Flagging on the Online Community

In our Online Community, everyone’s input matters, and keeping people safe is our top priority. That’s why we have a flagging system. This system lets you report anything that doesn't follow our community rules or terms and conditions in the form of posts, comments, messages or direct messages (DM’s).

Here’s how flagging works and what happens after you flag something.

When to flag

Our community is built on respect and kindness. If something feels wrong, trust your gut and flag it.

Here are some reasons to flag:

Bullying or harassment: Flag it if someone is being rude, harassing or threatening towards you or others.

Hurtful language: If someone uses offensive or insulting language aimed at another user or group, make sure to report it right away.

Unsafe content: If you're unsure whether a post is unsafe, it's best to flag it. There's no harm in doing so, if the team decides the content isn't unsafe or harmful, no action will be taken. It’s always better to be cautious.

Inappropriate private messages: If you get a message that’s inappropriate, flag it for your safety.

Safety concerns: If you’re worried about someone’s safety or well-being, flag it. This is the best and quickest way to let the team know something is wrong.

If anything feels off or wrong, please flag it to help keep our community safe.

Flagging options

Here is a breakdown of what you will see when you go to flag a post:

Choosing this option lets you directly send a message to the person who wrote the post, without involving a moderator.

It’s a chance to explain why their post might not be appropriate or could be seen as hurtful.

Choosing any of the options below sends the post or thread to the moderators and admins, who will review it and take appropriate action.

Off-topic: The post doesn’t fit the discussion or has veered off-topic from the rest of the thread.

Inappropriate: The content is offensive or goes against community rules or our terms and conditions.

Spam: The post is advertising or irrelevant.

Illegal: The post involves illegal activities.

Something else: If the post doesn’t fit any of the above, but still feels wrong, unsafe or triggering, you can explain why.

When you click the flag icon on a post or thread, a box will pop up asking you to choose one of these options. After selecting, click the blue “Flag Post” button.

Open

The flagging process

If you flag something, it gets sent to a moderator for review. Your flag is anonymous, only the moderators can see who flagged a post, not the person who posted it or other members.

Here’s a brief overview of what happens after you flag a post:

1. Review: Moderators look at the flagged post to see if it breaks Community rules or our Terms and conditions.

2. Action: The post could be removed, edited, or left as it is. The person who made the post will be told what action was taken and why.

3. Resolution: We aim to resolve flagged posts within 72 hours. The person who flagged the post might not always receive an update about the outcome.

How we manage potential safeguarding concerns

1. Flagged posts: If a post raises concerns that someone might be in a difficult or unsafe situation, like struggling to take care of themselves or experiencing any kind of abuse (including physical, mental or financial), we take it very seriously. 

2. Content review: Our team looks closely at the post to check for anything worrying. If there might be a safety issue, we’ll temporarily hide the post, so it doesn’t upset others. 

3. Reaching out: We’ll privately contact the person who made the post. With their permission, we can help connect them to support services in their area. 

4. Informing services: We’ll also let other teams in our organisation know, so the person can get all the help they need. 

Is flagging private?

Yes! When you flag a public post, only the moderators will know and it’s kept completely confidential. The person who posted it, as well as other members, won’t be able to see who flagged it. If a post has been hidden because numerous members of the community have flagged the same post, the system will automatically hide it from public view.

In a group chat, the person who flagged the message stays anonymous, so no one will know who flagged it. The message will still be visible to everyone until a moderator reviews it and takes action.

If you're flagging something in a private chat between you and another person, they may guess it was you, but the process is still handled carefully by the moderators.

Why flagging is important

Flagging helps keep our community safe and welcoming for everyone affected by stroke. It’s not just about getting rid of inappropriate content, it’s about making sure everyone feels comfortable and respected. By flagging posts, you're helping to protect and support our community.

Thank you - your input really makes a difference!

Your feedback

We appreciate your comments, compliments, and concerns. The best way to share them with us is through our Service Desk.