COMMUNITY GUIDELINES

Last Updated: March 2026

Effective Date: March 2026

OUR COMMITMENT

Tern is a platform where creators share authentic experiences about places. Our Community Guidelines ensure the platform remains:

• Safe for all users
• Honest and free from fraud
• Respectful of individuals and businesses
• Authentic and free from manipulation

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Core Values
2. Prohibited Content
3. Monetization Ethics
4. Content Moderation & AI Safety
5. Follow & Interaction Limits
6. Consequences for Violations
7. Appeals Process
8. Account Restrictions & Enforcement
9. Reporting Mechanisms
10. Special Categories
11. Resources & Support

1. CORE VALUES

1.1 Authenticity

Tern celebrates genuine experiences. We require:

• Real experiences: Post about actual visits and experiences, not staged content
• Honest reviews: Share truthful opinions about places and businesses
• Accurate representation: Videos must accurately represent the place or business
• No misleading edits: While basic editing is fine, don't manipulate to misrepresent reality

1.2 Respect

All users deserve respect. We expect:

• Respect for people: Don't film or identify people without consent
• Respect for privacy: Don't share private information (addresses, phone numbers, workplace)
• Respect for businesses: Don't harass or defame establishments
• Respect for property: Obtain permission before filming on private property

1.3 Safety

Tern must be safe for everyone:

• No violence or threats: Don't encourage or glorify violence
• No harassment: Don't bully, stalk, or threaten individuals or groups
• No dangerous activities: Don't promote illegal or unsafe behaviors
• No hate speech: Don't target people based on identity

1.4 Transparency

Creators and Tern must be transparent:

• Disclose sponsorships: Clearly label sponsored content and brand partnerships
• AI disclosure: Understand that AI may analyze your content
• Honest metrics: Don't artificially inflate views, likes, or followers
• Clear intentions: Be clear about commercial vs. personal content

2. PROHIBITED CONTENT

2.1 Defamation & False Information

? Not Allowed:

• False or maliciously misleading claims about businesses or people
• Fabricated "facts" designed to damage reputation
• Deepfakes or manipulated videos misrepresenting someone
• Staging fake experiences and presenting them as real
• False allegations of wrongdoing

? Allowed:

• Honest negative reviews of your actual experience
• Constructive criticism backed by evidence
• Personal opinions clearly labeled as such
• Factual reporting of public incidents

2.2 Dangerous & Illegal Content

? Not Allowed:

• Content promoting illegal activities (drug use, theft, etc.)
• Dangerous stunts that could cause injury
• Promotion of hate groups or extremism
• Exploitation of minors
• Sexual content involving minors

? Allowed:

• Educational content about legal issues
• News reporting about crime (factual, not promotional)
• Safety tips and harm reduction content

2.3 Harassment & Hate

? Not Allowed:

• Targeted harassment or bullying of individuals
• Hate speech based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability
• Threats of violence or self-harm
• Doxxing (publishing private information)
• Repeated unwanted contact

? Allowed:

• Criticism of public figures or politicians
• Discussion of social issues
• Advocacy for marginalized communities

2.4 Fraud & Deception

? Not Allowed:

• Scams, pyramid schemes, or fraudulent offerings
• Fake giveaways or contests
• Misleading crypto or investment promotions
• Counterfeit product sales
• Bot-generated fake engagement

? Allowed:

• Legitimate business promotions
• Genuine affiliate marketing (with clear disclosure)
• Educational content about recognizing scams

2.5 Copyright & Intellectual Property

? Not Allowed:

• Copyrighted music without permission (unless fair use)
• Unauthorized use of brand logos or trademarks
• Plagiarism or copying others' content
• Unauthorized use of film, TV, or other content

? Allowed:

• Fair use clips (commentary, criticism, education)
• Licensed music and content
• Original commentary on copyrighted material
• Creative commons or licensed content

2.6 Privacy Violations

? Not Allowed:

• Filming people without consent (violates privacy laws in many jurisdictions)
• Publishing private information (phone, address, email, ID)
• Recording conversations without consent (where illegal)
• Identifying minors without parental consent
• Documenting someone's location without permission

? Allowed:

• Filming in public spaces (with reasonable expectation of privacy)
• Filming consenting participants
• Recording public events and gatherings
• Using pixelation/blurring to protect identity

2.7 False Locations & Staging

? Not Allowed:

• Claiming to be at a location you're not at
• Staging experiences and presenting them as spontaneous
• "Catfishing" � misrepresenting who you are
• Creating fake check-ins to manipulate location data
• Fabricating place features or experiences

? Allowed:

• Recreating positive experiences at a location
• Staged content clearly labeled as reenactment
• Creating content with a location's permission for promotion

2.8 Inappropriate Sexual Content

? Not Allowed:

• Sexually explicit material
• Exploitation or sexualization of minors
• Non-consensual intimate imagery
• Sexual harassment in comments or DMs

? Allowed:

• Educational content about sexual health
• Romantic or suggestive content (no explicit material)
• Advocacy for reproductive rights

2.9 AI-Generated & Synthetic Content

? Not Allowed:

• AI-generated images, videos, or deepfakes presented as real content
• Synthetic faces, bodies, or locations created by AI tools
• AI-upscaled or AI-modified media that misrepresents reality
• Using AI to create fake reviews, comments, or engagement
• Automated bot accounts or AI-driven interactions

? Allowed:

• Content clearly labeled as AI-assisted (e.g., AI-enhanced audio, captions)
• Discussion about AI technology and tools
• AI-generated thumbnails or promotional graphics clearly labeled

Detection: Tern uses advanced AI analysis to detect synthetic and AI-generated content during upload. Content flagged as AI-generated with high confidence will be automatically blocked.

2.10 Drug & Alcohol Glorification

? Not Allowed:

• Promotion of illegal drug use
• Glorification of substance abuse
• Tutorials on producing illegal substances
• Underage drinking or smoking

? Allowed:

• Responsible alcohol consumption (educational)
• Drug awareness and harm reduction
• News reporting about controlled substances
• Legal cannabis in jurisdictions where permitted

3. MONETIZATION ETHICS

3.1 Creator Honesty

Creators who monetize must:

? Do This:

• Disclose sponsorships: Use #ad, #sponsored, #partner for brand deals
• Be authentic: Only promote products/services you genuinely use
• Honest metrics: Don't artificially inflate engagement
• Quality content: Maintain high standards of production and truthfulness
• Transparency: Be clear about your relationship with featured businesses

? Don't Do This:

• Hidden sponsorships: Never accept payment without disclosure
• Fake endorsements: Don't support products you don't believe in
• Bot engagement: Don't artificially boost likes, views, or followers
• Clickbait: Don't use misleading titles or thumbnails
• Bribery: Don't accept bribes to give fake positive reviews

3.2 Business Relations

When featuring businesses:

? Do This:

• Get permission: Ask before filming on private property
• Honest reviews: Share genuine experiences
• Fair portrayal: Represent the business accurately
• Balanced critique: If negative, be specific and fair
• Update corrections: Correct information if a business has improved

? Don't Do This:

• Extortion: Don't demand payment for positive reviews
• Bribery: Don't accept payment for false positives
• Defamation: Don't make false claims to damage competitors
• Manipulation: Don't pressure businesses for favorable treatment
• Harassment: Don't repeatedly target a business with false claims

3.3 Affiliate & Promotion Ethics

If you earn through affiliate links or promotions:

? Do This:

• Clear disclosure: Mark referral links prominently
• Honest recommendations: Only promote what you believe in
• Transparency: Disclose your financial relationship
• Accuracy: Don't exaggerate product benefits
• No pressure: Let followers make independent choices

? Don't Do This:

• Undisclosed affiliates: Hidden affiliate links are deceptive
• False claims: Don't make up product benefits
• Overhyping: Don't exaggerate commission amounts
• Pressure tactics: Don't use urgency scarcity falsely
• Targeting minors: Don't promote products designed for kids

4. CONTENT MODERATION & AI SAFETY

4.1 How We Moderate

Tern employs a multi-layered moderation system:

• AI Pre-Publish Screening: All comments, captions, and media uploads are automatically analyzed by AI before they go live. This includes:
  • Text moderation: Profanity, hate speech, harassment, threats, and spam are detected using both keyword filters and context-aware AI analysis
  • Media moderation: Uploaded images and video frames are analyzed for sexual content, graphic violence, and AI-generated/synthetic content
  • Content that fails moderation is blocked before publishing with a clear explanation of the violation
• Human review: Flagged content and user reports are reviewed by our moderation team
• Community reporting: Users can report violations directly from any content
• Creator education: Guidance on violations with educational messaging

4.2 Comment & Text Moderation

All text content (comments, captions, bios, messages) is screened in real-time:

• Blocked automatically: Hate speech, slurs, explicit threats, sexual solicitation, and self-harm encouragement
• Context-aware: Our AI considers context and intent � informal language, sarcasm, and cultural expressions are generally allowed
• Fail-open policy: If the moderation system is temporarily unavailable, content is permitted rather than blocking legitimate posts

Occasional profanity in natural speech is acceptable. Context matters.

4.3 Media Content Screening

All uploaded images and videos are screened before publication:

• Sexual content detection: Nudity, sexually suggestive poses, and explicit material are blocked
• AI-generated content detection: Deepfakes, synthetic faces/bodies, and artificially rendered scenes are identified and blocked (confidence threshold > 60%)
• Violence detection: Graphic violence and gore are blocked
• Screening happens during upload � you will be notified immediately if your content is flagged

4.4 Medical & Legal Content

We allow:

• Health information: Medical education, wellness tips
• Legal information: General legal education
• Mental health: Awareness and resources

We don't allow:

• Medical diagnoses or prescriptions (not qualified)
• Legal advice (not qualified)
• Promotion of unproven treatments

4.5 Political & Controversial Content

We allow political expression. We don't allow:

• Misinformation that could affect elections
• Incitement to violence
• Hate speech targeting groups
• Harassment of political figures

5. FOLLOW & INTERACTION LIMITS

To prevent spam, bot behavior, and abuse, Tern enforces the following rate limits:

5.1 Follow Rate Limiting

• You may follow up to 200 accounts per day
• This limit resets daily at midnight
• Exceeding the limit will temporarily block further follow actions
• Repeated attempts to circumvent limits (e.g., mass follow/unfollow cycling) may result in a warning

5.2 Why Limits Exist

Rate limits protect the community from:

• Spam bots that mass-follow to gain attention
• Follow/unfollow manipulation to inflate metrics
• Automated accounts that degrade the user experience
• Harassment through mass-interaction campaigns

6. CONSEQUENCES FOR VIOLATIONS

6.1 Progressive Warning System

Tern uses a progressive enforcement model that escalates with repeated violations:

Warning 1-2 (Account Status: Warned):

• Offending content is removed
• You receive a warning notice via in-app mail explaining the violation
• Educational guidance is provided
• Your account remains fully functional

Warning 3 (Account Status: Suspended � 7 Days):

• Offending content is removed
• Your account is automatically suspended for 7 days
• During suspension, you can only access your Messages (mail) tab � all other features are disabled
• You receive a suspension notice via in-app mail
• Monetization is suspended

Warning 4 (Final Warning):

• Content removed
• You receive a final warning notice � one more violation results in a permanent ban
• Account remains suspended until prior suspension expires

Warning 5 (Account Status: Banned � Permanent):

• Your account is permanently banned
• You can only access your Messages tab to read existing messages and receive communications
• All other features (posting, following, exploring, profile) are disabled
• Monetization is permanently revoked
• You may submit an appeal (see Section 7)

6.2 How Warnings Are Delivered

All warnings, suspensions, and bans are communicated through:

• In-app mail: A system message is sent to your Messages inbox with details of the violation, the warning number, and what to expect next
• Push notification: You'll be notified of the new message
• Each notice includes the violation category, reason, and your current warning count

6.3 Severe Violations (Immediate Action)

These result in immediate ban, regardless of prior warning count:

• Child exploitation or CSAM
• Terrorism or violent extremism
• Severe harassment or doxxing
• Illegal activity promotion
• Payment fraud or financial crimes

6.4 Monetization Violations

Content monetization issues result in:

• Immediate demonetization of offending content
• Suspension from monetization program (30-90 days)
• Repeated violations = permanent demonetization

6.5 Payment Fraud

If you commit payment fraud:

• Immediate account ban
• Forfeiture of all earnings
• Legal consequences may apply
• Notification to payment processor

7. APPEALS PROCESS

7.1 Appeal a Warning

If you believe a warning was issued in error:

1. Open your Messages tab (accessible even while suspended or banned)
2. Find the warning notice from the system
3. Navigate to Settings ? Appeals
4. Select the warning you want to appeal
5. Explain why you believe it violated no rules
6. Submit for review

Appeals are reviewed within 5 business days. You may only have one active appeal at a time.

7.2 Appeal a Suspension

If your account is suspended and you believe it's in error:

1. From the Messages tab (the only tab available during suspension), navigate to Settings ? Appeals
2. Select "Suspension Appeal"
3. Provide your appeal reason with any supporting evidence
4. Submit

Alternatively, email: appeals@aentury.com with subject "Suspension Appeal - [Your Username]"

You will receive a response within 10 business days.

7.3 Appeal a Ban

If your account is permanently banned:

1. Open the app � you can still access your Messages tab
2. Navigate to Settings ? Appeals
3. Select "Ban Appeal"
4. Explain in detail why you believe the ban was issued in error
5. Submit for review

Ban appeals are reviewed within 15 business days. If approved, your account status is restored and your warning count may be adjusted.

7.4 Appeal Statuses

7.5 Appeal Our Moderation Decision

Tern has final say on moderation decisions. However, you can also appeal to:

• Data Protection Officer: dpo@aentury.com (for privacy-related issues)
• Legal Team: legal@aentury.com (for copyright disputes)
• Creator Support: support@aentury.com (for general questions)

8. ACCOUNT RESTRICTIONS & ENFORCEMENT

8.1 What Happens When You're Suspended

During a suspension period:

• You can only access the Messages tab � this is where you'll receive all system notices
• All other tabs (Create, Content, Explore, Profile) are removed from the app
• You cannot post, comment, follow, or interact with content
• Your existing content remains visible to others but cannot be edited
• Monetization earnings are paused

Suspensions are temporary (typically 7 days) and your full access is automatically restored when the period ends.

8.2 What Happens When You're Banned

A permanent ban means:

• You can only access the Messages tab � to read existing conversations and system notices
• All other features are permanently disabled
• Your profile is hidden from other users
• You cannot create new content, follow users, or engage with the platform
• All monetization is permanently revoked
• You may submit one appeal at a time (see Section 7.3)

8.3 What Warnings Look Like

Every moderation action is accompanied by a detailed in-app mail message that includes:

• The specific violation category (e.g., "Hate Speech," "AI-Generated Content," "Spam")
• A description of what happened and why it violated our guidelines
• Your current warning count (e.g., "This is warning 2 of 5")
• What will happen with future violations
• How to appeal if you believe it was a mistake

9. REPORTING MECHANISMS

9.1 Reporting Content

In-App:

• Tap menu (?) on any video
• Select "Report"
• Choose violation type
• Add optional comments
• Submit

Website:

• Click "Report" under any content
• Select violation type
• Provide context
• Submit

9.2 Reporting Urgent Issues

For Safety Threats:

• Contact police or authorities first
• Email: safety@aentury.com
• Include evidence and context
• We will cooperate with law enforcement

For Child Exploitation:

• Contact NCMEC (1-800-843-5678 in US)
• Email: csam@aentury.com
• We have zero tolerance

For Copyright Issues:

• See DMCA/Copyright Policy
• File formal DMCA notice
• Email: copyright@aentury.com

9.3 Our Response

We aim to:

• Review reports within 24 hours
• Remove content violating guidelines within 48 hours
• Notify you of action taken
• Escalate serious issues appropriately

10. SPECIAL CATEGORIES

10.1 Sponsored & Promotional Content

If you earn from sponsored content:

• Clearly mark as #AD or #SPONSORED
• Link to sponsorship disclosure
• Don't mislead about product benefits
• Respect FTC/local advertising laws

10.2 Influencer Responsibility

As an influencer, you:

• Set the tone for your community
• Are responsible for comment moderation
• Should discourage harassment from followers
• May face consequences for follower behavior in excess

10.3 Business Accounts

If you represent a business:

• Be transparent about your role
• Respond fairly to criticism
• Don't fake positive reviews
• Don't harass creators posting negative reviews

11. RESOURCES & SUPPORT

11.1 Getting Help

Community Questions:

• FAQ: help.aentury.com
• Email: support@aentury.com

Creator Support:

• Creator Academy: creators.Tern.app
• Weekly office hours (Zoom)
• Community Discord

Mental Health Resources:

• If you're struggling: mindline.org.gh
• Crisis chat available 24/7

CREATOR PLEDGE

By creating on Tern, I commit to:

? Creating authentic, honest content ? Respecting others' privacy and consent ? Following all Guidelines ? Being transparent about sponsorships ? Contributing to a safe, positive community ? Accepting responsibility for my content

Tern'S PROMISE TO YOU

? We will moderate fairly and consistently ? We will be transparent about moderation ? We will provide appeals and recourse ? We will protect your privacy ? We will support creators in growth ? We will evolve these Guidelines with community input

Questions About These Guidelines?

Email: community@aentury.com

Last Updated: March 2026 Version 2.0 � Updated with AI content moderation, follow rate limits, progressive enforcement system, and account restriction policies