Open Cottage Community Guidelines

At Open Cottage, we’re committed to building a warm, inclusive, and inspiring community for food creators and food lovers alike. By participating in our platform, you agree to follow these guidelines, which are designed to ensure everyone feels welcome and respected.

1. Be Respectful and Kind

  • Treat all community members with respect. Harassment, hate speech, or discriminatory remarks of any kind will not be tolerated.
  • Respect others’ opinions and cultural differences. Food is universal, and we celebrate diversity in culinary traditions.

2. Post Authentic Content

  • Share only your original recipes, photos, videos, and creations. Plagiarism or re-posting others’ content without permission is prohibited.
  • If you’re inspired by another creator, give proper credit.

3. Maintain Food Safety Standards

  • When sharing recipes or meal prep videos, ensure you provide accurate and safe instructions.
  • Users are always responsible for verifying nutritional facts. Never solely rely on nutrition facts provided on Open Cottage.
  • Content that promotes unsafe cooking practices or unhygienic methods will be removed.
  • When sharing recipes or meal prep videos, ensure you provide accurate and safe instructions.
  • Content that promotes unsafe cooking practices or unhygienic methods will be removed.

4. No Inappropriate Content

  • Content must be family-friendly. Avoid posting anything with explicit, violent, or offensive themes.
  • Refrain from including unrelated promotional materials or spam.

5. Engage Constructively

  • Food lovers are encouraged to comment thoughtfully on recipes and videos. Keep your feedback constructive and avoid personal attacks.
  • Food creators can respond to feedback but should maintain professionalism and positivity.

6. Respect Intellectual Property

  • Do not upload copyrighted content (e.g., music, images, or recipes) unless you own the rights or have explicit permission.
  • Protect the intellectual property of others and your own by adhering to copyright laws.

7. Stay Honest and Transparent

  • Disclose any sponsorships, affiliate links, or paid partnerships in your posts.
  • Misleading claims, false advertising, or manipulation of followers will result in action.

8. No Self-Promotion Spam

  • While we encourage sharing your culinary journey, avoid excessive self-promotion or irrelevant advertising.
  • Use your profile to showcase your work instead of spamming others’ content.

9. Safeguard Personal Information

  • Protect your privacy and the privacy of others. Do not share sensitive information such as addresses, phone numbers, or financial details.
  • If you encounter suspicious activity, report it to our support team immediately.

10. Follow the Law

  • Comply with all applicable laws, including those related to food safety, copyright, and commerce.
  • Content violating legal regulations, including false or harmful claims, will be removed.

11. Be an Active Contributor

  • Participate actively by sharing recipes, leaving thoughtful comments, and engaging with others’ content.
  • Help keep Open Cottage vibrant and welcoming by reporting any violations of these guidelines.

Violation Consequences

Violating these guidelines may result in actions such as:

  • Content removal
  • Temporary suspension
  • Permanent account ban for severe or repeated violations

Our team will review each case individually and act accordingly.

How to Report Issues

If you encounter content or behavior that violates these guidelines:

  • Use the “Report” button on the offending post or profile.
  • Contact us at info@opencottage.net with detailed information or use the reporting tool.

By following these guidelines, you’re helping make Open Cottage a thriving, positive space for food lovers and creators. Let’s cook, share, and grow together!