02.26.2026
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Hi everyone,
We’ve updated and clarified several subreddit rules to improve consistency, protect community members, and ensure discussions remain factual and safe, especially following recent events on the sub.
These updates are not about silencing criticism. They are about preventing harassment, misinformation, and privacy violations while allowing meaningful discussion to continue.
Below is a summary of what has changed and what is being enforced more clearly.
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1. The Golden Rule -- Don't be a jerk.
Treat fellow members, authors, artists, developers, and moderators with respect. Discussions, jokes, and criticism are welcome, but personal attacks, hostility, or inflammatory behavior are not. Remember: there are real people behind the usernames.
Targeting someone’s race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, religion, disability, or political beliefs is strictly prohibited and may result in a ban.
2. No Targeting or Call-Out Posts
No attacks, rumors, brigading, or unfounded accusations toward users, authors, or mods. Public posts from public accounts may be shared with username(s) censored. Private DMs, group chats, or restricted content may NOT be posted without prior mod approval. Posting private messages violates subreddit rules and Reddit’s privacy policies.
3. No Harassing Moderators
Respectful questioning of moderator decisions via ModMail is encouraged and permitted. Public accusations that mods are “protecting” authors, biased, corrupt, or personally connected to creators without evidence, will be treated as harassment and may result in removal or bans. This also applies to accusing users of being mods or attempting to "out" mods' identities.
4. No Doxing or Posting Private Information
Sharing or attempting to share private information (legal names, personal accounts, addresses, workplaces, identifying images, etc.) about any user, author, or moderator will result in an immediate permanent ban, as well as a report to Episode if applicable.
5. No Duplicates
Browse the subreddit before posting to avoid duplicating topics. Posts similar to those made within the past week will be considered duplicates.
6. No Hack Discussions
Do not ask for or share hacks or hacked versions of the app to acquire gems, passes, book club points, gumball outfits, and other prizes. Respect the intended gameplay. Repeated violations of this rule will result in a ban.
7. No Locked Content Sharing
Do not share or ask for the correct choice or password for any locked content that would be received by spending gems, having a code, or paying money. This includes passcodes or choices that are in-game, as well as content on authors’ Patreon pages or other content creation sites. This harms creators and paying supporters. Violations will result in at least a temporary ban and may lead to permanent removal.
8. Quality Posts Only
Posts must contribute meaningfully to discussion and be related to Episode stories and the Episode community. No spam, karma-baiting, repetitive drama posts, or low-effort content.
9. AI Discussions
Discussion of AI ethics, environmental impact, and industry-wide concerns is allowed if civil and non-targeted. Criticism of Episode/Pocket Gems’ use of AI is both permitted and encouraged. Posts showcasing, promoting, or dissecting AI-generated writing, art, covers, or coding from community creators are NOT permitted. Speculation of authors/artists' work without proof is NOT permitted.
10. SFW Content Only
Keep the subreddit PG-13. Explicit content, including self-made sexual Episode content and stories from the retired 18+ Ivy app or Episode Netflix stories is not allowed.
11. Frequency Rule
Limit yourself to three posts every 24 hours. After your third post, all subsequent posts will be removed. If you are found to be abusing the frequency rule, you may be subject to a temporary ban.
12. Stay On Topic
Posts and comments must remain relevant to Episode and the original discussion. Threads that derail into unrelated political debates, community drama, insults, or ideological arguments may be locked or removed.
13. Include Credits in Posts
Always include the story name and author in your post title [Like This] or (Like This). When posting art, please include the handle of the artist in the body text of the post, even if you are the artist. Crediting "AI" as an artist is prohibited.
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Enforcement & Repeat Behavior:
We are enforcing a clearer progression system:
- Warning (post/comment removal)
- Temporary ban (7-30 days)
- Extended temporary ban (30-90 days)
- Permanent ban
Severe violations (doxing, hate speech, brigading, private DM leaks, Patreon code sharing, ban evasion) may result in immediate permanent bans. Reporting to Reddit Admin will be applied as necessary.
Repeated disruptive behavior will not continue to receive indefinite temporary bans.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
“Why was a post exposing harmful behavior removed?”
If it included:
- Private DMs
- Identifying images
- Unverified claims
- Little to no evidence or hearsay
- Personal information
It must be reviewed before remaining live. Removal does not equal endorsement of the behavior described.
“Are mods protecting authors?”
No. If verified evidence exists, we allow factual discussion within subreddit rules.
What we do not allow:
- Unverified allegations
- Doxxing
- Brigading
- Escalation
Verification is about accuracy, NOT protection.
“Is this censorship?”
No. Reddit is a moderated platform, where every subreddit enforces rules.
We are obligated to:
- Follow Reddit’s sitewide policies
- Protect users from harassment
- Prevent privacy violations
Moderation is not censorship, it is maintenance, and it is required.
“Why can’t private DMs be used as proof?”
Because:
- Posting private communications violates Reddit’s rules.
- Context can be manipulated.
- Misidentification can harm innocent people.
If you have evidence, send it via u/EpisodeParrot for review. We must approve the chat before photos can be sent and received.
“Why lock threads?”
We lock threads when:
- Personal attacks escalate
- Harassment begins
- Discussion derails beyond control and/or beyond the original intent of the post
Locking preserves the post, but prevents further harm.
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What Has NOT Changed
- You are allowed to criticize authors.
- You are allowed to discuss racism.
- You are allowed to call out harmful behavior, when information is verified and posted appropriately.
- Moderators are not shielding bigotry.
- Moderators are not censoring minorities.
We are preventing:
- Misinformation
- Harassment
- Privacy violations
- Mob escalation
We are committed to fairness, transparency, and community safety.
If you have questions, message the mod team directly.
- The r/Episode Moderation Team
