Welcome to Dostiya. These Community Guidelines help keep our platform safe, inclusive, and useful for everyone. They apply to all users of our social media app in India — whether you post, comment, share, or message. Our goal is to balance free expression with protection from harm, harassment, and illegal activity.

1. Be respectful and kind

Treat other members with respect. Harassment, bullying, doxxing, threats, or targeted abuse are not allowed. Healthy debate is welcome, but personal attacks, slurs, and hateful language based on religion, caste, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or disability will be removed.

2. No hate speech or incitement

We have zero tolerance for content that praises, supports, or promotes violence or discrimination against a protected group. Content that incites harm, vandalism, or terrorism will be taken down and reported to authorities as required under Indian law.

3. Misinformation and civic integrity

Dostiya aims to reduce the spread of harmful misinformation. Content that knowingly shares false claims about public health, elections, or public safety may be removed or labeled. We encourage users to check credible sources before sharing and to use our reporting tools to flag misleading content.

4. Safety and illegal activity

Content that facilitates, promotes, or depicts illegal activities—including drug trafficking, fraud, human trafficking, or hacking—is strictly prohibited. We cooperate with law enforcement and follow the Information Technology Act, 2000 and other applicable Indian regulations.

5. Sexual content and minors

Explicit sexual content, pornography, or nudity is not allowed. Any content that exploits or endangers minors is strictly forbidden and will be removed immediately, with accounts subject to permanent suspension and legal reporting.

6. Intellectual property and copyright

Respect creators' rights. Do not upload copyrighted music, videos, or images without permission. If you believe your copyright has been infringed, use our copyright report process so we can take appropriate action.

7. Spam, scams, and commercial misuse

Unsolicited promotional content, phishing, pyramid schemes, or fraudulent links are not permitted. Use Dostiya’s official channels for advertising and follow local advertising laws and regulations.

8. Authentic identity and impersonation

Create accounts with accurate information. Impersonating individuals, misrepresenting affiliations, or creating fake accounts to deceive others violates our rules and may result in removal.

9. Privacy and personal data

Do not post others’ private information — such as phone numbers, addresses, or ID numbers — without consent. Sharing private data may lead to account suspension and legal consequences. Review our Privacy Policy to understand how we handle data.

10. Content moderation and enforcement

We use a combination of automated systems and human reviewers to detect and remove content that violates these guidelines. Not all content that offends will be removed; moderation decisions are guided by context, intent, and applicable law.

  • Removed content may be temporarily stored for safety, legal, or appeals purposes.
  • Repeated or severe violations may result in warnings, temporary suspension, or permanent account termination.
  • Some lawful content may still be restricted based on local regulations.

11. Reporting and appeals

If you see content that violates these guidelines, use the in-app report button or contact safety@dostiya.com. We review reports promptly; if you disagree with a decision, you may submit an appeal for further review.

12. Community tips for safer use

  • Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
  • Think twice before sharing personal or sensitive information.
  • Verify news from reliable sources before resharing.
  • Block or mute users who harass or spam you.

13. Changes to these guidelines

We may update these Community Guidelines to reflect new safety challenges or legal changes. Major updates will be communicated via in-app notices. Continued use of Dostiya after changes implies acceptance.

14. Contact

Questions about these guidelines? Reach our safety team at safety@dostiya.com or support via support@dostiya.com. Your participation helps make Dostiya a trusted community for everyone in India.