🤝 HotSpot Community Guidelines
Effective Date: February 18, 2026 | Last Updated: February 18, 2026
Welcome to HotSpot!
HotSpot is a community for discovering venues, connecting with friends, and enjoying nightlife. To keep our community safe, respectful, and fun for everyone, we ask all users to follow these guidelines.
By using HotSpot, you agree to these Community Guidelines and our Terms of Service.
Core Principles
- ✅ Be Respectful: Treat others with kindness and respect
- ✅ Be Honest: Don't fake check-ins or misrepresent yourself
- ✅ Be Safe: Don't drink and drive, don't encourage underage drinking
- ✅ Be Legal: Follow all laws and venue rules
- ✅ Be Authentic: Use your real identity, no impersonation
❌ Prohibited Content and Behavior
1. Hate Speech and Discrimination
ZERO TOLERANCE
We do NOT tolerate hate speech, discrimination, or harassment based on:
- Race, ethnicity, or national origin
- Religion or religious beliefs
- Gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation
- Disability or medical condition
- Age
Consequence: Immediate permanent ban
2. Nudity and Sexual Content
Prohibited:
- ❌ Nudity or sexually explicit content in profile photos
- ❌ Pornographic or sexually suggestive usernames
- ❌ Sexual harassment or unwanted sexual advances
- ❌ Sharing intimate images without consent
Consequence: Content removal, warning, or account suspension
3. Violence and Graphic Content
Prohibited:
- ❌ Threats of violence against individuals or groups
- ❌ Graphic violence, gore, or disturbing imagery
- ❌ Promotion of self-harm or suicide
- ❌ Glorification of violence or violent acts
Consequence: Immediate account suspension or permanent ban
4. Harassment and Bullying
Prohibited:
- ❌ Repeated unwanted contact or messages
- ❌ Stalking or following users without consent
- ❌ Doxxing (sharing personal information without consent)
- ❌ Targeted harassment or bullying
- ❌ Encouraging others to harass someone
Consequence: Warning, suspension, or permanent ban
5. Fake Check-Ins and GPS Spoofing
STRICTLY PROHIBITED
HotSpot relies on accurate location data. You may NOT:
- ❌ Use GPS spoofing apps or tools
- ❌ Check in to venues you're not physically at
- ❌ Use VPNs or location masking to fake your location
- ❌ Share QR codes to allow others to check in remotely
- ❌ Create fake check-ins for promotions or rewards
Consequence: Immediate account suspension or permanent ban
6. Underage Drinking and Fake IDs
ZERO TOLERANCE
You must be 21+ to redeem alcohol promotions. Prohibited:
- ❌ Using fake IDs or misrepresenting your age
- ❌ Attempting to redeem alcohol promotions if under 21
- ❌ Providing alcohol to minors
- ❌ Encouraging underage drinking
Consequence: Immediate permanent ban + reporting to law enforcement
7. Spam and Commercial Abuse
Prohibited:
- ❌ Sending unsolicited promotional messages
- ❌ Creating multiple accounts for spam or abuse
- ❌ Using bots or automated tools
- ❌ Promoting competing services or apps
- ❌ Selling or trading accounts
Consequence: Account suspension or permanent ban
8. Impersonation and Fake Accounts
Prohibited:
- ❌ Impersonating another person (celebrity, friend, etc.)
- ❌ Creating fake or parody accounts without clear disclosure
- ❌ Using someone else's photos without permission
- ❌ Pretending to be a venue or business
Consequence: Account suspension or permanent ban
9. Illegal Activity
Prohibited:
- ❌ Promoting or facilitating illegal drug use
- ❌ Selling or buying illegal goods or services
- ❌ Fraud, scams, or phishing
- ❌ Copyright infringement or piracy
- ❌ Hacking, phishing, or account takeover attempts
Consequence: Immediate permanent ban + reporting to law enforcement
10. Inappropriate Usernames and Profile Photos
Prohibited:
- ❌ Offensive, vulgar, or sexually explicit usernames
- ❌ Usernames promoting hate speech or violence
- ❌ Profile photos containing nudity, violence, or hate symbols
- ❌ Copyrighted images used without permission
Consequence: Forced username/photo change, warning, or suspension
✅ Encouraged Behavior
- ✅ Discover new venues and share your experiences
- ✅ Connect with friends through Hot Sync
- ✅ Support local businesses by checking in and redeeming promotions
- ✅ Be a responsible drinker - don't drink and drive
- ✅ Report violations to help keep the community safe
- ✅ Respect venue rules and staff
🚨 Reporting Violations
How to Report
If you see content or behavior that violates these guidelines:
- In-App: Tap the "Report" button on the user's profile or content
- Email: support@hotspot-us.com with subject "Report Violation"
- Include:
- Username of the violator
- Description of the violation
- Screenshots (if applicable)
- Date and time of the incident
What Happens After You Report
- Review: Our team reviews reports within 24-48 hours
- Action: We take appropriate action based on severity
- Confidentiality: Your report is confidential (we don't tell the violator who reported them)
- Follow-Up: We may contact you for additional information
Emergency Situations
If you witness or are experiencing an immediate threat to safety:
- 🚨 Call 911 immediately (or local emergency services)
- Then report to HotSpot at: emergency@hotspot-us.com
⚖️ Enforcement Actions
| Violation Type |
First Offense |
Second Offense |
Third Offense |
Minor Violations
(e.g., inappropriate username) |
Warning + forced change |
3-day suspension |
7-day suspension |
Moderate Violations
(e.g., spam, harassment) |
Warning + content removal |
7-day suspension |
Permanent ban |
Serious Violations
(e.g., fake check-ins, threats) |
7-day suspension |
30-day suspension |
Permanent ban |
Zero Tolerance
(e.g., hate speech, underage drinking, violence) |
Immediate permanent ban |
Account Suspension
During suspension:
- ❌ You cannot log in to your account
- ❌ You cannot check in to venues
- ❌ You cannot connect with friends
- ✅ Your data is preserved (not deleted)
- ✅ You can appeal the suspension (see below)
Permanent Ban
Permanent bans are reserved for serious violations:
- ❌ Account is permanently disabled
- ❌ All data may be deleted (subject to legal retention requirements)
- ❌ You may not create new accounts
- ❌ Future accounts will be detected and banned
- ⚠️ We may report illegal activity to law enforcement
📝 Appeals Process
If you believe your account was suspended or banned in error:
- Email: appeals@hotspot-us.com
- Subject: "Account Appeal - [Your Username]"
- Include:
- Your username and email address
- Reason you believe the action was incorrect
- Any supporting evidence
- Timeline: We will review appeals within 5-7 business days
- Decision: Our decision on appeals is final
Appeals NOT Accepted For:
- ❌ Underage drinking violations
- ❌ Hate speech or violent threats
- ❌ Repeated fake check-ins
- ❌ Illegal activity
🛡️ Safety Tips
Protect Your Account
- ✅ Use a strong, unique password
- ✅ Enable two-factor authentication (when available)
- ✅ Never share your password with anyone
- ✅ Log out on shared devices
Protect Your Privacy
- ✅ Only connect with people you know on Hot Sync
- ✅ Review your privacy settings regularly
- ✅ Don't share personal information publicly
- ✅ Be cautious about who can see your check-ins
Stay Safe at Venues
- ✅ Don't drink and drive - use rideshare or designated driver
- ✅ Watch your drink at all times
- ✅ Stay with friends and look out for each other
- ✅ Know your limits and drink responsibly
- ✅ Report suspicious behavior to venue staff
Updates to These Guidelines
We may update these Community Guidelines from time to time. When we make changes:
- ✅ We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top
- ✅ We will notify you via email or in-app notification for major changes
- ✅ Continued use of HotSpot = acceptance of updated guidelines
Contact Us
Questions about these guidelines?
- General Support: support@hotspot-us.com
- Report Violations: support@hotspot-us.com (subject: "Report Violation")
- Appeals: appeals@hotspot-us.com
- Emergency: emergency@hotspot-us.com (then call 911)
Thank You!
Thank you for helping us build a safe, respectful, and fun community. Together, we can make HotSpot the best place to discover venues and connect with friends.
Enjoy responsibly! 🎉
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