The community forums are public, and posted content can practically never be fully taken down
MyFitnessPal warns that its community forums are public. It says that when you make something publicly available online, it becomes practically impossible to take down all copies of it in the future. It points to a help article for people who need help removing their posts. This is a warning about public posting, not a promise that content can or cannot be deleted from MyFitnessPal's own forums.
Supporting quotations
Please keep in mind that our community forums are public. When you make something publicly available online, it becomes practically impossible to take down all copies of it in the future.
Qualifications & exceptions
The statement is a warning about copies made once content is public; it does not say whether MyFitnessPal itself will delete a post on request.
Not stated here
The linked help article on deleting forum posts is not supplied, so the steps and limits for removing a post are unknown.
Content & IP Rights · Company commitment
Be respectful of other members, and use the ignore feature if you cannot be nice
Under the heading Play Nice, MyFitnessPal asks members to be respectful, to understand that everyone is different, and to be kind to newer members. Members should remember the human on the other side of the screen and share opinions while respecting others' thoughts and feelings, and should be ready to hear different opinions even when they disagree. If a member cannot be nice, the guideline points to an ignore feature instead of engaging. This card is written as encouragement; the specific prohibited conduct is listed in the Do Not items that follow.
Supporting quotations
Play Nice
Always remember the human on the other side of the screen and share your opinions while respecting others’ thoughts and feelings.
If you can’t be nice, please use the
Qualifications & exceptions
The paragraph is phrased as requests ("Please be respectful", "Be ready to"); the prohibitions are in the Do Not list.
Not stated here
The linked help article on the ignore (block) feature is not supplied, so what the feature does is not stated here.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Do not attack, bully, insult or harass other members, moderators or staff, in the forums or anywhere on MyFitnessPal
Under Play Nice, members must not attack, bully or otherwise insult others. You may respectfully disagree with a message or topic, but not attack the person who posted it. Members must also not harass other members, moderators or staff in the forums and/or anywhere else on MyFitnessPal, which expressly includes language used to harass or bully another member through repetitive or off-topic posts. The harassment ban therefore reaches beyond the forums to anywhere on MyFitnessPal, and it covers moderators and staff as well as other members.
Supporting quotations
Do Not:
Attack, bully, or otherwise insult others. You can respectfully disagree with the message or topic, but you cannot attack the messenger.
Harass other members, moderators, or staff in the forums and/or anywhere else on MyFitnessPal. This includes language used to harass or bully another member through repetitive or off-topic posts.
Qualifications & exceptions
Respectful disagreement with a message or topic is allowed; attacking the person who posted it is not.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Do not criticize spelling or grammar, belittle duplicate or old-discussion posts, or be a jerk
The Play Nice list also tells members not to criticize or call out a member's spelling or grammar, giving the reason that people have different education, language and location, and to focus on the meaning of a message. Members must not belittle someone for posting a duplicate discussion or attack someone for posting in an older discussion. The last item simply says not to "Be a jerk", which is a general standard with no further definition.
Supporting quotations
Criticize or call out a member’s spelling or grammar.
Belittle a member for posting a duplicate discussion, or attack a member for posting in an older discussion.
Be a jerk.
Qualifications & exceptions
"Be a jerk" is a catch-all that the guideline does not define.
Content & IP Rights · Company commitment
MyFitnessPal is not a place for hateful content and has a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech
Under Be Kind, MyFitnessPal says it embraces everyone as they are and expects members to treat each other with respect. It says MyFitnessPal is not a place for hateful content or for the people and groups that promote hateful activities, and that it has a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech. The listed examples of prohibited conduct follow in the Do Not items.
Supporting quotations
Be Kind
MyFitnessPal is not a place for hateful content or the people and groups that promote hateful activities; we have a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech.
Qualifications & exceptions
"Zero-tolerance" is stated for hate speech; the warning section separately describes graduated warnings, and this guideline does not define what counts as hate speech beyond the Do Not list.
No hate, derogatory references to listed characteristics, stereotypes, or mocking or denying individuals
The hate-speech list prohibits being hateful and making any derogatory references to age, sex or gender identity, sexual orientation, weight, body type, disability or medical condition, pregnancy, racial identity, ethnicity, nationality, immigration status, socio-economic status, veteran status, religion, or faith. It also bars making or promoting stereotypes against other members, and denying, mocking or minimizing an individual for any reason, including gender identity or sexual orientation. The characteristics list is stated as the subjects of the derogatory-reference ban; "for any reason" widens the last item beyond that list.
Supporting quotations
Do Not:
Be hateful.
Make any derogatory references to age, sex or gender identity, sexual orientation, weight, body type, disability or medical condition, pregnancy, racial identity, ethnicity, nationality, immigration status, socio-economic status, veteran status, religion, or faith.
Make or promote stereotypes against other members.
Deny, mock, or minimize an individual for any reason, including for an individual’s gender identity or sexual orientation.
Qualifications & exceptions
The derogatory-reference ban lists specific characteristics; the stereotype ban applies to "other members".
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Do not incite hatred or physical harm, endorse violence even in humor, or support hate groups
Members must not post discussions, comments or other content that incite racism, bigotry, hatred or physical harm to any individual or group. They must not endorse violence against any person or group, even if the endorsement is veiled in humor. They must not support hate groups and people promoting malicious activities or prejudice. The humor clause means that a joke does not exempt violent endorsement from this rule.
Supporting quotations
Post discussions, comments, or other content that incite racism, bigotry, hatred, or physical harm to any individual or group.
Endorse violence against any person or group, even if veiled in humor.
Support hate groups and people promoting malicious activities or prejudice.
Qualifications & exceptions
Applies to violence against "any person or group", not only members.
Content & IP Rights · Company commitment
Engage positively: use reactions, mentions, flags and search, and feel free to ask questions others have asked
Under Engage Positively, MyFitnessPal encourages members to be friendly, use Reactions to share support, @mention a member to share something good, flag content that breaks the guidelines or needs staff attention, and use Search for answers. It also says members need not be afraid to ask a question another member has posted before, noting that they may get different answers. This is encouragement and describes available features, with the limits on using them in the Do Not items that follow, including a ban on creating duplicate topics to get a response.
Supporting quotations
Engage Positively
Be friendly! We’re all here to lift each other up. Use Reactions to share the love.
Flag content that breaks our guidelines or needs staff attention.
but don’t be afraid to ask a question another member has posted before.
Qualifications & exceptions
Asking a question another member has asked before is welcomed, while creating duplicate topics or posting the same reply in many threads to get a response is prohibited in the Do Not list.
Not stated here
The linked help article on mentioning members is not supplied.
Do not misuse spam or abuse flags, reactions or mentions to hurt or call out other members
Members must not misuse the spam or abuse flags, which the guideline explains as flagging someone because you do not like them. They must not use reactions in a hurtful manner or use @mentions to call out other members in a negative way. The later Moderation section says members who flag content that does not meet the flag criteria are in violation of the guidelines and will be subject to warnings.
Supporting quotations
Do Not:
Misuse the spam or abuse flags (flagging someone because you don't like them).
Use reactions in a hurtful manner.
Use mentions (@) to call out other members in a negative way.
Not stated here
What happens to a member who misuses these features is not stated here; the Moderation and Warnings sections cover it.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Do not post duplicates, bump old threads, tell people to Google, or take discussions off-topic
Members must not create duplicate topics or post the same reply in multiple threads to get a response, bump zombie threads (old, inactive threads) to prove a point or dominate recent discussions, tell people to Google their questions, or take a discussion off-topic or post unrelated or irrelevant content. The duplicate-topic ban sits beside the encouragement to ask a question that another member has already asked, so the dividing line appears to be creating a duplicate topic or repeating a reply across threads to get a response.
Supporting quotations
Create duplicate topics or post the same reply in multiple threads to get a response.
Bump zombie threads to prove a point/dominate recent discussions.
Tell people to Google their questions.
Take a discussion off-topic or post unrelated or irrelevant content.
Qualifications & exceptions
The duplicate-topic ban turns on posting to get a response.
Not stated here
The guideline does not define how old a thread must be to count as a "zombie" thread.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Do not post in a non-native language, be disruptive, spam, or police other members
Members must not post in a language that is not native to the forum they are participating in, engage in disruptive behavior, spam people via posts, replies or messages, or police other members. The language rule depends on the forum's native language, which the guideline does not name. Policing other members is not defined further in this list.
Supporting quotations
Post in a language that is not native to the forum you're participating in.
Engage in disruptive behavior.
Spam people via posts, replies, or messages.
Police other members.
Qualifications & exceptions
The language rule is relative to the forum being used.
Not stated here
The guideline does not say which language is native to each forum, nor define "disruptive behavior" or "police other members".
Content & IP Rights · Permission or license
Progress photos are welcome but must be workplace-friendly and appropriate for a public forum
MyFitnessPal invites members to share authentic progress photos and says this is what makes the community great. It adds that the forums are public, so photos should be workplace-friendly and appropriate. The detailed restrictions on clothing and nudity are in the Do Not items below, and they are stricter than the general welcome for progress photos might suggest.
Supporting quotations
Use Workplace-Friendly Images
Please share your authentic progress photos and success with us; it’s what makes our community great!
That said, please be aware that our forums are public, and your photos should be workplace-friendly and appropriate.
Qualifications & exceptions
The welcome for progress photos is limited by the workplace-friendly standard and the clothing and nudity rules that follow.
Not stated here
"Workplace-friendly and appropriate" is not defined beyond the listed items.
No nudity or revealing photos, and swimsuits or pants must cover everything below the mid-hip
Members must not share nudity, pornography or NSFW (Not Safe For Work) content or images. The guideline says photos containing excessive or exposed cleavage, butt, breasts or crotch in any state of dress are not allowed. It also bars photos in which hands or objects are the only bodily covering and photos in underwear or other undergarments. A further item says pants or swimsuits need to cover everything below the mid-hip. This item is written as a coverage requirement inside a list of prohibitions, so the combined effect is that photos in underwear, and in swimwear that does not reach below the mid-hip, are not allowed.
Supporting quotations
Do Not:
Share nudity, pornography, or NSFW (Not Safe For Work) content or images. Photos containing excessive or exposed cleavage, butt, breasts, or crotch in any state of dress are not allowed.
Post photos in which hands or objects are the only bodily covering.
Post photos in underwear or other undergarments.
Pants or swimsuits need to cover everything below the mid-hip.
Qualifications & exceptions
"Excessive or exposed" is the test for the cleavage and body-part prohibition, applying "in any state of dress".
The mid-hip item is phrased as a requirement rather than a prohibition even though it appears in the Do Not list.
Not stated here
The guideline does not say how "excessive" cleavage is judged or who decides.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Do not post hateful, violent, gory or graphic imagery, including images of guns or other weapons
Members must not post hateful, violent, gory or graphic imagery, and the guideline expressly includes images of guns or other weapons. This is part of the Workplace-Friendly Images rules, and the profanity and political-image items that continue the same list are explained in the next packet.
Supporting quotations
Post hateful, violent, gory, or graphic imagery, including images of guns or other weapons.
Qualifications & exceptions
Images of guns or other weapons are expressly included whether or not they are themselves violent or graphic.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Language must pass the granny test: no profanity in content, images or usernames; stay on health and fitness
Under Language Should Pass the Granny Test, MyFitnessPal says that if you would not say it in front of your granny, mom, boss or child, it is not appropriate, and that this includes usernames. The workplace-friendly images list also bars content or images containing profanity. MyFitnessPal says it uses a profanity filter and describes the platform as a place to discuss health and fitness-related topics. The granny test is a general standard; the specific items are in the Do Not list that follows.
Supporting quotations
Language Should Pass the Granny Test
If you wouldn’t say it in front of your granny, mom, boss, or child, it’s not appropriate here. (This includes usernames!)
MyFitnessPal is a place to discuss health & fitness-related topics.
Post content or images containing profanity.
Qualifications & exceptions
The granny test is applied to usernames as well as posts.
The profanity item appears in the Workplace-Friendly Images list and covers both content and images.
Not stated here
The profanity filter's word list and how it works are not supplied; its linked help article is not supplied.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Do not use vulgar, explicit or sexual language, evade the profanity filter, or post sexually suggestive comments
Members must not use vulgar, explicit, graphic or sexual language. They must not get creative trying to get around the profanity filters by using non-alphabetical characters to approximate expletives or other objectionable language. They must also not post comments with an inappropriate sexual connotation. Evading the filter is itself a violation, not only the underlying word.
Supporting quotations
Do Not:
Use vulgar, explicit, graphic, or sexual language.
Get creative trying to get around the profanity filters by using non-alphabetical characters to approximate expletives or other objectionable language.
Post comments with an inappropriate sexual connotation.
Qualifications & exceptions
"Inappropriate sexual connotation" is judged by MyFitnessPal and is not defined.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Do not post political images, including slogans, propaganda or images of past and current political figures
Members must not post political images. The guideline says this includes political slogans, propaganda, and images of past and current political figures. This is the image-specific version of the separate ban on posting about politics that appears later in the Be Diplomatic section.
Supporting quotations
Post political images. This includes political slogans, propaganda, and images of past and current political figures.
Qualifications & exceptions
"Includes" signals examples; the list is not stated as complete.
Content & IP Rights · Company commitment
Members at all stages are welcome; healthy food relationships promoted; member advice never replaces a professional
Under Support Safe and Healthy Journeys, MyFitnessPal says it welcomes members in many stages of their health and fitness journey and aims to give tools to reach weight management goals at a steady and sustainable rate. It says it promotes healthy relationships with food and does not condone dangerous or unsafe eating habits or strategies. It asks members to remember that other members' advice should never replace medical advice from a professional, says it is supportive of members with a disease, ailment, injury or neurodivergent diagnosis, and asks members to be respectful and kind in response.
Supporting quotations
Support Safe and Healthy Journeys
We promote healthy relationships with food and don’t condone dangerous or unsafe eating habits or strategies.
Please remember that other members’ advice should never replace medical advice from a professional.
Qualifications & exceptions
These paragraphs state the company's goals and ask members for respect; the specific prohibited content is in the Do Not list that follows.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Do not endorse or promote unsafe dieting, controversial weight-loss techniques, or content glamorizing extreme thinness
Members must not use any aspect of the Services to endorse, promote, glamorize or achieve unsafe dieting practices, including but not limited to anorexia, orthorexia, bulimia or very low-calorie diets, and this includes positive references to ana/mia, purging or self-starving. They must not discuss controversial weight-loss techniques or diets, and must not post content or photos intended to glamorize extreme thinness, with Thinspiration, Bonespiration and thigh gaps given as examples. The unsafe-dieting item reaches any use of the Services, not only forum posts, while the thinness item is tied to content intended to glamorize.
Supporting quotations
Do Not:
Use any aspect of the Services to endorse, promote, glamorize, or achieve any unsafe dieting practices, including but is not limited to anorexia, orthorexia, bulimia, or very low-calorie diets. This includes positive references to ana/mia, purging, or self-starving.
Discuss controversial weight-loss techniques or diets.
Post content or photos intended to glamorize extreme thinness. (Thinspiration/Thinspo, Bonespiration/Bonespo, Thigh Gaps, etc.)
Qualifications & exceptions
The unsafe-dieting item says "any aspect of the Services"; the extreme-thinness item is limited to content intended to glamorize.
The examples ("including but is not limited to", "etc.") are not exhaustive.
Not stated here
The guideline does not define which weight-loss techniques or diets count as "controversial" or what counts as a "very low-calorie" diet.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Do not diagnose other members, give professional medical advice, or promote potentially unsafe weight loss products
Members must not diagnose other members or offer professional medical advice. They must not post content suggesting, promoting or advertising potentially unsafe or controversial weight loss products or procedures, which the guideline says includes non-medically prescribed supplements. The supplement example means supplements that a medical professional has not prescribed fall inside the "potentially unsafe or controversial" products covered.
Supporting quotations
Diagnose other members or offer professional medical advice.
Post content suggesting, promoting, or advertising potentially unsafe or controversial weight loss products or procedures, including non-medically prescribed supplements.
Qualifications & exceptions
Non-medically prescribed supplements are expressly named as included.
Not stated here
The guideline does not define "potentially unsafe or controversial" or who decides.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Do not glamorize or promote self-harm or suicide
Members must not glamorize or promote self-harm or suicide. This item is in the same Do Not list as the eating-related items under Support Safe and Healthy Journeys.
Supporting quotations
Glamorize or promote self-harm or suicide.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Offsite blog and social media links count as advertising; non-affiliate storefront and information links are allowed
Under User Generated Advertising, MyFitnessPal says it wants the community to be free from spam and advertising. For its purposes, posts containing links to offsite blog posts and social media are considered advertisements, and members are asked to report posts they believe to be advertising. A limited exception allows non-affiliate links to popular storefronts, integration partners, or informational sources such as scientific articles. The exception is limited to non-affiliate links, and the Do Not list adds that you may not post links for other services from which you might benefit.
Supporting quotations
User Generated Advertising
For our purposes, posts containing links to offsite blog posts and social media are considered advertisements.
Please report posts you believe to be advertising.
Non-affiliate links to popular storefronts, integration partners, or informational sources (such as scientific articles) are allowed.
Qualifications & exceptions
The exception is limited to non-affiliate links.
The sentence that offsite blog and social media links are advertisements is a definition "for our purposes".
Not stated here
The guideline does not say how "popular" storefronts or "integration partners" are determined.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
No links or contact solicitation for services that benefit you, donations, competitor promotion or surveys
Members must not post links, mentions or solicit off-forum contact (for example "message me for more info") for other services from which they might benefit. They must not request or solicit donations. They must not post or use any community features intended to promote websites and apps that compete with MyFitnessPal. They must not post, promote or solicit participation in their research projects or surveys. They must also not respond to advertisers, and are pointed to the reporting features instead. The first item turns on whether the member might benefit from the other service.
Supporting quotations
Do Not:
Post any links, mentions, or solicit off-forum contact (e.g., “message me for more info”) for other services from which you might benefit.
Request or solicit any donations.
Post or use any community features intended to promote websites and apps that compete with MyFitnessPal.
Post, promote, or solicit participation in your research projects or surveys.
Respond to advertisers
Qualifications & exceptions
The links ban applies to "other services from which you might benefit"; the promotion ban applies to content "intended to promote" competing websites and apps.
Not stated here
The linked reporting-features help article is not supplied.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Do not publicly post any message from another member, moderator or staff member at any time
Members must not publicly post an email, private message or any other type of message from any other MyFitnessPal member, moderator or staff member, and the guideline adds "at any time". There is no stated exception for the sender's consent.
Supporting quotations
Do Not:
Publicly post an email, private message, or any other type of message from any other MyFitnessPal member, moderator, or staff member at any time.
Qualifications & exceptions
No exception is stated, including for the sender's consent.
Content & IP Rights · Permission or license
MyFitnessPal may remove content that violates the guidelines or that applicable laws require it to remove
Under Keep It Legal, MyFitnessPal says it may remove or delete any content you post that violates these Community Guidelines or as may be required by applicable laws. The removal power is stated as "may"; it covers two grounds, a guideline violation and a legal requirement.
Supporting quotations
Keep It Legal
We may remove or delete any content that you post that violates these Community Guidelines or as may be required by applicable laws.
Qualifications & exceptions
"May": the text states a power to remove, not a duty to remove.
Content & IP Rights · Permission or license
MyFitnessPal rejects misinformation and reserves the right to remove content it deems false, misleading or harmful
Under Misinformation, MyFitnessPal says it is not a place for misinformation, disinformation or mal-information, or for individuals or groups intentionally spreading or creating it. For members' safety and well-being, it reserves the right to remove any content on its platform that it deems false, misleading or harmful. The test is MyFitnessPal's own judgment ("we deem"), and the removal right covers any content on the platform, not just posts that match the specific Do Not items.
Supporting quotations
Misinformation
MyFitnessPal isn’t a place for misinformation, disinformation, mal-information, or the individuals or groups intentionally spreading or creating it.
we reserve the right to remove any content on our platform that we deem false, misleading, or harmful.
Qualifications & exceptions
The standard is MyFitnessPal's own determination, and the right covers any content on the platform.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Do not post unsupported health claims, false information about groups, manipulated content, or misrepresented science
Members must not post medically unsupported health claims. They must not post false or misleading information about any member, group of members or protected groups that promotes fear, hate or prejudice, which includes misleading content that targets these groups for harassment or physical violence. They must not post intentionally manipulated or modified content with the intent to mislead or cause harm. They must not post content that misrepresents scientific data with the intent to damage trust in science and experts. The first item has no stated intent requirement, while the manipulated-content and scientific-data items are limited to content posted with intent to mislead, harm or damage trust.
Supporting quotations
Do Not:
Post medically unsupported health claims.
Post false or misleading information about any member, group of members, or protected groups that promote fear, hate, or prejudice. This includes misleading content that targets these groups for harassment or physical violence.
Post intentionally manipulated or modified content with the intent to mislead or cause harm.
Post content that misrepresents scientific data with the intent to damage trust in science and experts.
Qualifications & exceptions
The health-claims item has no stated intent requirement; the manipulated-content and scientific-data items require intent.
"Medically unsupported" is not defined.
Not stated here
The guideline does not say who decides whether a health claim is medically unsupported.
Content & IP Rights · Company commitment
Be diplomatic and respect cultures, identities and viewpoints; report trolls instead of engaging them
Under Be Diplomatic; Read the Room, MyFitnessPal says it values every individual's perspectives, experiences and philosophies and asks members to respect the diversity of its global community. It asks members to report trolls instead of engaging them. It describes itself as a safe space with the sole objective of bettering ourselves physically and mentally, where divisive arguments belong elsewhere. Members are asked to remain respectful of other cultures, identities and points of view, and MyFitnessPal says they should expect the same treatment in return.
Supporting quotations
Be Diplomatic; Read the Room
Please be respectful of the diversity of our global community. Report trolls instead of engaging them.
we ask that you remain respectful of other cultures, identities, and points of view. In return, you should expect to receive this same treatment.
Qualifications & exceptions
Written as requests and expectations; the prohibited topics are in the Do Not list.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Do not post divisive topics or politics unrelated to health and fitness
Members must not post divisive topics, which the guideline defines as any hot-button issue that would incite conflict or debate unrelated to health and fitness. They must not post about politics, which the guideline explains as sharing support for favorite politicians, encouraging others to adopt a political point of view, ridiculing people of an opposite view, or garnering support for a particular issue. The politics ban is written without a health-and-fitness qualifier, while the divisive-topics definition is tied to issues unrelated to health and fitness.
Supporting quotations
Do Not:
Post divisive topics, which we define as any hot-button issue that would incite conflict or debate unrelated to health & fitness.
Post about politics. This is not the place to share support for your favorite politicians, encourage others to see your political point of view, ridicule people of an opposite view, or garner support for a particular issue.
Qualifications & exceptions
The politics ban has no stated health-and-fitness qualifier.
Not stated here
The guideline does not say whether a political topic that touches health policy would count as unrelated to health and fitness.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Do not discuss religion (cultural food practices are OK), create exclusionary topics, or troll
Members must not discuss religion, with the exception that talking about cultural food dietary practices is OK. They must not create or engage in topics that are exclusionary in nature, and must not troll, flamebait or feed the trolls. The religion ban is broader than a ban on derogatory references to religion, and its one stated exception is cultural food dietary practices.
Supporting quotations
Discuss religion (talking about cultural food dietary practices is OK).
Create or engage in topics that are exclusionary in nature.
Troll, flamebait, or feed the trolls.
Qualifications & exceptions
The one stated exception to the religion ban is cultural food dietary practices.
Not stated here
The guideline does not define "exclusionary in nature".
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
The guidelines apply in groups, including private ones; group creators and leaders handle upkeep and moderation
Under Group Participation, MyFitnessPal describes groups as a way to stay connected or discuss niche topics that may not fit within the main forums. It says the Community Guidelines apply when participating in groups, including private groups, and that if you create a group, you and your appointed leaders are responsible for all upkeep and moderation within the group.
Supporting quotations
Group Participation
The Community Guidelines apply when participating in groups, including private groups.
If you create a group, you and your appointed leaders are responsible for all upkeep and moderation within the group.
Qualifications & exceptions
Private groups are expressly covered.
Not stated here
The text does not say what moderation tools or support MyFitnessPal gives group leaders, or what happens to a group whose leaders do not moderate.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Do not join irrelevant groups, use groups to mock or harass, or make private groups to avoid the guidelines
Members must not participate in groups that are not relevant to them. They must not create or participate in a group to mock, harass or bully any member or group of members. They must not make a private group with the intent to get around the community guidelines.
Supporting quotations
Do Not:
Participate in groups that aren’t relevant to you.
Create or participate in a group to mock, harass, or bully any member or group of members.
Make a private group with the intent to get around our community guidelines.
Qualifications & exceptions
The private-group ban turns on intent to get around the guidelines.
Not stated here
The guideline does not say how relevance to a member is judged.
Content & IP Rights · Procedure
Raise concerns about a moderator, warning or moderation privately with staff; moderation is not a public topic
Under Moderation Disputes Should be Handled Privately, MyFitnessPal asks members to appreciate the volunteer moderators who help keep the community safe. If a member is concerned about a moderator, warning or forum moderation, they should privately message a staff member. It states that moderation is never a topic for public discussion.
Supporting quotations
Moderation Disputes Should be Handled Privately
If you are concerned about a moderator, warning, or forum moderation, please privately message a
Moderation is never a topic for public discussion.
Qualifications & exceptions
"Never a topic for public discussion" is absolute in the text.
Not stated here
The linked page naming staff members is not supplied; the text does not say how staff respond to private concerns.
Do not publicly protest moderation, appeal a removal from the Community, or threaten moderators or staff
Members must not publicly protest a moderator or staff member's action. They must not attempt to appeal the removal of a member from the Community as a result of moderation. They must not threaten moderators or staff members. The appeal item sits beside the invitation to privately message staff about a warning or moderation concern, so a concern about a warning may be raised privately, while an appeal of a removal is listed as prohibited.
Supporting quotations
Do Not:
Publicly protest a moderator or staff member’s action.
Attempt to appeal the removal of a member from the Community as a result of moderation.
Threaten moderators or staff members.
Qualifications & exceptions
The appeal ban refers to removal of a member from the Community as a result of moderation.
Not stated here
The text does not say whether a removed member has any route to review the decision, or whether privately messaging staff counts as an appeal.
Content & IP Rights · Procedure
Members report violations; a human reviews reports before action, but MyFitnessPal may act on unreported posts
Under Moderation, Reporting, and Flagging Policies, MyFitnessPal says it does its best to keep the community safe, but members may run into bad content before it is taken down. It has staff administrators and volunteer moderators and relies on members to help identify guideline violations by reporting posts. It says a human reviews all reports before any moderation or warning action is taken. It also reserves the right to pre-moderate or take any moderation actions on posts that are not member-reported, and elsewhere reserves the right to dismiss a reported post it finds does not violate a guideline. The human-review statement is about reports; it does not say a human reviews actions taken on posts that nobody reported.
Supporting quotations
Moderation, Reporting, and Flagging Policies:
We have a team of staff administrators and volunteer moderators, but we rely on our members to help us identify guideline violations.
A human reviews all reports before any moderation or warning action is taken.
We reserve the right to pre-moderate or take any moderation actions on posts that are not member-reported.
Additionally, we reserve the right to dismiss a reported post if we find it does not violate a guideline.
Qualifications & exceptions
The human review applies to reports, not to every action; pre-moderation and actions on posts that are not member-reported are reserved separately.
The right to dismiss a reported post comes from the Please note paragraph earlier in the document.
Not stated here
The linked help article on reporting a post is not supplied; the text does not say how long review takes.
Content & IP Rights · Procedure
A post flagged 5 times as Spam is hidden and sent for moderation; the Spam flag is for bot-style posts only
The Spam flag is described as a way for members to quickly report spam to moderators and remove it from the community. When a post is flagged 5 times as Spam, it is hidden from the community forums and sent for moderation. Spam is defined as bot-style posts only, with questionable supplements, miracle skin treatments and unrelated services as examples, and such posts should be flagged as Spam rather than reported as Advertising. Anything that is not a spam bot is not Spam, and a real person's post that violates the advertising guideline should go through the Report option instead.
Supporting quotations
Flagging Posts:
When a post is flagged 5 times as Spam, it is hidden from the community forums and sent for moderation.
What is Spam: This is for bot-style posts only (e.g. questionable supplements, miracle skin treatments, unrelated services etc.) Please flag these items as Spam, do not report them as Advertising.
What is not Spam: Anything that is not a spam bot. Please use the Report option if it was written by an actual human and violates our advertising guideline.
Qualifications & exceptions
The Spam flag is limited to bot-style posts; human-written advertising goes through the Report option.
Not stated here
The text does not say whether the 5 flags must come from different members, or whether and how a hidden post is restored.
Content & IP Rights · Procedure
A post flagged 5 times as Abuse is hidden and sent for moderation; the Abuse flag is for severe and urgent violations
The Abuse flag is described as a way to get offensive or upsetting content reported to moderators and removed from the community so fewer people have to see it. When a post is flagged 5 times as Abuse, it is hidden from the community forums and sent for moderation. Abuse covers pornography, graphic or disturbing images, hate speech, or otherwise objectionable materials, for severe and urgent violations. General community guideline violations, posts you disagree with, posts by people you are arguing with, and anything else that does not meet those criteria are not Abuse.
Supporting quotations
When a post is flagged 5 times as Abuse, it is hidden from the community forums and sent for moderation.
What is Abuse: Pornography, graphic or disturbing images, hate speech, or otherwise objectionable materials, etc. This is for severe and urgent violations.
What is not Abuse: General community guideline violations, posts you disagree with, posts by people you are arguing with in a discussion, and anything else that does not meet the criteria above.
Qualifications & exceptions
The Abuse flag is for severe and urgent violations only.
Not stated here
The text does not say whether the 5 flags must come from different members, or whether and how a hidden post is restored.
Content & IP Rights · Procedure
Other posts go to moderators through Report, which members can also use to ask to edit, move or delete their discussion
If a post is neither Spam nor Abuse, MyFitnessPal says it should be sent to the moderators through the Report option. It also encourages members to report their own discussion if they want it to be edited, moved or deleted.
Supporting quotations
If a post is neither Spam or Abuse, it should be sent to the moderators via the Report option.
We also encourage members to report their discussion if they want it to be edited, moved, or deleted.
Qualifications & exceptions
The text encourages reporting a discussion for edit, move or deletion; it does not promise that the request will be granted.
Not stated here
The linked reporting help article is not supplied.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Flagging or reporting content that does not meet the criteria, or out of dislike or to attack, leads to warnings
Under the question of what happens when a member abuses the flag or report features, MyFitnessPal says members who flag content that does not meet the criteria for a flag are in violation of the guidelines and will be subject to warnings. This includes flagging or reporting because of past events gone sour, a dislike of the member, to incite drama or flamebait, or to attack another member in a discussion because of disagreement. The Warnings section later describes the levels of warning.
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What happens when a member abuses the flag/report features?
Members who flag content that does not meet the criteria for a flag are in violation of our guidelines and will be subject to warnings.
Qualifications & exceptions
"Will be subject to warnings" is a statement that warnings may follow; the level of warning depends on the Warnings section.