Rules for Community Discussions

Building a supportive and connected local OfferUp Community

The following guidelines govern all interactions and discussions within the Community feed. For comprehensive guidelines on how to interact with the OfferUp marketplace as a whole, please refer to our overall Community Guidelines.

Conversations we love to see

1. Neighborly conversations: We love bringing people in our community together! OfferUp Communities is a great place to ask for or give recommendations for restaurants and family activities, get or give updates on local happenings, find people with shared hobbies and interests, or look for and offer support for the people in your community who need it.

2. Positive connections: It’s great to see people connecting about local things. We encourage you to form connections with others in your area who share your passions, turning simple conversations into opportunities to get to know others.

3. Clear and polite communication: Keeping communication straightforward and polite is key to a successful community.

4. Sharing useful tips and recommendations: Have valuable insights to share? Whether you're an audiophile with deep knowledge of audio equipment or a parent with must-know tips for the newborn phase, we encourage you to offer helpful suggestions. We love it when people jump in to provide their inputs or answer questions from others in the community!

5. Inclusivity, respect, and trust: Trust is the foundation of any strong community. By being respectful, transparent, and helpful in your interactions, you contribute to a positive and welcoming environment. We expect users to welcome everyone regardless of their background, opinions, or identity. Treat others with respect, even if you disagree. Everyone should feel safe and valued in the conversation.

6. Self-moderation: We encourage everyone to help keep the community positive and safe. If you see something that seems inappropriate or mean, please report it. If you’re the owner of a question and someone posts a rude reply, feel empowered to remove it. Together, we can create a welcoming space for everyone!

7. Thoughtful contributions: Before posting, ask yourself if and how you’re contributing to the conversation. Are you adding valuable information? Are you moving the conversation forward? Are you being polite, mindful, and kind? If you’re not, consider rewriting your post, waiting an hour before you jump in, or not posting at all.

Conversations we DON’T want to see

We do not allow or condone any of the following content.

1. Sensitive or divisive topics: While we encourage open and respectful discussions, certain topics—such as religion, politics, crime, race, and identity—can easily become divisive or inflammatory. We ask you not to engage in conversations around these subjects, especially in ways that promote bias, discrimination, or create conflict in the community.

2. Advertising: This is not the place for self-promotion or unsolicited ads. Please refrain from posting advertisements or promotional content. However, if you come across a question that genuinely relates to an item you're selling on OfferUp, feel free to share—as long as it stays on topic. For example, if someone is asking "In search of a MacBook Air" and you have one available, you can let them know and direct them to your profile or listing, but always ensure your response is relevant to the discussion.

3. Sharing private information:

  • No sharing other’s personal information: Never share someone else’s private information without their explicit consent. This includes phone numbers, addresses, or any other identifying details.
  • Protect your own information: Keep your personal details private. Remember, the Community is a public space, and any information you share can be seen by all users.

4. Misinformation: We encourage respectful discussions on important topics, but we don’t allow the spread of inaccurate or harmful information, such as misinformation about health or other sensitive topics.

5. Plagiarism: Be original when contributing to the Community. If you're sharing insights or information from others, make sure to credit or cite your sources. Always differentiate between fact-based information and your personal opinions.

6. False reporting: The report feature is important for maintaining a safe space. Please don’t misuse it. False reports disrupt the integrity of our community and may result in action taken against your account. Multiple violations will result in your account being deactivated.

7. Harmful or sexual content: We have zero tolerance for content that promotes harmful and biased behavior or sexual activities, especially when it pertains to minors.

8. Impersonation: Pretending to be someone else, whether another user or a public figure, is not allowed. Be yourself, and respect the identities of others.

9. Going off-topic: While some tangents are natural, going off-topic in a way that disrupts or harms the discussion is not allowed. This includes responding to a non-political discussion with a political statement. Please stay focused on the subject to keep the Community productive and helpful for everyone.

10. Criminal activities: Content that promotes or engages in illegal activities, including but not limited to fraud, theft, or harm, will be immediately removed, and accounts involved will be deactivated.

11. Content moderation: We reserve the right to remove content that violates these guidelines without notice. Multiple violations will result in your account being deactivated.

As stated in our Terms of Service, OfferUp reserves the right to remove your content, exclude you from participation in our community features, or permanently deactivate your OfferUp account with no prior notice.

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