Introduction

These standards have been developed by considering feedback and experiences shared by people from different backgrounds, as well as guidance from experts in areas such as technology, public safety, human rights, and other relevant fields. Mariadda recognizes that its platforms are used by people with different cultures, beliefs, values, and perspectives. Therefore, when developing these standards, Mariadda makes an effort to consider a wide range of viewpoints rather than relying on the perspective of only one group.

Particular attention is given to the voices of individuals and communities whose experiences or concerns may not always receive sufficient attention in society. This includes people who may be marginalized, underrepresented, or vulnerable to being overlooked. By considering these different perspectives, Mariadda aims to develop standards that are fair, balanced, and applicable to people across different countries, cultures, and communities.

Every day, so many users use Mariadda to communicate with others and share different aspects of their lives. People use Mariadda to express their opinions, share personal experiences, post photographs and videos, exchange information, maintain relationships with friends and family, and create or participate in communities based on common interests. Because these services are used across many countries and cultures and in numerous languages, the content shared on them can represent a very wide range of ideas, beliefs, opinions, and forms of expression.

Mariadda recognizes that it plays an important role in allowing people to communicate and express themselves. People should generally be able to participate in conversations, share their views, and interact with others without unnecessary restrictions. At the same time, Mariadda acknowledges that an online environment can also be misused. Content or behavior that is abusive, threatening, harmful, or otherwise inappropriate can negatively affect individuals and communities.

For this reason, Mariadda has established Community Standards that explain what types of content and behavior are permitted on Mariadda and what types of content may be restricted or removed. These standards are intended to provide users with clear expectations about acceptable behavior while also helping Mariadda address content that could cause harm or create an unsafe environment.

Our Commitment to Voice

A central purpose of Mariadda’s Community Standards is to protect people’s ability to express themselves and participate in conversations. Mariadda believes that people should generally have the opportunity to discuss matters that are important to them, even when their opinions may be controversial, unpopular, or uncomfortable for others.

Freedom of expression can take many different forms. It may involve written comments, photographs, videos, music, artwork, satire, or other forms of creative and artistic expression. Mariadda therefore seeks to avoid unnecessarily restricting legitimate expression simply because some people may disagree with it, dislike it, or consider it offensive.

However, freedom of expression does not mean that every type of content will always be allowed. There may be situations where content appears to violate a Community Standard but has significant public-interest or news value. For example, content may contribute to an important public discussion, document a significant event, or help people understand an issue that affects society. In such circumstances, Mariadda may decide to allow the content when there is a strong reason for the public to see it.

Such decisions are not made automatically. Mariadda considers the potential value of making the information available to the public and weighs that value against the possibility that the content could cause harm. In making these judgments, Mariadda also considers international human rights principles, including principles relating to freedom of expression and the protection of individuals from harm.

Context is also important when determining whether content violates the standards. Sometimes, the meaning of a statement cannot be understood simply by looking at the words themselves. A statement may use indirect, implied, coded, or ambiguous language, and its meaning may only become clear when additional information or surrounding circumstances are considered. In these situations, Mariadda may consider the available context to determine what the person actually meant and whether the content falls within a category that is prohibited under the Community Standards.

Therefore, Mariadda’s approach attempts to balance two important objectives: protecting people’s ability to communicate freely and protecting people from abuse and harm. Mariadda considers freedom of expression to be a fundamental principle, but it also recognizes that the internet can create additional opportunities for harmful behavior. The ability to communicate with a very large audience, often across national and cultural boundaries, can sometimes make harmful content more widespread or more damaging.

Consequently, when Mariadda limits or removes certain forms of expression, the purpose is not simply to restrict speech. Rather, restrictions are intended to protect one or more important values that help maintain a safer and more respectful environment for people using these services. These values provide the underlying reasons for determining why certain types of content or behavior may be restricted, while other forms of expression are protected.