1. Our Mission

The Town Square app exists to strengthen local bonds by sharing events, opportunities, happenings, and recognition. We aim to be a digital reflection of a healthy, vibrant neighborhood. Unlike general social media, this is a dedicated space for community utility, not personal broadcasting or venting.

2. Public Post Standards

All public posts are manually reviewed by an Admin before becoming visible to the community.

A. Approved Categories

To be approved, a post must fall into one of the following categories:

• Neighborhood Happenings: Local events, garage sales, school news, or community meetings.
• Opportunities: Volunteer needs, local job listings, or community workshops.
• Neighbor Recognition: Celebrating a resident's achievements or thanking a neighbor for their help.
• Interesting News: Positive updates about local businesses, history, or community developments.

B. Prohibited Content

Posts will be rejected if they contain:

• "Random Thoughts" / Status Updates: Philosophical musings, personal moods, or stream-of-consciousness posting that does not provide community value.
• Negativity & Fear-Mongering: Sarcasm, "scary" warnings without factual backing, or posts intended to incite anxiety or outrage.
• Personal Grievances: Publicly shaming neighbors, airing private disputes, or complaining about local service providers.
• Divisive Rhetoric: National politics, partisan debates, or inflammatory social commentary.

3. Help Requests & Offers

The "Help" section allows neighbors to support one another. These posts are processed through an automated Safety Filter (AI) and are subject to community reporting.

• Appropriate Help: Borrowing tools, seeking local recommendations, offering free items, or requesting non-emergency physical assistance (e.g., "Help moving a ladder").
• Inappropriate Help: Requests for emergencies, medical diagnosis/medication, financial loans, or any activity that violates local laws.
• The "Immediate Hide" Rule: If a user reports a Help request or offer, it is instantly removed from the feed. It will remain hidden until a human moderator reviews the report and determines if it can be reinstated.

4. Private Messaging & Conversations

Town Square values the privacy of its users. We believe in the importance of free and private speech between neighbors.

• Privacy Commitment: Admins do not proactively monitor or read private messages.
• User Accountability: While messages are private, users must still adhere to our basic safety standards.
• Report-to-Review: If you experience harassment, threats, or unwanted solicitation in a private message, you may Report the conversation. This action grants the moderation team temporary access to that specific message thread to take necessary action (such as account suspension or banning).
• No Suppression: We do not moderate private messages for "tone" or "positivity" like we do public posts. The "No Scary/Negative" rule does not apply to private chats, provided the conversation is consensual and respectful between the parties involved.

5. Moderation Workflow & Appeals

6. Prohibited Conduct (Zero Tolerance)

Regardless of whether content is public or private, the following will result in an immediate and permanent ban:

• Illegal Acts: Organizing or promoting illegal activity.
• Hate Speech: Content that attacks or dehumanizes individuals based on race, religion, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics.
• Harassment: Targeted bullying or doxxing of any community member.