Community Guidelines
How we keep this a place people can be honest in.
Version 1.0Effective August 15, 2026Last published August 15, 2026
Been There exists for one simple interaction:
Welcome to Been There
Been There exists for one simple interaction: Someone says: "I'm going through this." Someone else says: "Been there." You don't need to have the perfect advice. You don't need to fix anyone. Sometimes knowing another person understands is enough. These guidelines exist to keep that interaction honest, useful, and safe.
1. Share Your Experience
Been There works best when you speak from your own life. Tell people: What happened to me. What helped me. What I wish I knew. What happened next. Try not to tell someone: This is definitely what you should do. Your experience can help without becoming an instruction.
2. You Don't Have to Prove Your Pain
People experience things differently. Something that feels small to you may be significant to someone else. Don't respond with: That's nothing. Other people have it worse. Just get over it. You're being dramatic. You don't have to understand someone's reaction to respect their experience.
3. "Been There" Means Something
Click Been There when you genuinely recognize the experience. It isn't a Like button. It isn't an upvote. It means: I've experienced something like this too. Please use it honestly.
4. Don't Pretend to Have Lived an Experience You Haven't
You can encourage anyone. But don't falsely claim personal experience to gain trust, influence someone, promote a service, or manipulate another member. Been There depends on authenticity.
5. Protect Your Identity
You can be open without identifying yourself. Avoid posting: • your full name; • phone number; • personal email; • home address; • passwords; • financial account details; • government IDs; or • other unnecessary identifying information. The same rule applies to other people.
6. Protect Other People's Stories
Your story may involve other people. That's normal. But try to describe your experience, not expose theirs. Instead of: John Smith at ABC Company cheated on me. Try: My partner cheated on me. Instead of: My manager Maria at XYZ stole money. Try: I discovered something at work that made me lose trust in my manager. Don't use Been There to publicly accuse, expose, shame, or identify another private person.
7. Experience Over Judgment
Someone sharing a difficult moment isn't inviting a debate about whether they deserve to feel that way. Respond to the person. Don't turn their story into an argument.
8. Be Kind Without Performing Kindness
No engagement farming. No: Like this if you agree. No collecting reactions. No trying to become the most supportive person on the platform. There are no popularity contests here. Help because you mean it.
9. No Harassment
Do not: • insult; • threaten; • repeatedly target; • intimidate; • stalk; • sexually harass; • humiliate; or • encourage others to attack another member. Disagreement does not justify abuse.
10. No Hate or Discrimination
Do not attack or dehumanize people based on protected or personal characteristics. Experiences involving prejudice or discrimination may be discussed. Using those discussions to attack groups of people is not allowed.
11. No Scams or Manipulation
Do not use someone's vulnerable moment to exploit them. This includes: • asking for money under false pretenses; • impersonation; • investment scams; • romance scams; • fake emergencies; • fraudulent job offers; • suspicious external links; • collecting personal information; or • attempting to gain someone's trust for exploitation.
12. No Soliciting Money or Favors During Beta
Been There is currently about connection, not transactions. Do not use stories or replies primarily to ask for: • money; • food; • gift cards; • load; • rides; • donations; • direct transfers; • loans; or • other material benefits. Do not create accounts primarily to obtain favors. If Been There introduces practical support later, it will have separate safeguards.
13. No Commercial Solicitation
Don't respond to someone's difficult situation with: I'm a financial adviser. DM me. I sell supplements that can fix this. Hire me as your coach. Message me on Telegram. Sharing something that helped you is different from using someone's vulnerability as a sales lead.
14. Stay On Platform
For the initial beta, avoid posting personal contact information or encouraging strangers to move conversations to WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, email, or other private channels. This protects both sides. Been There does not currently provide direct messaging.
15. Advice Should Be Humble
There is a difference between: This worked for me. and: You need to do this. Prefer the first. Be especially careful with: • medical issues; • mental health; • medication; • legal disputes; • financial decisions; • personal safety; and • other high-impact decisions. Professional situations may require qualified professional help.
16. Dangerous Advice May Be Removed
We may remove content that could create a serious risk of harm. This can include instructions encouraging dangerous behavior or presenting potentially dangerous claims as guaranteed professional advice. Context matters. We do not remove someone simply for talking honestly about a difficult experience.
17. Talking About Difficult Things Is Allowed
Been There is not intended to become a platform where sadness itself is treated as prohibited content. People can talk about: • grief; • failure; • loneliness; • illness; • caregiving; • unemployment; • divorce; • financial difficulty; • fear; • burnout; • loss; and • other hard parts of life. We want people to be able to say what they're actually going through.
18. But Immediate Danger Is Different
Content suggesting credible immediate danger to yourself or another person may receive additional safety treatment or moderation. Been There is not an emergency service. Do not rely on posting here as a way to obtain emergency assistance.
19. No Sexual Exploitation
Content involving sexual exploitation, non-consensual sexual material, grooming, sexual targeting, or exploitation is prohibited.
20. No Threats or Promotion of Serious Violence
Do not make credible threats or encourage serious violence against another person. Discussions about having experienced violence may be permitted when shared appropriately.
21. No Spam
Don't flood the community with: • duplicate stories; • repetitive replies; • advertising; • automated content; • irrelevant links; • engagement bait; or • mass-generated posts.
22. Don't Abuse Reporting
Report content because you genuinely believe it violates these guidelines. Don't report someone simply because you disagree with them. Coordinated or deliberately false reporting may itself result in action.
23. What Happens When Something Is Reported?
A report may be reviewed based on: • the content; • context; • report reason; • previous behavior; • potential harm; and • these Community Guidelines. Possible actions include: • no action; • warning; • content hiding; • content removal; • temporary restriction; • suspension; or • account ban. Not every mistake deserves a ban. Repeated or severe violations may result in stronger action.
24. We Can Get It Wrong
Moderation isn't perfect. Automated systems aren't perfect. People aren't perfect. If something feels wrong, report it. If you believe we made a mistake, use the Feedback feature to tell us. Been There is still being built, and community feedback will help shape how these rules evolve.
25. The Simplest Rule
Before you post or reply, ask: If I were going through this, would I want someone to say this to me? If the answer is no, rewrite it.
What We're Trying to Build
Not another social network. Not a place to collect followers. Not a place to perform happiness. Not a place where strangers compete to give the smartest advice. Just a place where someone can say: This happened to me. And another person can answer: Been there.