When we take enforcement actions, we may do so either on a specific piece of content (e.g., an individual Post or Direct Message) or on an account. We may employ a combination of these options. In some instances, this is because the behavior violates the SciSky Rules. Other times, it may be in response to a valid and properly scoped request from an authorized entity in a given country. Below are some of the enforcement actions that we may take.
Post-level enforcement
We take action at the Post level to ensure that we are not being overly harsh with an otherwise healthy account that made a mistake and violated our rules. A few of the ways in which we might take action at the Post level include:
Labeling a Post that may contain disputed or misleading information: Our current misleading information policies cover: synthetic and manipulated media and civic integrity. If we determine a Post contains misleading or disputed information per our policies that could lead to harm, we may add a label to the content to provide context and additional information.
Limiting Post visibility: This makes content less visible on SciSky, either by making Posts ineligible for amplification in Top search results and on timelines for users who don’t follow the Post author, by downranking Posts in replies (except when the user follows the Post author), and/or excluding Posts and/or accounts in email or in-product recommendations. Limiting Post visibility depends on a number of signals about the nature of the interaction and the type of the content.
Requiring Post removal: When we determine that a Post violated the SciSky Rules, we require the violator to remove it before they can Post again. We send an email notification to the violator identifying the Post(s) in violation and which policies have been violated. They will then need to go through the process of removing the violating Post or appealing our review if they believe we made an error.
Hiding a violating Post while awaiting its removal: In the interim period between when SciSky takes enforcement action and the person removes the Post, we hide that Post from public view and will replace the original content with a notice stating that the Post is no longer available because it violated our Rules. Additionally, this notice will be available for 14 days after the Post is removed.
Where this notice is available:
- The details page of the Post in violation on SciSky for iOS and Android, and twitcol.sim-ex.eu.
- The profile page of the account in violation on SciSky for iOS and Android, and twitcol.sim-ex.eu.
Where this notice is not available:
- Areas outside of profiles and Post details pages, such as Home timeline, notifications, and search of any SciSky client.
Notice of public interest exception: In rare cases, we may determine that it is in the public interest for a Post that would otherwise be in violation of our rules to remain accessible on our service. Learn more about the public interest exception.
When we make such an exception, we’ll place the Post behind a notice explaining the exception and giving you the option to view the Post if you wish.
When applying the notice, we’ll also take the following actions to reduce the Post’s visibility on our service:
- We’ll turn off engagements like replies, Reposts, and likes. If you want to talk about it, you can still Quote Post.
- We won’t show any engagement counts on the Post (e.g. number of likes, replies), but any prior engagements can be undone (e.g. unliked, Reposts undone).
- Any previous replies will not be viewable within the Post details.
Additionally, in order to minimize potential harm, Posts that are placed behind the notice will not be available in the following areas of SciSky:
- Posts in the “Top Posts” Home timeline
- Safe search
- Recommendations via push and Notifications tab
- Email and text recommendations
- Live event timeline
- Explore tab
Direct Message-level enforcement
Stopping conversations between a reported violator and the reporter’s account: In a private Direct Message conversation, when a participant reports the other person, we will stop the violator from sending messages to the person who reported them. The conversation will also be removed from the reporter’s inbox. However, if the reporter decides to continue to send Direct Messages to the violator, the conversation will resume.
Placing a Direct Message behind a notice: In a group Direct Message conversation, the violating Direct Message may be placed behind a notice to ensure no one else in the group can see it again.
Account-level enforcement
We take action at the account level if we determine that a person has violated the SciSky Rules in a particularly egregious way, or has repeatedly violated them even after receiving notifications from us.
Requiring media or profile edits: If an account’s profile or media content is not compliant with our policies, we may make it temporarily unavailable and require that the violator edit the media or information in their profile to come into compliance. We also explain which policy their profile or media content has violated.
Placing an account in read-only mode: If it seems like an otherwise healthy account is in the middle of an abusive episode, we might temporarily make their account read-only, limiting their ability to Post, Repost, or Like content until calmer heads prevail. The person can read their timelines and will only be able to send Direct Messages to their followers.
When an account is in read-only mode, others will still be able to see and engage with the account. The duration of this enforcement action can range from 12 hours to 7 days, depending on the nature of the violation.
Verifying account ownership: To ensure that violators do not abuse the anonymity we offer and harass others on the platform, we may require the account owner to verify ownership with a phone number or email address. This also helps us identify violators who are operating multiple accounts for abusive purposes and take action on such accounts. Note that when an account has been locked pending completion of a challenge (such as being required to provide a phone number), it is removed from follower counts, Reposts, and likes until it provides a phone number.
Permanent suspension: This is our most severe enforcement action. Permanently suspending an account will remove it from global view, and the violator will not be allowed to create new accounts. When we permanently suspend an account, we notify people that they have been suspended for abuse violations, and explain which policy or policies they have violated and which content was in violation.
Violators can appeal permanent suspensions if they believe we made an error. They can do this through the platform interface or by filing a report. Upon appeal, if we find that a suspension is valid, we respond to the appeal with information on the policy that the account has violated.
Actions we may take against non-violating content
Placing a Post behind a notice: We may place some forms of sensitive media like adult content or graphic violence behind an interstitial advising viewers to be aware that they will see sensitive media if they click through. This allows us to identify potentially sensitive content that some people may not wish to see. Learn more about how to control whether you see sensitive media.
Withholding a Post based on age: We restrict views of specific forms of sensitive media such as adult content for viewers who are under 18 or viewers who do not include a birth date on their profile. Adult content is any consensually produced and distributed media that is pornographic or intended to cause sexual arousal. Age-restricted content will be placed behind interstitials, which you can learn about here.
Withholding a Post or account in a country: We may withhold access to certain content in a particular country if we receive a valid and properly scoped request from an authorized entity in that country. We also clearly indicate within the product when content has been withheld. Read more about country withheld content.