Community Standards & Moderation

Last updated: 2026-09-03

The Why includes places where members write to each other. This page explains what is and is not allowed there, how to report something, and how quickly we respond.

Where member-to-member content exists

There are exactly two:

There is no public feed and no app-wide feed. You cannot see, post to, or message across classes you are not a member of. Neither feature exists in The Why: Youth, our app for ages 9–18 — it has no member-to-member messaging or posting of any kind.

What is not allowed

The Why exists so people can argue about the deepest questions there are, well and in good faith. Disagreement — including sharp, direct, uncomfortable disagreement about religion — is the point of the app and is not a violation. Contempt for the person you are disagreeing with is.

How to report something

Every post, every reply and every conversation carries a Report action in the app. Choose it, pick a reason, and the report goes to our moderation queue. Reporting a conversation also blocks that person from messaging you.

You can also email us directly at rogersmi87@gmail.com.

How quickly we act

We review every report and act within 24 hours.

Depending on what we find, acting can mean removing the content, removing the member from the class, barring them from rejoining it, or terminating their account. We may also contact the class leader, the reporter, or the reported member.

Blocking

Any member can block any other member from the conversation screen. Blocking works in both directions: once it is in place, neither of you can message the other. You can undo it from the same menu.

What class leaders can do

A class leader is responsible for their class. Leaders can remove a post or a reply, close a thread to further replies, remove a student from the class, and bar a removed student from rejoining with the class code.

Leaders cannot read direct messages between their students. Private conversations are private; reporting is how a problem reaches us.

Privacy of direct messages

Our moderation tools do not display the contents of private messages. A report tells us who was involved, when, and why it was reported, and we act on the account rather than by reading the conversation.

We may access message content where we are legally required to, or where it is necessary to investigate a credible report of a threat to someone's safety.

Appeals

If you believe we removed something or acted against your account in error, email rogersmi87@gmail.com and we will review it.

Contact

Moderation and safety questions go to rogersmi87@gmail.com, monitored by 10:2 Studio, LLC, Lebanon, Virginia.


See also our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.