community guidelines
/kəˈmjuː.nɪ.ti ˈɡaɪd.laɪnz/
Very CommonThe official rules a platform sets for acceptable behavior and content.
Often cited sarcastically when a ban or removal seems arbitrary. 'Violated community guidelines' has become shorthand for any unexplained platform action.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | my account got suspended for 'violating community guidelines' and i still have no idea what i did | The platform's notification was vague and gave no specific reason. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | they removed it for community guidelines but left the same video from bigger channels up. make it make sense | The rules appeared to be applied differently based on account size. | tiktok, 2024 |
| 03 | before you post that, read the community guidelines. they banned people for less | Advising someone to check the rules before risking a violation. | reddit, 2023 |
| 04 | if you click 'community guidelines' on the ban notice it just takes you to a three page pdf that says nothing | The linked documentation failed to explain the actual reason for the ban. | x, 2023 |
Use it when
- Explaining why content was removed or an account was restricted.
- Referencing a platform's ruleset when discussing a ban or penalty.
- Warning someone their content might violate platform rules.
- Mocking a platform decision that seems inconsistent with its own rules.
Do not use it when
- You mean the platform's legal terms of service rather than conduct rules.
Variations and related forms
Origin and context
The phrase became standard across social platforms in the early 2010s as companies formalized content moderation policies in response to regulatory pressure and advertiser concerns. YouTube's community guidelines page became the most widely referenced example.
- First seen
- early-2010s
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/community-guidelinesUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0