Community Guidelines

Our Community Mission

Shakeout Collective exists to help running clubs organize events, build stronger communities, and create a welcoming space for runners of all levels. These Community Guidelines define the expectations we have for all members to keep our community safe, inclusive, and positive.

We believe in:

• Inclusivity and respect for all runners, regardless of pace, experience, or background
• Safety for all participants
• Honest and transparent communication
• Celebrating personal progress over competition

Scope of These Guidelines

These Community Guidelines apply to all conduct on the Shakeout platform, including messages, event descriptions, route sharing, photos, and profile content. They also apply to real-world interactions that are connected to the platform, including behavior at events organized, coordinated, or promoted through Shakeout.

If your conduct — whether in-app or in person at a Shakeout-coordinated event — violates these guidelines, it may result in enforcement action up to and including permanent removal from the platform.

Core Community Values

1. Respect & Inclusivity

Shakeout Collective is for all runners. We don't discriminate based on:

• Pace or running ability
• Age, gender, race, ethnicity, or national origin
• Sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression
• Religion or belief system
• Disability or physical ability
• Socioeconomic status
• Running experience level

Running clubs thrive when they welcome everyone. Exclusionary behavior weakens our community.

2. Safety First

Running is an inherently risky activity. Club organizers and participants are responsible for:

• Using safe, legal routes that don't put runners in danger
• Communicating clearly about pace, distance, and terrain
• Respecting traffic laws and local regulations
• Checking weather and adjusting plans as needed
• Not encouraging reckless or dangerous behavior

Violations of safety expectations — including promoting reckless behavior, sharing knowingly dangerous routes without disclosing hazards, or encouraging others to ignore safety precautions — may result in enforcement action as described in the Reporting & Enforcement section below.

3. Honest Communication

Members should communicate truthfully and transparently:

• Accurately describe event pace, distance, terrain, and difficulty honestly
• Don't misrepresent routes or difficulty levels
• Be honest about meeting times and locations
• Don't spread rumors or misinformation about other members or clubs
• Disclose conflicts of interest (e.g., if you're promoting a product or service)

4. Respect Privacy & Consent

• Don't share photos of other runners without permission
• Don't share personal information (phone numbers, addresses, work info) without consent
• Don't tag people in photos they don't want
• Respect when someone asks to be removed from photos or club materials
• Don't use others' images for commercial purposes without permission

What's NOT Allowed

1. Harassment & Abuse

Do NOT:

• Use slurs, insults, or dehumanizing language toward anyone
• Bully, intimidate, or threaten other members
• Stalk or send unwanted repeated messages
• Make unwanted sexual advances or sexually explicit comments
• Dox (publicly share private information about) anyone
• Impersonate someone else

What we look for: Repeated hostile behavior, sexual harassment, threats, and targeted attacks.

2. Hate Speech & Discrimination

Do NOT:

• Post hateful content based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics
• Promote discrimination or exclusion based on these characteristics
• Dehumanize or demean any group of people
• Promote conspiracy theories rooted in hate

What we look for: Content that targets individuals or groups for who they are.

3. Illegal Activity & Violence

Do NOT:

• Promote, encourage, or organize illegal activity
• Share content that glorifies violence or harm
• Promote self-harm or eating disorders
• Share instructions for illegal activities
• Violate copyright, trademark, or intellectual property rights

What we look for: Content that could lead to real-world harm or legal consequences.

4. Spam & Self-Promotion

Do NOT:

• Repeatedly post the same message or link
• Post off-topic promotional content without permission
• Use referral links or affiliate links excessively
• Post repeated commercial offers
• Use the platform primarily for advertising your business

Acceptable promotion: Sharing gear you genuinely like, recommending a local running store, posting about your own running app or service (in moderation, with disclosure).

5. Misinformation & Health Claims

Do NOT:

• Spread false information about running, health, or public health topics
• Make unverified medical claims
• Encourage runners to ignore medical advice from professionals
• Promote unproven treatments or supplements as cures
• Spread conspiracy theories

What we look for: Demonstrably false claims presented as fact that could harm runners' health or safety.

6. Adult Content & NSFW Material

Do NOT:

• Post nude, sexually explicit, or sexually suggestive images
• Post graphic violence or gore
• Post real-world violence or crime footage
• Post content designed primarily for sexual arousal

Acceptable: Shirtless running photos (normal for the sport), mentions of body-related topics (menstrual cycles, chafing, etc. in educational context).

7. Automated Abuse & Ban Evasion

Do NOT:

• Use bot accounts to artificially inflate engagement
• Buy followers or engagement
• Post identical content across multiple clubs repeatedly
• Evade bans by creating new accounts

Community-Specific Guidelines

For Event Organizers

As a club organizer, you have additional responsibilities:

• Accurate descriptions: Describe pace, distance, terrain, and difficulty honestly
• Safety planning: Scout routes, check weather, plan contingencies
• Clear communication: Confirm event times, locations, and what to bring
• Inclusion: Welcome all runners regardless of pace, welcome new members
• Enforcement: Enforce your club's rules fairly and consistently
• Waivers: Use waivers where appropriate and enforce them consistently
• No discrimination: Don't exclude runners based on protected characteristics
• Child safety: If your club includes minors, follow appropriate supervision guidelines

For Members Sharing Routes

When you share a route, you're recommending it to others. Be responsible:

• Verify safety: Run the route yourself or get local knowledge before sharing
• Be honest: Describe pace, terrain, hills, traffic, and hazards accurately
• Update regularly: Let people know if routes have changed (construction, closures, etc.)
• Mark hazards: Clearly note dangerous intersections, missing sidewalks, unpaved sections
• Weather: Note if routes are unsafe in certain weather conditions
• Traffic: Warn about high-traffic times or particularly busy roads

For Members Sharing Advice

When you post training tips, health advice, or product recommendations:

• Disclose expertise: Are you a certified coach, physical therapist, or just sharing personal experience?
• Disclose conflicts: If you're recommending a product you sell or profit from, say so
• Avoid medical claims: Don't diagnose injuries or diseases
• Encourage professional help: For health concerns, recommend consulting a doctor or PT
• Label as opinion: Make clear when you're sharing personal experience vs. expert advice

For Photo Sharing

• Get permission: Always ask before posting photos that include other runners
• Remove on request: If someone asks you to remove their photo, do it
• Respect privacy: Don't tag people who don't want to be tagged
• Commercial use: Don't use others' images for profit without permission
• Photo clubs: Let members opt out of photo-sharing if they wish

Reporting & Enforcement

How to Report a Violation

If you see content that violates these Community Guidelines:

1. In-app: Tap the three-dot menu on the post/message and select “Report”
2. Email: Send details to community@shakeoutco.com with “Report Violation” in the subject line
3. Provide context: Explain what guideline was violated and why it's harmful

What to include:

• The specific post, message, or account
• What guideline it violates
• Why you think it's harmful
• Any additional context

How We Investigate

When we receive a report, we will:

1. Review the content and context
2. Investigate the account and behavior history
3. Determine if it violates these guidelines
4. Take action as outlined below
5. Notify the person if appropriate

We may not notify you of our decision to protect privacy and safety of all parties involved.

Content Removal

Shakeout may remove any content, restrict any account, or take any other action at its sole discretion and without prior notice, if we believe the content or conduct violates these guidelines, our Terms of Service, or is otherwise harmful to the community. We are under no obligation to provide an explanation for any content removal or enforcement decision.

Enforcement Actions

Violations may result in:

• First offense: Warning and request to remove content
• Repeated violations: Temporary suspension (24 hours to 30 days)
• Serious violations (hate speech, harassment, illegal content): Immediate account suspension or permanent ban
• Extreme cases: Removal from the Service and potential legal action

Examples of serious violations:

• Harassment or threats toward other members
• Hate speech or discrimination
• Sexual harassment
• Doxxing
• Sharing illegal content
• Distributing malware

Appeals

If your account is suspended or banned, you can appeal by:

1. Emailing community@shakeoutco.com with “Appeal” in the subject line
2. Explaining why you believe the decision was wrong
3. Providing additional context if needed

We will review appeals within 7 business days. Shakeout reserves the right to make final decisions on all enforcement matters. Appeal decisions are final and not subject to further review.

Moderator & Administrator Conduct

Club Organizers & Admins

Admins and organizers have authority to enforce club rules, but they must:

• Be fair: Apply rules consistently to all members
• Be transparent: Explain why content was removed or a member was removed
• Not discriminate: Don't enforce rules based on personal conflicts or protected characteristics
• Not abuse power: Don't remove members to silence criticism or competition
• Report to Shakeout: If a violation is severe, report it to our Community team

Shakeout Moderators

Shakeout's community team:

• Enforces these guidelines across all public areas
• Investigates reports fairly and thoroughly
• Doesn't play favorites — all members held to the same standard
• Protects privacy — doesn't publicly shame violators
• Listens to feedback — community input shapes how we enforce

Special Topics

Mental Health & Suicide Prevention

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health:

• US Crisis Hotline: 988 (call or text)
• Canada Crisis Hotline: 1-833-456-4566
• International: findahelpline.com

What we do:

• Remove content that encourages self-harm
• Provide mental health resources
• Take suicide threats seriously and report to emergency services

What you should do:

• Take suicide threats seriously
• Encourage the person to call a helpline
• Report severe content to us and to emergency services

Public Health Misinformation

We take health misinformation seriously:

• No false health claims about diseases, vaccines, treatments, or public health measures
• No conspiracy theories about public health topics
• Follow guidance from recognized public health authorities
• Point to credible sources: CDC, WHO, Health Canada, or your local public health authority

Gear & Product Recommendations

You can share gear recommendations, but:

• Be honest: If you're affiliated with a brand, disclose it
• Don't shill: Don't constantly promote one brand
• Back it up: Explain why you like a product, not just the brand name
• No spam: Don't post the same product link repeatedly

Local Regulations & Permits

Shakeout Collective operates globally, and running regulations vary:

• Know your local laws: Different areas have different running permit requirements
• Follow local rules: Some parks require permits for group runs
• Respect private property: Don't trespass or run on private land without permission
• Check permits: If you're organizing large events, check if permits are needed

Cultural Expectations

Pace Inclusivity

Running clubs thrive when they welcome runners of all paces. We expect:

• Pace groups: Organize runs by pace and clearly label them
• No shaming: Don't make fun of slower runners or dismiss faster runners
• Encouragement: Celebrate personal progress, not just speed

Accessibility

We encourage clubs to consider accessibility for runners with disabilities:

• Accessible routes: Are there sidewalks? Is the route wheelchair-accessible if possible?
• Accessible communication: Use plain language, avoid jargon
• Accessible imagery: Include runners of diverse abilities, bodies, and backgrounds
• Accessible events: Consider transportation, childcare, cost barriers

Representation

Shakeout's community should reflect the diversity of runners:

• Feature diverse athletes: Show runners of different ages, abilities, body types, and backgrounds
• Use inclusive language: Avoid gendered terms when not necessary
• Center marginalized voices: Actively work to include runners from underrepresented communities
• Correct mistakes: If you make a mistake about someone's identity, apologize and correct it

Examples of Violations

Harassment

Misinformation

Spam

Photos Without Permission

Questions & Support

I was reported. What does that mean?

It means someone believes your content violates these guidelines. We'll investigate. You may:

• Receive a warning
• Be asked to remove content
• Face a temporary suspension
• Be permanently banned (in severe cases)

You can always appeal at community@shakeoutco.com.

Someone violated the guidelines. How do I report it?

Use the Report button on their content. Include:

• What guideline was violated
• Why you think it's harmful
• Any additional context

My club wants different rules. Can we set our own guidelines?

Yes. Clubs can set additional rules stricter than these, such as:

• No political discussion
• Pace-specific clubs for specific pace ranges
• Dress codes or gear requirements

However, club rules cannot:

• Contradict these Community Guidelines
• Discriminate based on protected characteristics
• Circumvent our safety requirements

Final Thoughts

Shakeout Collective is only as strong as its community. These guidelines exist to keep us safe, inclusive, and fun. We rely on you to:

• Follow these guidelines
• Report violations respectfully
• Give feedback on how we can improve
• Welcome new members
• Celebrate the diversity of runners

Thank you for being part of our community.

Questions? Contact us at community@shakeoutco.com