Community Guidelines

Note: The Turkish version of this document is legally binding; this English translation is provided for convenience only. If the two versions conflict, the Turkish text prevails.

What these guidelines are for

TEBHOS exists to help people communicate, connect, and build communities. These guidelines set the standards every user is held to. They form part of our Terms of Service, and violations may lead to the enforcement actions described below.

These guidelines are deliberately specific: where a rule could be read more than one way, the resolution is written here.

They apply to every user, in every space on TEBHOS: direct messages, server channels, voice and video chats, live stage rooms, profiles, statuses, custom emojis, usernames, bios, and anywhere else users interact or share content.

Servers may adopt rules stricter than these guidelines, but never more permissive. Where there is a conflict, these guidelines and our Terms of Service take precedence.

The basic rule

Treat others with respect. Behind every username is a real person who deserves basic dignity.

If you would not want something said or done to you, do not say or do it to someone else. When in doubt, choose kindness.

Building a good community

TEBHOS is for everyone, including people from marginalised and underrepresented communities who are often made to feel unwelcome elsewhere. Help keep it that way:

Assume good intent. When something is unclear, ask before reacting. Misunderstandings happen, especially across languages and cultures.

Respect identity. Use the names, pronouns, and terms people use for themselves. If you are unsure of someone's pronouns, ask respectfully or use their username or display name.

Use content warnings and age gates. Label potentially distressing, graphic, or adult topics clearly and keep them in age-gated spaces.

Set clear server rules. If you run a server, make your rules clear and easy to find.

Help new members understand server rules. Do not dogpile or retaliate; use moderation tools instead.

Protect privacy. Share only what is needed, and be cautious about exposing personal information, yours or anyone else's.

Disagree constructively. Challenge ideas, not people. Disagreement is healthy; personal attacks, harassment, and demeaning behaviour are not.

Report, do not retaliate. If you see dangerous, abusive, or clearly rule-breaking behaviour, report it rather than amplify it. Retaliatory harassment is itself a violation.

Prohibited conduct

Each section below explains the rule, gives examples, identifies exceptions, and describes how borderline cases are assessed.

1. Harassment and bullying

Do not harass, bully, or threaten any person or group.

1.1 Sustained or targeted harassment. Repeated hostile, degrading, or intimidating behaviour directed at a specific person or group, including following someone across servers or channels to continue unwanted interactions.

1.2 Threats. Direct or implied threats of violence, harm, or other adverse action, including conditional threats ("if you do not do X, I will do Y").

1.3 Doxxing. Sharing or threatening to share someone's personal or identifying information without their explicit consent: real names, home addresses, workplaces, phone numbers, email addresses, financial information, government-issued identification, or anything else that could be used to locate, contact, or identify someone against their will. This applies even if the information is technically "public"; aggregating and weaponising public information is still doxxing.

1.4 Unwanted contact. Continuing to contact or interact with someone after they have clearly asked you to stop, or after you have been blocked or removed.

1.5 Sexual harassment. Unwanted sexual comments, advances, innuendo, requests for sexual content, or sexually explicit messages sent to someone who has not consented to receive them.

1.6 Pile-ons and coordinated attacks. Organising, encouraging, or participating in coordinated attacks or mass harassment against a person or group, whether on TEBHOS or by directing others to harass someone on another platform.

1.7 Encouraging harm. Encouraging, inciting, or instructing others to harass or harm a specific person or group.

How cases are assessed. We consider frequency, duration, severity, power dynamics, whether the target asked the person to stop, whether the behaviour is part of a pattern, and the impact on the target's ability to use TEBHOS safely.

2. Hate speech and discrimination

Do not attack, demean, dehumanise, or incite hatred or violence against people based on protected characteristics.

Protected characteristics. The following are explicitly protected on TEBHOS: race, ethnicity, colour, national origin, or ancestry; immigration or citizenship status; religion, faith, or lack of religion; sex; gender, gender identity, or gender expression; sexual orientation; sex characteristics, including intersex status; disability, chronic illness, or medical condition; neurodivergence; age; pregnancy or parental status; military status; socioeconomic status or housing status; and physical appearance, including body size.

This list is intentionally broad. Other characteristics may also be protected where the context makes clear that someone is being targeted for who they are.

Severity tiers. Hate speech falls into three tiers, each with a different enforcement response.

Tier 1: dehumanisation and incitement (most severe). Content that dehumanises people (comparing them to animals, insects, diseases, filth, or objects); calls for violence, killing, or physical harm against a protected group; calls for exclusion, segregation, or denial of fundamental rights; or denies or celebrates well-documented atrocities or genocides targeting a protected group. Removed immediately; typically results in account suspension or termination.

Tier 2: statements of inferiority, contempt, and stereotyping. Content that asserts members of a protected group are inherently inferior, less intelligent, morally deficient, or otherwise lesser; generalises negative stereotypes as inherent traits of a group; expresses contempt, disgust, or hatred towards a group as a whole; or uses imagery, memes, or symbols historically associated with hatred of a protected group in a celebratory or affirming way. Removed; typically a warning for first-time violations, escalating for repeat offences.

Tier 3: slurs, exclusion, and demeaning language. Content that uses slurs or derogatory terms targeting protected groups; calls for exclusion from communities based on protected characteristics (unless the community's purpose requires it; for example, a women's support group may limit membership); or mocks, ridicules, or demeans someone specifically because of a protected characteristic. Assessed contextually. Self-referential use of reclaimed language by members of the relevant group is generally permitted (see Exceptions below).

2.1 LGBTQ+ specific protections. TEBHOS is and will remain a safe and affirming place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and all other gender and sexual minority (LGBTQ+) users. The following are prohibited as forms of hate speech.

Targeted misgendering and deadnaming. Deliberately and repeatedly referring to a person by a gender, name, or pronouns that do not align with their gender identity, after being informed of, or having reasonable access to, their correct name or pronouns. This includes using someone's birth name ("deadname") against their wishes to harass, demean, or invalidate their identity. This rule targets deliberate, repeated behaviour; honest mistakes corrected when informed are not violations.

Denial of identity. Content that denies the existence or validity of transgender, nonbinary, intersex, or other gender identities, or of sexual orientations, when directed at or about specific individuals or used to advocate for discrimination. This includes claims that being transgender is a mental illness, a delusion, or a choice that can be "cured".

Conversion therapy advocacy. Promoting, advertising, or providing instructions for conversion therapy or any practice that attempts to change a person's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, including content that frames such practices as legitimate medical treatment, spiritual guidance, or parental responsibility.

Sexualisation and fetishisation. Reducing LGBTQ+ people to their sexual orientation or gender identity in a degrading or objectifying way, or treating LGBTQ+ identities as inherently sexual, deviant, or predatory.

Outing. Revealing or threatening to reveal someone's sexual orientation, gender identity, or intersex status without their explicit consent.

2.2 Exceptions to hate speech rules. The following are generally not treated as violations.

Self-referential use of reclaimed language. Members of a group may use reclaimed terms (including slurs) to refer to themselves or within their community. Assessed contextually: use within a space primarily composed of that community is treated differently from use directed at strangers.

Academic, educational, and documentary content. Discussion of hate speech, discrimination, and historical atrocities is permitted in academic, educational, journalistic, or documentary contexts when the purpose is to inform, educate, analyse, or condemn. The content must not promote hatred and should include appropriate framing.

Counter-speech. Calling out, criticising, or arguing against hateful content or ideologies is protected. Quoting hateful content in order to condemn it is not itself a violation.

Satire and commentary. Clearly satirical content that critiques power structures, ideologies, or prejudice may be permitted. Satire that targets marginalised groups rather than critiquing prejudice against them is not protected by this exception.

3. Violence and graphic content

Do not share or promote: real-world graphic depictions of violence, gore, mutilation, or animal cruelty (photographs, videos, or realistic recordings); content that promotes, encourages, glorifies, or provides instructions for self-harm, suicide, or harm to others; detailed instructions or encouragement for violence or illegal activity; or content that glorifies, celebrates, or promotes violence, violent extremism, or terrorism.

Scope. This rule targets real-world media. Media presented as real-world, even if generated, edited, or manipulated, is treated the same as actual footage. Fictional or artistic depictions of violence (drawings, animation, game content, horror) are permitted in age-gated spaces with clear content warnings, provided they are not presented as real-world footage, not used to glorify real-world violence or target a specific person, and not so extreme as to have no purpose other than shock.

Contextual allowances. Non-graphic discussion of difficult topics is permitted in appropriate contexts such as news, education, and historical analysis. It must include clear content warnings, be restricted to age-gated spaces when likely to be distressing, and not glorify or encourage the violence being discussed.

3a. Terrorism and violent extremism

TEBHOS must not be used to promote, support, recruit for, or coordinate terrorism or violent extremism. This covers recruitment, incitement, material support, propaganda, manifestos, instructional materials, glorification of terrorist attacks or mass violence, and coordination, planning, or operational activity.

Such content is removed immediately; the account may be terminated, and content may be reported to the competent authorities where required or permitted by law.

Exceptions. Legitimate news reporting, academic research, counter-extremism education, historical analysis, and artistic expression are not prohibited, provided they do not themselves glorify or promote the acts described above.

4. Sexual content and protection of minors

Zero tolerance. Child sexual exploitation is prohibited in any form. The rules in this section are among the most strictly enforced on TEBHOS.

4.1 Child sexual abuse material (CSAM). CSAM, meaning sexual or sexually suggestive imagery depicting real children, is strictly prohibited and will be reported to the competent authorities as required by law. This includes realistic AI-generated or digitally manipulated imagery indistinguishable from photographs of real children. Violations result in immediate and permanent account termination and reporting to the authorities.

4.2 Sexualisation of real minors. Do not share, distribute, request, or create sexual or sexually suggestive content depicting a real, identified minor in any medium (text, imagery, audio, or AI-generated content), regardless of your relationship to the minor.

4.3 Fictional depictions of minors. Sexual or sexually suggestive content featuring fictional characters who are explicitly described as minors, or who are unambiguously depicted as prepubescent, is prohibited in all spaces, without exception. This includes drawn, animated, AI-generated, and written content where the character is clearly a child. Fictional content is assessed on the totality of context: stated age, narrative framing, visual presentation, and setting. This rule does not apply to non-sexual coming-of-age narratives, survivor stories, educational content, or literary works that depict difficult subject matter without sexualising it.

4.4 Grooming. Using TEBHOS to build a relationship with a minor for the purpose of sexual exploitation is strictly prohibited, whether or not explicit content is involved. Grooming behaviours include building inappropriate emotional intimacy with a minor, attempting to isolate a minor from trusted adults or support systems, gradually introducing sexual topics or content, requesting personal information, photos, or private communication in a sexualised context, and offering gifts, money, or special treatment in exchange for personal information or intimate interaction.

4.5 Users under 18. If you are under 18, you must not engage with, share, or distribute any sexual or sexually suggestive content on TEBHOS, including in age-gated spaces.

4.6 Adult content. Sexual and explicit content involving adults is permitted only in clearly marked 18+ spaces. Servers must apply an age restriction to the server as a whole, to individual channels, or both. Servers that fail to enforce these requirements may be restricted or removed. Server Owners are responsible for proper age gating.

4.7 Non-consensual intimate media. Sharing intimate images, videos, or recordings of any person without their explicit consent is strictly prohibited. This includes "deepfakes" and AI-generated or digitally manipulated content depicting someone in an intimate context without their permission, "revenge porn" and sexually explicit content shared to shame, coerce, or harm someone, voyeuristic content captured without the subject's knowledge or consent, and threatening to share intimate content to coerce, blackmail, or intimidate.

4.8 Sexual exploitation. Using TEBHOS to facilitate sexual exploitation of any person, including sex trafficking, coerced sexual labour, or commercial sexual exploitation of minors, is strictly prohibited and will be reported to the competent authorities.

5. Illegal activities

Do not use TEBHOS to facilitate, promote, or engage in illegal activity. This includes malware or harmful software; fraud, scams, or deceptive practices, including phishing, impersonation, and financial scams; illegal goods, services, or controlled substances; copyright infringement or other intellectual property violations at scale or in a clearly abusive manner; hacking, unauthorised access, or cyberattacks; money laundering, terrorist financing, or similar financial crimes; evasion of lawful restrictions or sanctions; and any other activity that violates applicable law.

We may cooperate with the competent authorities where required by law, or where necessary to protect individuals from serious harm.

6. Spam and abuse

Do not abuse or misuse TEBHOS. This includes spam, bulk messages, unsolicited commercial content, fake accounts, impersonation, artificial server member counts or reactions, buying or selling TEBHOS accounts or servers, abusing the free tier as unlimited cloud storage, fraudulent chargebacks or payment disputes, and automation used to evade limits, scrape or harvest data, mass-create accounts, or disrupt normal use.

Limited automation that complies with our policies and applicable law may be allowed where explicitly permitted by TEBHOS. All other automated abuse is prohibited.

7. Harmful misinformation

Do not deliberately spread misinformation that is demonstrably false and likely to cause serious harm: misinformation that could endanger public health or safety, interfere with democratic processes or civic participation, cause direct physical harm to individuals or communities, or damage critical infrastructure or services.

How misinformation is assessed. We look at factual accuracy, potential real-world harm, intent and context, source credibility, and whether the content was shared where others might reasonably act on it.

What this rule does not cover. Personal opinions, political commentary, good-faith debate, satire, speculation clearly labelled as such, and discussion of contested or emerging scientific topics. We do not police opinions or enforce a single viewpoint. This rule targets deliberate falsehoods with the potential for serious, concrete harm, not disagreement, dissent, or unpopular views.

8. Privacy violations

Do not violate the privacy rights of other users. This includes doxxing (Section 1.3), recording voice or video communications without consent, where consent is legally required, trying to defeat privacy settings, user blocks, or safety features, stalking or invasive monitoring connected to someone's use of TEBHOS, and sharing screenshots or recordings of private conversations without consent where doing so could cause harm or was done to harass.

When in doubt about whether something violates someone's privacy, err on the side of caution and do not share it.

9. Deceptive AI-generated and manipulated content

Do not use AI-generated or digitally manipulated content to deceive, defraud, or harm others. This covers deepfakes or synthetic media depicting real people without consent, AI-generated impersonation for fraud or harassment, manipulated media presented as authentic evidence of events that did not occur, and using AI-generated content to get around other rules in these guidelines.

What is permitted. AI-generated creative, artistic, satirical, or clearly fictional content, when it is not used to deceive, harass, or target people and does not violate other rules. Where AI-generated content could reasonably be mistaken for authentic material, labelling it is strongly encouraged; unlabelled AI content that causes harm or confusion may be treated more seriously.

Reporting violations

If you see content or behaviour that appears to violate these guidelines or our Terms of Service, please report it. Use the in-app reporting features, or email us at [email protected]. Include relevant screenshots or message excerpts, direct links, usernames, and a brief description of what is happening.

Share only what is needed. Screenshots and recordings often capture more than you intend (other open chats, friend lists, notification previews, third-party usernames). Crop or blur anything that is not the content you are reporting, and leave out unrelated personal information about others. Photos taken with a phone may carry hidden EXIF metadata such as GPS coordinates; prefer screenshots, or strip metadata, before sending.

Do not engage in vigilante responses. Do not harass, threaten, or dox someone in response to their violations. Report the issue and let our moderation team handle it. Retaliatory harassment is itself a violation, even when directed at someone who broke the rules first.

We may not always be able to share the outcome of a review, but all reports are reviewed in good faith. Reports involving imminent danger to life, child sexual exploitation, or credible threats of serious violence are treated as highest priority.

Reports are confidential to the reporter. When we act on a report, the affected user receives a statement of reasons explaining what was done and why. It identifies the content and rule at issue, not the reporter. We do not pass on your username, email, or any other identifying detail. The only narrow exceptions are where a court or other binding legal process compels disclosure, or where you chose to identify yourself in the report. Abuse of the reporting system (false, malicious, or coordinated reports) is itself a violation.

Enforcement

What actions may be taken

Depending on severity, context, and risk, violations may result in: warnings, removal or restriction of violating content, temporary feature limits, temporary suspension, permanent account bans, limits on creating or managing servers, deletion of servers that repeatedly or seriously violate these guidelines, restriction of cosmetic items, premium services, or subscriptions, and reporting of illegal content or serious threats to the competent authorities or relevant organisations.

How decisions are made

We consider severity, actual or potential harm, intent, prior violations or warnings, the risk of future harm, whether minors or vulnerable people are affected, whether law requires a particular action, and mitigating context such as a genuine misunderstanding, immediate self-correction, or cooperation.

Enforcement starts with less severe measures for minor or first-time violations, such as warnings, content removal, or temporary restrictions, and escalates for repeat offences or failure to comply. Egregious violations, including child sexual exploitation or CSAM, credible threats of serious violence, large-scale or clearly malicious abuse, fraud, hacking, and terrorism or violent extremism content, may result in immediate and permanent action.

Automated and human moderation. Automated tools may flag content for review, but enforcement decisions are made by humans, with a limited exception: automated spam and abuse defences may temporarily block actions pending review.

Statement of reasons

When enforcement action is taken, you will receive a clear and specific statement of reasons: the guideline, term, or legal ground for the action, the facts relied on, whether automated means were used, and redress options, including how to appeal.

This applies to all enforcement actions except where providing it would compromise an investigation, endanger safety, or conflict with legal obligations.

Appeals

If you believe an enforcement decision was incorrect, you can appeal.

How to appeal. Email [email protected] from the email address associated with your TEBHOS account. State which enforcement action you are appealing, explain why you believe the decision was incorrect, incomplete, or disproportionate, and include any relevant context or evidence.

Process. Appeals can only be processed from the email associated with the affected account. Submit within 60 days of receiving the enforcement notice. Each enforcement action can be appealed once; duplicate submissions do not speed up review. Temporary enforcement actions generally remain in place during review. Responses come as promptly as volume and complexity allow.

After review, the appeal decision is generally final. Past decisions may be revisited if new, material information comes to light or if we update our policies in relevant ways. If a complaint shows that content was not illegal and did not violate these guidelines or our terms, the decision is reversed without undue delay.

Special considerations

For younger users

Users must meet the minimum age (13) to use TEBHOS, as described in our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Stricter safety measures may apply to users under 18, and some content or servers may be restricted based on age. Servers focused on dating or romantic relationships between minors, or that sexualise minors in any way, are strictly prohibited.

If you are under 18, be particularly careful about sharing personal information, and do not meet people from TEBHOS in person without involving a trusted adult.

For Server Owners

If you own, create, or administer a server, you are responsible for the content and behaviour within it, including user-generated content and moderation practices. Use the available tools (moderation roles, content controls, age gates) to keep your server safe. Set clear, visible rules and enforce them fairly; as noted above, they can be stricter than these guidelines but never more permissive.

Failure to address serious or repeated violations can result in restrictions on your server, removal of your server, or enforcement action against your account. If you are unsure how to handle a safety issue, report it or contact [email protected].

For parents and guardians

If you have concerns about your teenager's account, contact [email protected]; we may need to verify your relationship before discussing a specific account. If you believe a child is in immediate danger, contact local emergency services first, then let us know.

Self-harm and crisis content

Our approach to self-harm content is built around compassion and support rather than punishment.

What is prohibited. Glorifying, encouraging, promoting, or providing specific instructions or methods for self-harm, suicide, or eating disorders; pressuring or daring anyone to harm themselves; creating or participating in content that gamifies or challenges self-harm; and sharing graphic imagery of self-harm.

What is allowed. Supportive, empathetic conversations about mental health: personal experiences shared in a supportive context, emotional support, recovery and coping strategies, and information about professional resources.

How the rule is applied. Users are not punished for saying they are struggling. If content suggests someone may be at imminent risk, the priority is connecting them with support: content warnings may be placed on distressing messages, and in urgent cases, steps may be taken to help keep the person safe.

If you see someone in crisis, report the content via in-app tools or email [email protected] with as much detail as possible. If you know the person and can safely do so, encourage them to seek professional support or contact emergency services. We respond to safety reports as promptly as possible and, where appropriate, work with relevant services or authorities in line with applicable law.

Crisis resources (Türkiye). If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call the 112 emergency line first. For psychosocial support, the Ministry of Family and Social Services' ALO 183 support line is free and available 24/7. To book an appointment with a professional, use the Ministry of Health's 182 (MHRS) line or the e-Nabız/MHRS apps. Internationally, Befrienders Worldwide (befrienders.org) operates crisis centres in over 40 countries. TEBHOS is not a substitute for professional mental health care or emergency services, and cannot provide medical, psychological, or legal advice.

Transparency

We want to be open about how moderation works — and our honest starting point is this: we have not yet published a transparency report. We will not pretend a report exists when it does not.

Our goal is to publish moderation statistics — report counts, actions taken, and appeal outcomes — at regular intervals. When the first report is published, it will be recorded in the Changelog and announced on the blog. We are not promising a date, so that we can keep the promises we make.

Changes to these guidelines

These guidelines may be updated as new features are introduced, community norms evolve, or laws change. Material changes come with at least 30 days' notice where reasonably practicable, and a changelog is maintained. When updated alongside changes to our Terms of Service or Privacy Policy, you will be asked to confirm that you have reviewed and agreed. If you do not agree to updated guidelines, you can stop using TEBHOS and delete your account at any time.

Contact

General questions, safety concerns, and appeals: [email protected]

If you are unsure whether something violates these guidelines, you can ask us.

Law enforcement requests

For details on when the authorities may obtain information from us, see the "Official requests" section of our Privacy Policy. Lawful process requests should go to [email protected], and must identify the requesting authority, the legal basis, and the specific data requested. We aim to notify affected users where the law permits. Overbroad or non-compliant requests may be rejected or narrowed.

A final note

Most people on TEBHOS never run into these guidelines. Treat others with respect, use good judgement, and remember there is a real person on the other side of every interaction.

TEBHOS is for everyone, regardless of who you are, who you love, how you identify, where you come from, or what you believe. Thank you for helping keep it safe and welcoming.