Community Guidlines

COMMUNITY
GUIDELINES

We aim to create and support thriving communities through learning, entertainment, and celebration. These shared experiences not only form new friendships but also offer the chance to strengthen community bonds, inspire innovation, and enjoy life.

Above all, we believe that everyone should feel safe and welcomed at every event. To ensure this, Groove has set clear standards and examples of content that violates those standards, which event creators agree to follow, as outlined below.

These important values that we uphold as a company and on our platform as we foster a safe and inclusive space for the LGBTQ+ community.

Embracing Diversity

At Groove, we are deeply committed to the freedom of expression and assembly. Whether it’s a concert, a cooking class, or a community fundraiser, live events are a powerful way to connect with others. This principle extends to all who use our platform, encouraging them to share a wide range of ideas and experiences.

Physical
Safetey

The safety of attendees and organizers is our top priority. Groove works hard to remove any events that might endanger the physical safety of participants or that could lead to harm or violence in the community. A truly enjoyable live event is only possible in an environment where participants are free from fear or danger.

While Groove provides support, physical safety at events remains the responsibility of event organizers, venues, and local law enforcement. We take action where necessary, but they remain on the front lines.

Trust

Trust is crucial in any community, and Groove strives to ensure all events in our marketplace are genuine. We do not tolerate deceptive practices, such as selling counterfeit tickets or providing misleading event details, as these undermine trust with attendees. Creators who engage in such practices will face consequences and may be removed from our platform.

Respect

Groove is committed to maintaining an environment where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Events that encourage harassment, discrimination, or hate are not allowed on our platform. We believe that every person deserves to be treated fairly and with kindness.

VIOLATING CONTENT

If you come across any content on Groove that you believe breaches these guidelines, we encourage you to report it to us.

Harassment and Bullying

At Groove, we do not tolerate any form of bullying, including but not limited to:

Any form of online harassment, including shaming, blackmail, doxxing, or verbally attacking others. This includes making derogatory comments or expressing disdain for someone's appearance, intelligence, or personality.
Threats of violence or calls for harm towards others.
Content that encourages or offers guidance on self-harm, suicide, or disordered eating.
Behavior that targets individuals with unwanted attention, stalking, or other forms of abuse.

Exploitation

At Groove, we have a strict policy against any form of exploitation, including but not limited to:

The use of force, manipulation, or threats to exploit individuals for labor, services, or commercial sex acts. This includes sex trafficking, forced labor, illegal migration, human organ trafficking, trafficking related to orphanages, and forced marriages.
Sharing content that was obtained without consent, including images of a private or sexual nature, such as revenge porn or up-skirt images.
Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), which includes content showing the sexual exploitation of children under the legal age of majority in any jurisdiction. This includes images of child nudity, material intended to provoke sexual arousal, or content depicting abuse, torture, or mistreatment of children or their sensitive body parts.

As noted in the Child Endangerment section, Groove takes CSAM very seriously. When detected, such content will be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and/or other relevant authorities as required by law. A single violation of this policy could result in the immediate suspension of your account.

Dangerous Organizations or Individuals

At Groove, we do not allow content that supports or promotes dangerous groups or individuals. This includes, but is not limited to:

Advocating for or endorsing illegal activities, including organized crime or terrorism.
Utilizing symbols, language, or codes linked to criminal organizations or terrorist groups.
Praising or celebrating groups or individuals involved in criminal activity or terrorism.
Glorifying violent acts committed by criminal or terrorist organizations.

Fraud

At Groove, we do not tolerate any form of fraudulent behavior that seeks to deceive users or third parties for personal gain, whether it’s for money, personal data, or other resources. Fraud harms individuals and businesses alike and undermines the trust that our community depends on.

Our prohibition on fraud includes, but is not limited to:

Selling tickets for non-existent events
Using unauthorized or stolen credentials to buy tickets or access accounts without permission
Engaging in phishing tactics to steal personal or financial information, or to install harmful software on users’ devices
Running scams, such as fraudulent “Get Rich Quick” schemes, fake credit repair services, or other deceptive practices

Harmful Misinformation

Groove is committed to ensuring that our platform is free from content that spreads harmful or misleading information. Misinformation can lead to real-world harm and undermine the safety and integrity of our community.

Our prohibition on harmful misinformation includes, but is not limited to:

Content that incites violence or harm against individuals or groups
Health-related advice that is unverified, unsupported by scientific or medical evidence, and could harm public health or safety
False or misleading information that threatens the fairness of elections or obstructs individuals' ability to engage in civic duties, such as:
- Misleading claims about public safety meant to discourage participation in voting or census activities
- Content that directs voters or participants to provide false information or engage in illegal voting practices
- Efforts to undermine election results with false or misleading statements

Hate Speech

At Groove, we are committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment. Hate speech, which includes discriminatory remarks, attacks, or harm against individuals or groups based on certain protected characteristics, is strictly prohibited. We also reject the incitement or endorsement of hatred, violence, or discrimination towards others based on these characteristics.

Protected characteristics include race, gender, ethnicity, religion, national origin, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, and veteran status.

Our ban on hate speech includes, but is not limited to, the following examples:

Dehumanizing language:
- Comparing individuals or groups to animals or pests, such as calling them "insects" or other culturally inferior animals
- Referring to individuals or groups as diseases or using language that encourages the spread of illness
- Claiming that certain groups are morally or physically inferior, including offensive remarks about appearance or character, such as calling someone "ugly" or "worthless"
Stereotypes and historical prejudices:
- Denial of historical atrocities, such as Holocaust denial
- Promoting harmful stereotypes, like suggesting a specific group controls institutions like banks or media
- Using language historically linked to discrimination or violence, like blackface or derogatory terms
Contemptuous or dismissive behavior:
- Dismissing the lived experiences of hate crime victims or other marginalized individuals
- Using language that conveys disdain or hatred for a person or group, such as saying, "I hate them," or "I don’t respect them"
- Misrepresenting someone's identity with the intent to degrade or shame them
Promotion of supremacist views:
- Asserting that one group is inherently superior to another, or that a group is "better" or "worthless"
- Using harmful slurs, phrases, or language that creates an atmosphere of exclusion or intimidation, or has been historically used to oppress or discriminate against certain people or communities
Exclusionary practices:
- Excluding people from events based on protected characteristics, except when such exclusion serves a legitimate purpose and is proportional to that interest (e.g., exclusion for religious services in a place of worship)
- Denying individuals their right to participate in political, social, or economic activities
Aspirational harm:
- Statements that wish harm on individuals or groups based on protected characteristics, such as advocating for death or disease contraction
- Extreme, targeted insults or profane language aimed at degrading or attacking others

Illegal Content & Activities

At Groove, we strictly prohibit any content or activities that violate the law. This includes, but is not limited to:

The sale, distribution, use, or possession of illegal drugs or substances, including their manufacture, import, export, or consumption
Engagement in pyramid schemes or similar fraudulent business practices
Any content or activities that are prohibited by applicable local, national, or international laws

We take compliance with legal standards seriously and take appropriate action to ensure our platform remains in accordance with the law.

Misrepresentation

At Groove, we prohibit any actions or content that misrepresents you, your event, or the platform. Misleading practices can harm individuals and businesses and erode the trust of our community.

Our prohibition on misrepresentation includes, but is not limited to:

Selling tickets to events, venues, or locations without proper authorization
Redirecting payments for registrations to offline methods or alternative payment platforms
Promoting multi-level marketing schemes with unverified or exaggerated income claims
Impersonating any individual or entity, including government officials or public figures
Falsely claiming or misrepresenting your affiliation with any person or organization
Implied or explicit statements suggesting Groove's endorsement of your actions without explicit written consent

These actions undermine the integrity of our platform and the safety of our users.

Spam

At Groove, we define spam as any unsolicited content intended to deceive, disrupt, or mislead individuals, typically for commercial gain. This activity harms both individuals and businesses and undermines trust in our community.

Our prohibition on spam includes, but is not limited to:

Content that primarily promotes commercial products or services, whether your own or a third party's, without any relation to an event. Note: Commercial content is allowed when referring to event sponsors or when selling merchandise directly related to the event through our Add-Ons feature, in compliance with relevant local laws, these Community Guidelines, and our Terms of Service.
Content linking to deceptive or misleading URLs. This includes links leading to unsafe or unrelated websites, promising one type of content but delivering something completely different, or requiring an action before accessing promised content.
Content that uses hidden tactics such as behind-the-scenes search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to artificially enhance content's visibility or perceived quality. This includes hidden text or links, or keyword stuffing to manipulate search rankings.
Content listed repeatedly in an inauthentic manner to artificially boost search rankings, such as an event listed in multiple cities. Note: We allow the creation of multiple events as part of a series through our Recurring Events feature, and encourage users to check our Help Center for best practices on creating online-only events.
Content sent to recipients who have not explicitly opted in to receive it or have opted out of receiving such communications.

These practices disrupt the platform's integrity and the user experience, which is why we enforce this policy.

Violence & Physical Harm

At Groove, we prohibit events that pose a threat to the physical safety of attendees or that encourage violence or harm to the broader community.

Our prohibition on violence includes, but is not limited to:

Acts of extreme violence or cruelty.
Promotion of sexual violence or non-consensual sexual activity of any kind.
Content that promotes, encourages, or provides instructions for self-harm or suicide.
Encouraging, suggesting, or instructing others to engage in violent behavior, such as:
- Promoting violent acts.
- Inciting violence against individuals or groups.
- Sharing materials that facilitate violence (e.g., bomb-making instructions).
- Using coded language or symbols associated with violent groups or actions.
- Glorifying or praising violent events or individuals involved in violent acts.

Our prohibition on physical harm includes, but is not limited to:

Events lacking appropriate safety protocols, such as:
- Extreme sports without proper safety measures.
- Risky stunts, pranks, or online trends that encourage unsafe behavior.
- Events that may lead to overcrowding, increasing the risk of injuries or trampling.
Events promoting the consumption of illegal drugs or the misuse of legal substances.
Promotion or encouragement of the ingestion or self-administration of physically harmful substances.

We aim to ensure that all events on Groove foster a safe and secure environment for all participants.

Weapons & Firearms

At Groove, we prohibit any events that involve the sale, distribution, or transfer of weapons or firearms.

Our prohibition on weapons and firearms includes, but is not limited to:

Vendors, trade shows, raffles, auctions, and giveaways that sell, distribute, or transfer:
- Firearms, firearm parts or accessories, ammunition, radioactive substances, corrosive substances, pyrotechnics, explosives, and/or
- Weapons and other devices intended to cause physical injury, such as knives, bombs, stun guns, or tasers.

We are committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all attendees, and we do not permit any activities that could potentially harm individuals or the community.

COMMUNITY GUIDELINES