Introduction
Totem is built on trust, empathy, and shared understanding. We ask all member to keep our Spaces safe and meaningful by honoring the following guidelines.
Failure to adhere to these guidelines can result in suspension and permanent removal from the platform.
List of community guidelines
1. Privacy
Trust starts with protecting each other’s stories.
Totem is a place for open sharing—but only when people know their vulnerability is respected. Privacy ensures that honesty and authenticity can thrive.
Please do not:
- Reveal the identities of community members
- Record or screenshot Spaces
- Share posts, quotes, or content outside of Totem without clear consent
2. Sexual Harassment
Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected.
Totem is not a dating site. Any unwanted, inappropriate, or sexualized behavior—whether obvious or subtle—undermines the safety of our Spaces and will not be tolerated.
This includes:
- Sexual comments, jokes, or innuendos
- Flirting, advances, or suggestive behavior
- Requests for intimate photos
- Sharing explicit content without consent
- Bullying or intimidation based on gender or sexuality
- Unwanted nudity in profile photos or shared media
👉 Learn more about identifying sexual harassment
3. Hate Speech
Diversity, respect, and inclusion are core to our community.
Discrimination, hate, or harassment based on identity have no place in Totem. Every member deserves dignity, regardless of race, gender, ability, religion, or background.
This includes:
- Derogatory or demeaning language
- Stereotyping or slurs
- Disrespectful comments on mental health
- Harassment, threats, or stalking
- Sharing discriminatory or hateful content
👉 Learn more about hate speech
4. Cross-Talk, Advice, and Diagnosing
The power of Totem is in being heard—not fixed.
Our model of peer support is rooted in sharing experiences, not giving advice or offering diagnoses. Everyone deserves the space to tell their story without interruption or judgment.
Please avoid:
- Speaking without the talking piece
- Interrupting or commenting on someone’s share without invitation
- Offering unsolicited advice, solutions, or opinions
- Diagnosing others with medical, psychological, or mental health conditions
5. Solicitation
Totem is a place for healing, not for selling.
We protect the integrity of our Spaces by keeping them free from self-promotion, marketing, or financial solicitation of any kind.
This includes:
- Promoting businesses, services, or products during or after Spaces
- Using Spaces to find clients or collaborators
- Messaging members for marketing purposes
- Posting links, spam, or promotional content
6. No Shows
Showing up matters—to you and your community.
Spaces are strongest when everyone who signs up participates. Frequent absences affect not only your own experience, but the connections and conversations of the group.
- Cancel at least 24 hours in advance if you can't attend
- Repeated no-shows may result in account suspension
7. Community Interaction & Boundaries
Relationships formed through Totem must prioritize safety, respect, and consent.
We encourage genuine friendships, but maintaining boundaries ensures that connection never becomes pressure, discomfort, or harm.
Respect personal boundaries:
- Only continue conversations outside of Spaces if both parties agree
- Never pressure others to share personal contact information
- Stop communication if someone doesn’t respond
Privacy still applies:
- Keep Space discussions private unless explicitly agreed otherwise
- Allow individuals to lead any deeper sharing outside of Totem
Carry Totem’s values everywhere:
- No unsolicited advice, diagnoses, or coaching outside of Spaces
- Harassment, discrimination, or inappropriate behavior—online or offline—can result in removal
If you have any questions about our Community Guidelines, do not hesitate to contact us at help@totem.org