SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

DogFest Social Media Policy: Creating a Positive and Safe Online Community

DogFest is committed to creating a vibrant, fun and inclusive community both at our events and across our social media channels. This policy outlines our expectations for online conduct to ensure a safe and positive environment for all dog lovers, attendees, exhibitors and partners, free from trolls, misinformation and abuse.

By engaging with DogFest on any social media platform (including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and YouTube), you agree to abide by this policy.

 

1. Our Commitment to Our Community

• Positive & respectful engagement: We aim to foster a community built on mutual respect, kindness and a shared love for dogs.

• Accuracy & transparency: We will always strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information regarding DogFest events, activities and policies.

• Active moderation: Our social media team will actively monitor our channels to ensure compliance with this policy and address any violations promptly.
• Support & safety: We are here to help and support our community. If you encounter anything that violates this policy, please report it to us.

 

2. Expected Conduct: What We Encourage

• Share your DogFest experiences: Post your photos, videos and stories from DogFest! We love seeing your furry friends enjoying the shows.

• Positive & constructive comments: Engage in discussions in a friendly and helpful manner. Share tips, offer encouragement and celebrate the joy of our four-legged friends.

• Ask questions & seek information: If you have questions about DogFest, please ask. Our team will do our best to provide timely and accurate responses.

• Respectful disagreement: It’s okay to have different opinions, but please express them respectfully and constructively. Focus on the issue, not personal attacks.

• Celebrate all dogs: Embrace the diversity of breeds, sizes and backgrounds of dogs within our community.

 

3. Prohibited Conduct: What Will Not Be Tolerated

The following types of content and behaviour are strictly prohibited and will result in immediate action, including content removal and potential blocking from our channels:

Trolling & harassment:

• Any content intended to provoke, upset or harass other users, DogFest staff, exhibitors or partners.

• Personal attacks, insults, threats or aggressive language.

• Repeated unsolicited messages or comments.

Misinformation & disinformation:

• Sharing false, inaccurate or misleading information about DogFest, its attendees, partners or any related topics. This includes rumours, unverified claims or manipulated content.

• Content that attempts to undermine the safety, reputation or enjoyment of DogFest or its participants.

• Spreading health misinformation related to dogs or humans.

Abuse & hate speech:

• Any form of hate speech, including discrimination against individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or any other protected characteristic.

• Content that promotes violence, self-harm or illegal activities.

• Bullying, shaming or derogatory comments.

Spam & commercial promotion:

• Repeated posting of irrelevant content, unsolicited advertisements, or self-promotion unrelated to DogFest.

• Phishing attempts or links to malicious websites.

Inappropriate content:

• Graphic, explicit, obscene or sexually suggestive content.

• Content depicting animal cruelty or neglect.

• Content that violates intellectual property rights (e.g. sharing copyrighted material without permission).

Impersonation:

• Pretending to be another individual, DogFest staff or an official DogFest account.

 

4. Moderation and Enforcement

• Content removal: We reserve the right to remove any content that violates this policy without prior notice.

• User blocking/reporting: Users who repeatedly or severely violate this policy may be blocked from our social media channels. Serious violations, particularly those involving threats or illegal activities, will be reported to the relevant social media platform and, if necessary, to the police.

• No Engagement with trolls: Our moderation team will generally not engage in direct arguments with trolls or individuals spreading misinformation. Our priority is to remove harmful content and protect our community.

• Reporting mechanism: We encourage our community members to report any content or behaviour that violates this policy using the platform’s reporting tools or by messaging our official DogFest social media accounts directly.

 

5. Disclaimer

While we strive to monitor our social media channels diligently, we cannot be held responsible for the content posted by third-party users. Views expressed by users on our social media channels do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of DogFest.

 

6. Policy Updates

This social media policy may be updated periodically to reflect new platforms, evolving community standards or changes in DogFest policies. We encourage you to review this policy regularly.

Thank you for helping us make DogFest’s online community a welcoming, informative and enjoyable space for everyone. Let’s celebrate our dogs responsibly!