Community guidelines

Posheeda exists so students can raise something about their institution without risking their place at it. That only works if the people reading believe what they read, and if nobody is harmed by what gets posted. These rules follow from those two things.

Do not identify individuals

This is the rule that matters most, and the one most often broken by accident.

· Do not post names, photographs, phone numbers, email addresses, CNIC numbers or social media handles. Anyone’s, including your own.

· Do not give so much detail that one person is obviously meant. A department, a course code, a role and a date together identify somebody as surely as a name does.

Describe the role and the conduct. "A supervisor in my department" carries the same information as a name and exposes nobody.

Threads that identify an individual are removed, including from the public feed. This protects you as much as them: an unverified public accusation naming a real person can be actionable against the person who posted it.

Post what you can stand behind

Write what happened, as you experienced it. Do not present something as established fact if you have not seen it yourself. Say what you know and how you know it.

When you mark a thread as acknowledged, under review or resolved, you are making a claim other students will read as evidence. The note you write is what makes it evidence rather than an assertion. Only mark what actually happened.

A public thread is still your words, not Posheeda’s. We do not verify what you post.

Not allowed, at all

· Harassment or bullying, of anyone, including in replies. Insults and slurs are not a substitute for describing what someone did.

· Hate speech targeting religion, sect, ethnicity, caste, gender, disability or any other protected group. Sectarian and ethnic attacks are removed immediately.

· Threats of violence, or content encouraging harm to anyone.

· Any sexual content involving a minor, or anything that sexualises children. It is removed on sight and may be reported to the authorities.

· Sexual solicitation, pornography, or explicit sexual content. A report of sexual harassment or assault is not that. Describe the conduct and the role; do not write it as a request or a fantasy, and do not name the person.

· Impersonating a person, an office or an institution.

· Spam, advertising, or coordinated posting to push a thread up.

· Anything illegal under Pakistani law.

If you are struggling

Posts about self-harm are treated as urgent rather than as violations. If you are in danger, or someone you know is, please reach out. The Safety centre in Posheeda lists services that can help.

What happens when a rule is broken

Some wording is refused when you try to post, so it never reaches other students. The refusal will not quote the phrase that tripped it. A report of harassment, assault or discrimination, written as a report, is allowed. If you think a refusal was wrong, change the wording and try again, or write to [email protected].

Reports that say a post names a person, shares personal information, threatens someone, is hate speech, is sexual, or is about self-harm hide that thread immediately. We then review it. Other reports stay visible until we look.

Depending on what it is, a post may be left alone, left hidden, or the account restricted or banned.

The status and outcome of anything you report is shown in the app, under your reports.

If your thread or reply is hidden or removed, you are told in your notifications, with the reason given. A thread hidden automatically because of a serious report is put back if the report is dismissed, and you are told that too.

To appeal, email [email protected] within 30 days of the notice and quote the thread or reply. We read the content again and tell you the result by email.

The person you report is never told who reported them.