Community Guidelines

Building a positive, respectful community for food lovers

Last updated: February 15, 2026

Welcome to GATHER

GATHER is a community-driven platform for sharing recipes, culinary creativity, and food experiences. These guidelines help ensure our community remains welcoming, safe, and enjoyable for everyone.

By using GATHER, you agree to follow these guidelines. Violations may result in content removal, account suspension, or permanent deletion based on severity and frequency.

Content Standards
What you can and cannot share on GATHER

✓ Encouraged Content

  • Original recipes and cooking techniques
  • High-quality food photography and videos
  • Helpful cooking tips and ingredient substitutions
  • Constructive feedback and recipe reviews
  • Cultural food traditions and family recipes
  • Dietary adaptations (vegetarian, vegan, allergen-free, etc.)

✗ Prohibited Content

  • Plagiarism: Copying recipes without attribution or claiming others' work as your own
  • Inappropriate imagery: Sexually explicit, violent, or disturbing content
  • Dangerous recipes: Content promoting unsafe food handling, toxic ingredients, or health risks
  • Spam: Excessive self-promotion, unrelated advertising, or repetitive content
  • Misleading content: Fake recipes, AI-generated content passed as original, or clickbait
  • Copyright violations: Using copyrighted images, videos, or content without permission
Community Behavior
How we interact with each other

Be Respectful

  • Treat all members with kindness and respect
  • Value diverse cooking styles, cuisines, and skill levels
  • Provide constructive criticism, not insults
  • Respect cultural food traditions and dietary choices

Prohibited Behavior

  • Harassment: Bullying, threats, or targeted attacks against users
  • Hate speech: Content attacking people based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics
  • Impersonation: Pretending to be another user, chef, or brand
  • Doxxing: Sharing private or personal information without consent
  • Manipulation: Vote manipulation, fake engagement, or coordinated inauthentic behavior
  • Trolling: Deliberately inflammatory or disruptive comments
Intellectual Property & Attribution

Recipe Attribution

If you're sharing a recipe inspired by or adapted from another source (cookbook, website, chef), please provide proper attribution. Original recipes are encouraged, but adaptation is also valued when credited appropriately.

Photography & Media

Only upload images and videos you own or have permission to use. Stock photos and AI-generated images should be clearly labeled. Do not use watermarked images from other sources.

Chef Accounts

Professional chefs and content creators may promote their cookbooks, courses, or businesses, but this must be done authentically through quality content, not spam or deceptive practices.

Enforcement & Consequences
What happens when guidelines are violated

We take guideline violations seriously. Our moderation team reviews reported content and takes appropriate action based on the severity and frequency of violations.

Progressive Discipline System

1st Offense

24-Hour Suspension

Account access restricted for 24 hours. You can still contact support to appeal.

2nd Offense

7-Day Suspension

Account access restricted for 7 days. Repeated violations show a pattern of disregard for community standards.

3rd Offense

Permanent Account Deletion

Account permanently deleted. Severe or repeated violations result in removal from GATHER.

Severe Violations

Certain violations (such as threats, illegal content, or severe harassment) may result in immediate account deletion without prior warning. We may also report illegal activity to appropriate authorities.

Content Removal

Content that violates these guidelines may be removed immediately, regardless of account suspension. This includes recipes, comments, images, and profile information.

Reporting Violations

If you see content or behavior that violates these guidelines, please report it to our moderation team:

  • Use the "Report" button on recipes or user profiles
  • Contact support at support@gathercook.com
  • Provide specific details about the violation to help our team review quickly

False Reports

Abusing the report system (mass reporting, false reports, harassment) is itself a violation and may result in account action.

Appeals Process

If you believe a moderation action was made in error, you can appeal:

  • Visit the Support page to submit an appeal
  • Explain why you believe the action was incorrect
  • Our team will review your appeal within 48-72 hours
  • Appeal decisions are final
Questions or Concerns

If you have questions about these guidelines or need clarification, please contact us:

These guidelines may be updated periodically. Continued use of GATHER constitutes acceptance of the current guidelines.

Thank you for being part of the GATHER community!