CommonRoom
In short: CommonRoom works because groups can trust each other. Treat people with respect, keep what is shared in a group inside that group, be honest, especially about money, and use the tools to report anything that is not right.
These standards apply everywhere on CommonRoom: rooms, direct messages, meetings, documents, polls, profiles and money groups. They are part of our Terms of Service.
1. Respect people
- No harassment, bullying, threats or intimidation, including repeated unwanted messages.
- No hate speech: do not attack people for their ethnicity, tribe, race, religion, nationality, sex, gender, disability, health or similar characteristics.
- No incitement to violence, and no content that promotes or glorifies violence or self-harm.
- Disagree with ideas, not people. Heated debate is fine; personal attacks are not.
2. Protect privacy
- Do not share anyone's phone number, address, ID number, financial details or private messages without their permission.
- Officers who can see members' phone numbers may use them only to run the group, never for marketing or personal gain.
- What is shared in a group stays in that group. Do not screenshot or forward it to cause harm.
- Never share intimate images of anyone without their consent.
3. Be honest
- Use your real name and your own phone number. Do not impersonate a person, group or organisation.
- No scams, phishing, fake investment offers, pyramid schemes or requests to send money under false pretences.
- Do not knowingly spread false information that could cause real harm, for example about health, safety or elections.
4. Money groups: keep the books straight
- Treasurers and managers must record contributions, payouts and other entries truthfully and promptly.
- Correct mistakes with a correction and a clear reason; never try to hide or misrepresent the original.
- Members should report only payments they have actually made.
- CommonRoom records money; it does not move it. Be wary of anyone asking you to pay "through CommonRoom".
5. Keep it lawful and safe
- No illegal goods or services, including drugs, weapons and stolen goods.
- Absolutely no content that sexualises or endangers children. We report it to the authorities.
- No sexually explicit content.
- Do not share content you do not have the right to share, such as pirated films, music or software.
- No malware, and no attempts to break into accounts or get around CommonRoom's security or limits.
6. No spam
- Do not send bulk, repetitive or unsolicited messages, invitations or advertising.
- Do not add people to groups or invite them repeatedly against their wishes.
7. Officers set the tone
Owners and officers can set rules for their own spaces, remove content and manage members. Those rules can be stricter than these standards, but never looser. Officers must use their powers fairly and for the group's legitimate purposes.
8. Reporting and what happens next
If something breaks these standards, report it: long-press a message, or open a person's or space's profile and choose Report. You can also block someone so they cannot message you. Reports are confidential: the person reported is not told who reported them.
Our safety team reviews reports. Depending on how serious and how repeated a breach is, we may:
- remove the content;
- send a warning;
- limit features, such as sending messages or creating spaces, for a period;
- suspend or permanently close the account or space;
- report illegal activity to the authorities where required.
If you think we got it wrong, write to support@commonroom.space and we will review the decision.
If someone is in immediate danger, contact local emergency services first. In Kenya, dial 999 or 112.