Content Guidelines

Last updated 18/06/2025

These Content Guidelines supplement our Terms of Use and apply to your access and use of all Sanctuary services, including any content you create, input, share, or engage with via our Sanctuary Stories mobile or web application (the "App").

To ensure the App remains a safe, creative, and respectful community for all users, we ask that you read and follow these guidelines carefully.

1. GENERAL USE (E.G. COMMENTS, PROFILE)

  • No explicit or inappropriate content: This includes but is not limited to, bullying, harassment, hate speech or threats. 

  • Obscene or offensive content: This includes, but is not limited to, any content of a pornographic nature or content which is suggestive of minors in sexual contexts, or any material that sexualises children. 

  • Illegal or criminal content: This includes, but is not limited to, the incitement, description, or glorification of illegal behaviour such as:

  • Abuse, violence or coercive behaviour (including child abuse, domestic violence, sexual exploitation or animal cruelty)

  • Self-harm or suicide encouragement

  • Use or distribution of illegal substances

  • Terrorism or extremist behaviour

  • Harassment or hate offences

  • Discriminatory content: This includes but is not limited to content that discriminates based on protected characteristics including race, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation or physical or mental disability.

You must also ensure that content:

  • is accurate

  • only contains your opinions that you genuinely hold

  • is not defamatory of any person

  • is not likely to deceive anyone

  • does not promote any illegal activity

  • is not threatening, abusive or invasive of another’s privacy

  • is not likely to harass, upset, embarrass, alarm or annoy any other person

2. STORY CONTENT 

We welcome creativity, however, to protect our community, we have developed the following guidelines for Story content. We request that you take into account the feelings of other Users when considering how to apply these guidelines to your Story content.

We recognise that authors may wish to explore serious or emotional themes, such as trauma, grief, self-harm or mental health, mature themes (which may include descriptions of sexual activity or violence) and may also wish to include reference to or descriptions of illegal activities. We allow these types of content when it serves a legitimate narrative or artistic purpose in the context of your Story. However, you may not include explicit or disturbing content in order to shock or provoke a reaction or include content which is gratuitous in nature. If your content does explore sensitive or mature themes, you should also use the tools available when you submit your Story to indicate this and to help readers make informed choices.

In any event, Story content must not glorify, encourage, or promote: 

  • Abuse (including domestic, sexual, or child abuse)

  • Violence or coercion

  • Self-harm or suicide

  • Terrorist activity

  •  Racism or discrimination 

  • Hate speech

    3. RESPECTING OTHERS AND THEIR RIGHTS 

We require all users to respect the rights of others and only contribute original, authentic content.

You must ensure that your content does not include any of the following:

  • Content that you do not have the appropriate rights or licences to use

  • Content which plagiarises or copies someone else’s work 

  • Materials which are subject to third party rights

Anyone else’s personal, private, or confidential information (such as addresses, private conversations, or financial information) 

You may not include content which:

  • Impersonates any individuals, brands, or public figures, or misrepresents your identity in any way

  • Causes harm to or intimidates, bullies or insults someone else

    4. USE OF AI TOOLS
    If you use any generative AI tools to assist your storytelling or content creation, you must:

  • Clearly label such content as “generated using AI” where more than approximately 25% of the story has been generated using AI

  • Ensure that the AI-generated content complies fully with these Content Guidelines and our Terms of Use

    5. MODERATION, ENFORCEMENT, AND REPORTING

We reserve the right to remove any content that violates these Content Guidelines or our Terms of Use. Additional enforcement actions may include:

  • Temporary or permanent suspension of user accounts

  • Restriction of access to certain features 

You can report violations by following our Reporting Policy.