1. BE RESPECTFUL

Treat everyone with kindness and respect. We're all here to learn and share our love of cooking. Disagreements are fine, but personal attacks, harassment, bullying, or hate speech will not be tolerated.

This means:

• No discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or age
• No harassment, threats, or intimidation
• No bullying or personal attacks
• Respect different cooking styles, skill levels, and dietary choices
• Constructive criticism is welcome; mean-spirited comments are not
• Be patient with beginners and welcoming to new community members

2. CIRCLES AND SOCIAL GROUPS

Circles are private groups for friends and family to share recipes, coordinate meals, and stay connected through cooking. Please respect the trust that comes with Circle membership.

2.1 Circle Etiquette

• Respect Circle privacy - don't share Circle content outside the group without permission
• Only invite people you know and trust to your Circles
• Circle admins are responsible for maintaining a positive environment
• If you leave a Circle, respect that you no longer have access to shared content
• Don't create Circles to circumvent blocks or bans

2.2 Following and Followers

• Respect users' follow request settings (public vs. approval required)
• Don't follow/unfollow repeatedly to get attention
• Respect when someone unfollows you or declines your follow request
• Don't use automation to artificially grow followers

3. DIRECT MESSAGING

Gruby offers end-to-end encrypted messaging to protect your conversations. With this privacy comes responsibility.

3.1 Messaging Guidelines

• Only message people who want to hear from you
• Respect when someone doesn't respond or asks you to stop messaging
• Don't send unsolicited promotional messages or spam
• Don't use messages to harass, threaten, or intimidate
• Don't share sexually explicit or inappropriate content
• Don't screenshot or share private messages without consent

3.2 Message Requests

Messages from people you don't follow go to Message Requests. You can accept, decline, or report these messages. Declining a message request does not notify the sender.

4. GATHERINGS

Gatherings are in-person or virtual cooking events. Whether you're hosting or attending, please follow these guidelines for safe and enjoyable experiences.

4.1 For Hosts

• Provide accurate information about your Gathering (date, time, location, menu)
• Clearly communicate any costs, dietary restrictions, or requirements
• Vet participants before sharing your exact address
• Be inclusive and welcoming to all approved participants
• Follow food safety guidelines when preparing and serving food
• Communicate promptly about any changes or cancellations
• Handle cost-splitting fairly and transparently

4.2 For Attendees

• RSVP honestly and show up if you commit
• Communicate dietary restrictions or allergies in advance
• Contribute as agreed (ingredients, cooking tasks, cost-sharing)
• Respect the host's home and other participants
• Don't share the host's address with others without permission
• Cancel with adequate notice if you can't attend
• Pay your share of costs promptly and fairly

4.3 Safety at Gatherings

• Meet in public first if you don't know other participants
• Trust your instincts - if something feels wrong, leave
• Tell someone where you're going
• Report any unsafe behavior to Gruby immediately
• Gruby is not responsible for what happens at in-person Gatherings

5. SHARE AUTHENTIC CONTENT

Post content that you've created or have permission to share. Give credit where credit is due. We're building a community of home chefs sharing genuine experiences.

Guidelines for recipes and content:

• Only post recipes you've actually made or created
• If you're sharing someone else's recipe, give proper attribution
• Use your own photos and videos
• Don't copy recipes verbatim from cookbooks, blogs, or other sources without permission
• Be honest in your reviews and ratings
• Don't use AI to generate fake reviews or ratings

6. FOOD SAFETY

Food safety matters. When sharing recipes, include important safety information and allergen warnings. Unsafe recipes can cause real harm.

• Include cooking temperatures and times for meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood
• Clearly label common allergens (nuts, dairy, gluten, shellfish, eggs, soy, etc.)
• Don't share recipes that could be dangerous if prepared incorrectly
• If you modify a recipe, note the changes so others can follow safely
• Include proper food storage and handling instructions
• Be especially careful with recipes involving raw eggs, raw meat, or home canning

7. AI FEATURES

Gruby uses AI to help with recipe suggestions, ingredient scanning, and other features. Please use these features responsibly.

• AI suggestions are starting points, not guarantees - always verify cooking times and temperatures
• Don't try to manipulate AI features to generate harmful or inappropriate content
• If you share an AI-generated recipe, note that it was AI-assisted
• Report AI suggestions that seem unsafe or incorrect
• AI ingredient scanning may have errors - always double-check identified ingredients

8. NO SPAM OR SELF-PROMOTION

Gruby is for sharing recipes and connecting with other home cooks, not for advertising or selling products.

• Don't post repetitive or irrelevant content
• Don't use Gruby to promote your business, products, or services
• Don't include affiliate links or promotional codes in recipes
• Don't direct users to external sites for commercial purposes
• Don't create multiple accounts to manipulate ratings or visibility
• Don't use automated tools to post, like, or comment

9. APPROPRIATE CONTENT ONLY

Keep content family-friendly and appropriate for all ages. Gruby is about food, cooking, and community.

Do not post:

• Sexually explicit or suggestive content
• Graphic violence or disturbing imagery
• Illegal activities or dangerous behavior
• Misinformation or misleading health claims
• Content that promotes eating disorders or unhealthy relationships with food
• Content glorifying dangerous "challenges" or trends
• Recipes for illegal substances or controlled substances

10. RESPECT PRIVACY

Protect your privacy and the privacy of others. Don't share personal information that could identify individuals without their consent.

• Don't post other people's personal information (addresses, phone numbers, email addresses)
• Don't post photos of others without their permission
• Be cautious about sharing your own personal information
• Respect private messages and don't share them publicly without consent
• Don't share Gathering locations with people who weren't invited
• Respect Circle privacy and don't share Circle content externally

11. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Respect copyright, trademarks, and other intellectual property rights. Don't post content that infringes on others' rights.

• Only upload photos and videos you own or have permission to use
• Don't copy entire recipes from copyrighted sources
• Give credit when adapting or inspired by someone else's recipe
• Don't use copyrighted music in videos without permission
• Don't post content that infringes on trademarks

If you believe your copyright has been infringed, see our DMCA Policy.

12. BLOCKING AND MUTING

You have the power to control your Gruby experience:

• Block: Prevents someone from viewing your profile, recipes, or contacting you. They won't be notified they've been blocked.
• Mute: Hides someone's content from your feed without unfollowing them.
• Report: Flags content or behavior that violates these guidelines.

Don't try to circumvent blocks by creating new accounts or using other users' accounts.

13. REPORTING VIOLATIONS

If you see content that violates these guidelines, please report it. Help us keep Gruby a positive space for everyone.

How to report:

• Use the "Report" button on any post, comment, message, or profile
• Select the reason that best describes the violation
• Provide specific details about the violation
• For urgent safety concerns, email us at safety@gruby.app

What happens after you report:

• Our moderation team reviews reports, typically within 24-48 hours
• We may contact you for additional information
• The reported user is not told who reported them
• We'll notify you when we've taken action

14. CONSEQUENCES OF VIOLATIONS

Violations of these Community Guidelines may result in:

• Warning and content removal
• Temporary restrictions on posting, messaging, or social features
• Removal from Circles or banning from Gatherings
• Temporary account suspension (1-30 days)
• Permanent account termination
• Reporting to law enforcement (for illegal activities or safety threats)

We consider the severity and frequency of violations when determining appropriate actions. Repeated or egregious violations will result in stricter consequences.

15. APPEALS

If you believe content was removed or your account was restricted in error, you may appeal the decision by emailing appeals@gruby.app within 30 days. Include:

• Your username
• The content or action you're appealing
• A clear explanation of why you believe the action was incorrect
• Any supporting context or information

We review appeals carefully and will respond within 7 business days.

16. UPDATES TO THESE GUIDELINES

We may update these Community Guidelines from time to time to reflect changes in our community, features, or legal requirements. We'll notify you of significant changes through the app or email. Continued use of Gruby after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised guidelines.

17. CONTACT US

Questions about these Community Guidelines? Reach out to us at:

• General inquiries: community@gruby.app
• Safety concerns: safety@gruby.app
• Appeals: appeals@gruby.app