), we report to authorities

Ban Types

A soft ban is a limited restriction. You may still be able to sign in, read, and manage your account, but one or more community features can be disabled or reduced for a period. A suspension locks account access temporarily. A permanent ban closes the account and is used for severe, repeated, fraudulent, or safety-related violations.

Severe violations (e.g., child-safety content, credible threats) result in immediate permanent ban without a prior warning.

10. Repeat Violations

Multiple removals on the same account, or repeated soft bans, will escalate to suspension or permanent ban. Creating new accounts, using another account, or encouraging others to act for you to evade an existing restriction is itself a ban-worthy violation.

11. Appeals

If you believe content was removed in error or your account was actioned unfairly, you can appeal through Settings > Appeal a Decision, or by emailing support@apoet.co. Include your username and any context that helps us review.

We aim to respond to appeals within 7 days. Decisions on child-safety and serious-harm cases are generally final.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Content Policy as the platform grows or as new types of content emerge. The "Last updated" date above shows when it last changed. Significant changes will be communicated through the app.

13. Contact

Questions about what is or isn't allowed? Email support@apoet.co.