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Community Guidelines

Last updated: May 23, 2026

Circl is built for South African creators, founders and cultural leaders — and the global Afro diaspora. These Guidelines exist so the community stays what it was built to be: real people, real work, real respect.

These Community Guidelines are part of our Terms of Use and apply to everyone on Circl. Violating them can result in content removal, feature restrictions, or permanent account termination — without notice, for serious violations.

1. Who These Guidelines Are For

Circl is an 18+ platform. These Guidelines apply to every account, every piece of content, every message and every interaction on the platform — whether you're a creator, a founder, a cultural leader, or simply here to support the community.

2. Be Real

Your identity

Use your real identity and represent yourself honestly. Impersonation, fake accounts and deepfakes of real people are not allowed. Creating multiple personal accounts without written authorization from Circl is a violation of our Terms of Use.

Your content

Circl is a home for human creativity. AI-assisted work, used thoughtfully, is welcome — mass-produced "AI slop" with no creative or human intent is not. Bots, fake engagement and spam have no place here.

3. Respect the Culture

Circl exists because the people who shape modern internet culture deserve a platform that respects them. That respect goes both ways.

4. No Scams, No Fraud

South African creators have earned their community's trust — Circl exists to protect that, not put it at risk. The following are strictly prohibited:

5. Child Safety Is Non-Negotiable

Circl has a zero-tolerance policy on any content or behavior that sexualizes, exploits or endangers minors. This includes grooming, sextortion and any sexualized content or commentary involving anyone under 18. Violations result in immediate, permanent account termination and are reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and relevant authorities. Read our full Child Safety Standards Policy.

6. Respect Other People's Work

Only post content you own or have the rights to use. Circl respects intellectual property, and we expect the same from every user. If you believe your copyrighted work has been used without permission, see our DMCA Policy for how to submit a claim.

7. Messaging & Interaction

Direct messages are for real conversations, not mass outreach. Unsolicited bulk messaging, harassment via DMs, or using messages to get around these Guidelines is not allowed.

8. Monetization & Creator Honesty

As Circl's creator monetization launches in South Africa in September 2026, honesty toward your community becomes part of the deal. Be transparent about what subscribers, tippers or premium members are actually getting. Misrepresenting paid content, using fake urgency to drive payments, or promising access you don't deliver is a violation of these Guidelines.

9. Reporting & Enforcement

Anyone can report content, a profile or a message directly within the app using the "Report" function. Reports involving illegal content, hate speech, scams, threats or anything endangering minors are treated as top priority.

Depending on severity, enforcement can include:

Severe violations — CSAE/CSAM, credible threats of violence, sex trafficking — result in immediate permanent termination and are reported to law enforcement, with no warning issued first.

10. Appeals

If you believe a moderation decision on your account was made in error, you can appeal by contacting contact@app-circl.com with your username and the decision you're appealing. We aim to review appeals within a reasonable timeframe. Decisions related to child safety violations are not eligible for appeal.

11. Changes to These Guidelines

We may update these Guidelines as the community grows and as new situations arise. Material changes will be communicated through the app or by email. Continued use of Circl after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised Guidelines.

12. Contact

For questions about these Guidelines, or to report a concern that isn't covered by in-app reporting:

Circl – Community Team
Email: contact@app-circl.com
Postal address: Circl, Paris, France

These Community Guidelines are part of Circl's broader user agreement. Please also review our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, DMCA Policy and Child Safety Standards Policy.

These Community Guidelines reflect Circl's operational and community standards. They do not constitute legal advice. We recommend reviewing them with qualified counsel familiar with applicable South African and international law prior to public release.