AOW Community Guidelines (Full Version)

Last updated: 2026-11-02

AOW is a little social world made for animals. Every post, every live stream and every comment here is seen by lots of animals and their families. So that everyone can feel safe and at home, please help us keep these ten promises.

This is the full version: the same ten promises with the same rule numbers, each broken down into parts that explain what counts as a breach and what does not, with examples and what happens next. For just the key points, see the AOW Handbook (short version).

These guidelines cover everything you post and do on AOW: posts and videos, live streams (chat in a live room counts as comments), comments, messages and group chats, check-in photos, place photos and reviews, product and store reviews, and Pet Vote. Businesses with a store on AOW must also follow the AOW Platform Rules.

World only shows posts with a real animal in them. A post without an animal (for example, only an ornament, a view or a meal) is published as usual but is not placed in World; this is not a breach and is not recorded as one.

Ten Promises

1. 01

   Rule 1

   Be Kind to Animals

   AOW was made for animals. Here, their safety and wellbeing come first.

   1.1Do Not Abuse or Hurt Animals

   Not allowed

   • Hitting, kicking, throwing, choking or burning an animal, or hurting them on purpose
   • Keeping an animal shut in a tiny cage or tied up for long periods, leaving them without food or water, or not taking them to the vet when they are sick
   • Posting or live streaming any of this, or sharing it as if it were funny

   For example

   • Swinging a cat around by the tail for a video
   • Hitting a dog with something during a live stream because they will not behave

   Allowed

   • Rescue stories, vet visits and surgery: please blur anything graphic and explain what happened
   • Telling people where you have seen animal abuse and how to report it (without the graphic originals)

   What happens

   We remove it. This is a serious breach: it skips the reduced-reach steps and goes straight to our team, who may mute the account, ban live streaming or suspend the account. If it happens during a live stream, our team can end the stream.

   1.2Do Not Scare, Provoke or Tease Animals on Purpose

   Not allowed

   • Scaring an animal on purpose, winding them up until they are angry, or frightening them until they shake, simply for fun or for a video
   • Feeding them things that make them suffer, like chilli or lemon, to film their reaction

   For example

   • Sneaking a cucumber behind a cat and filming them leap in fright
   • Setting off firecrackers next to a sleeping puppy

   Allowed

   • Everyday play that they clearly enjoy too
   • Looking after them with nail trims, baths and medicine: they may not love it, but it is not hurting them

   What happens

   We remove it. This is a serious breach: it skips the reduced-reach steps and goes straight to our team, who may mute the account, ban live streaming or suspend the account.

   1.3Do Not Put Animals in Danger

   Not allowed

   • Putting an animal somewhere dangerous for a photo, like a high ledge with no railing, the middle of a busy road, or a hot car
   • Showing or teaching things that clearly harm animals, like feeding them chocolate, grapes or onions, or giving cats and dogs human medicine

   For example

   • Holding a hamster outside a balcony railing for a photo
   • Filming a "what happens if my dog eats chocolate" challenge

   Allowed

   • Sharing which foods are dangerous for animals so others know
   • Playing with them somewhere safe, like walks, hikes or swimming, with the right precautions

   What happens

   We remove it. This is a serious breach: it skips the reduced-reach steps and goes straight to our team, who may mute the account, ban live streaming or suspend the account.

   1.4Do Not Promote Animal Fighting, or Eating Cats and Dogs

   Not allowed

   • Organising, promoting or live streaming dog fights, cockfights or anything else where animals are made to fight
   • Promoting or selling cat or dog meat, or showing off eating cats or dogs as if it were fun

   For example

   • Arranging in the comments to bring dogs along to fight

   Allowed

   • Animals playing rough or squabbling over a toy, as they normally do
   • Talking about why these things are wrong, or how to help the animals rescued from them

   What happens

   We remove it. This is a serious breach: it skips the reduced-reach steps and goes straight to our team, who may mute the account, ban live streaming or suspend the account.

   1.5Do Not Stage Rescues

   Not allowed

   • Putting an animal in danger on purpose so you can film yourself "rescuing" them
   • Putting the same animal in danger again and again for views

   For example

   • Dropping a kitten into a drain, then filming a "kitten rescue" video

   Allowed

   • Real rescue stories (again, please blur anything graphic)

   What happens

   We remove it. This is a serious breach: it skips the reduced-reach steps and goes straight to our team, who may mute the account, ban live streaming or suspend the account.

2. 02

   Rule 2

   No Sexual or Crude Content

   AOW is a place anyone can open without worrying. Sexual and crude content does not belong here.

   2.1No Nudity or Sexual Content

   Not allowed

   • Photos, videos or live streams showing private parts
   • Sexually suggestive poses, words or emoji

   For example

   • Posting revealing photos of yourself while claiming to show off your dog

   Allowed

   • Animals' normal bodies and lives, in everyday words: baths, desexing, caring for them in heat, giving birth
   • Everyday photos like swimming with your dog at the beach or the pool

   What happens

   We remove it and record a breach, which counts toward reduced reach (see "What happens if a rule is broken" below). Anything involving minors is dealt with under rule 9.

   2.2No Crude Jokes or Pictures

   Not allowed

   • Dirty jokes, and lewd titles or pictures
   • Making sexual jokes out of animals

   For example

   • Adding captions full of swearing and lewd lines to a kitten video

   Allowed

   • Ordinary jokes and funny memes

   What happens

   We remove it and record a breach, which counts toward reduced reach (see "What happens if a rule is broken" below).

3. 03

   Rule 3

   No Violence or Gore

   People open AOW to see adorable animals. Suddenly coming across blood or violence upsets a lot of people.

   3.1No Graphic or Gory Images

   Not allowed

   • Clear images of people or animals who are badly hurt, bleeding or dead
   • Unblurred photos of car accidents, fights or other incidents

   For example

   • Posting an unblurred photo of an animal hit by a car

   Allowed

   • Rescue stories, vet visits and surgery: please blur anything graphic and explain what happened
   • Warning people to stay safe, like "someone is putting out poison in our area, take care on walks", without the graphic original

   What happens

   We remove it and record a breach, which counts toward reduced reach (see "What happens if a rule is broken" below).

   3.2No Self-Harm or Suicide Content

   Not allowed

   • Showing or encouraging self-harm or suicide, or explaining how

   For example

   • Posting photos of yourself self-harming

   Allowed

   • Sharing how you got through a hard time, or encouraging others to reach out for help

   What happens

   We remove it and record a breach, which counts toward reduced reach (see "What happens if a rule is broken" below).

   If you or someone you know is having these thoughts, please contact your local emergency number or a crisis support line.

   3.3No Threats, and No Encouraging Violence

   Not allowed

   • Threatening to hurt a person or an animal
   • Glorifying violence, or teaching people how to hurt others

   For example

   • Commenting "if I see your dog again, I'll kill them"

   Allowed

   • Discussing violent events in the news and sharing your view

   What happens

   We remove it and record a breach, which counts toward reduced reach (see "What happens if a rule is broken" below).

4. 04

   Rule 4

   Be Kind to Each Other

   Every animal is someone's treasure. If you do not like something, simply scroll on; if you disagree, say so kindly.

   4.1No Harassment, Insults or Personal Attacks

   Not allowed

   • Insulting or abusing people, or attacking their looks, body or family
   • Messaging someone again and again, or commenting on every one of their posts, after they have made it clear they do not want to talk

   For example

   • Commenting "that dog is so ugly, why would you even post this" on someone's post

   Allowed

   • Disagreeing about the issue itself, even bluntly
   • Honest reviews of products, stores and services: if you were not happy, say so, as long as you do not insult anyone or make things up

   What happens

   We remove it and record a breach, which counts toward reduced reach (see "What happens if a rule is broken" below). If someone harasses you in messages, you can block them or report them in the chat settings; once we have checked, our team can suspend their account (suspended accounts cannot send messages).

   4.2No Discrimination

   Not allowed

   • Putting down or excluding a person or a group because of nationality, ethnicity, skin colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age
   • Mocking someone's animal, or their family, because of breed, looks or whether they were adopted

   For example

   • Saying "mixed-breed dogs don't belong in our building"

   Allowed

   • Calmly talking about what breeds are like, such as which ones shed a lot or which suit first-time owners

   What happens

   We remove it and record a breach, which counts toward reduced reach (see "What happens if a rule is broken" below).

   4.3No Pile-Ons

   Not allowed

   • Leading or joining a group attack on one person
   • Posting screenshots of someone's posts or comments to get others to go after them

   For example

   • Posting "everyone go to XX's profile and tell them off"

   Allowed

   • Using your own experience to warn others, without urging anyone to go after someone

   What happens

   We remove it and record a breach, which counts toward reduced reach (see "What happens if a rule is broken" below).

   4.4Do Not Share Other People's Private Information

   Not allowed

   • Sharing someone's real name, phone number, address, ID, chat history or location without their permission

   For example

   • Posting the chat from an argument along with the other person's phone number

   Allowed

   • Information about yourself that you are happy to share (like the city you live in)

   What happens

   We remove it and record a breach, which counts toward reduced reach (see "What happens if a rule is broken" below).

5. 05

   Rule 5

   No Ads or Spam

   AOW is for sharing animals' everyday lives, not a billboard. Honest recommendations are welcome; pulling people elsewhere to buy and sell is not.

   5.1No Ads or Spam

   Not allowed

   • Advertising products in posts, comments, messages or live rooms
   • Posting the same thing over and over, or leaving "follow for follow" or "check my profile" comments everywhere

   For example

   • Pasting "cheapest cat food anywhere" under a hundred posts

   Allowed

   • Sharing something you have used and whether you liked it (no purchase links or contact details)
   • Showing off things you bought in the AOW Shop or from a store on AOW

   What happens

   We remove it and record a breach, which counts toward reduced reach (see "What happens if a rule is broken" below).

   5.2No Contact Details, and No Pulling People to Other Platforms

   Not allowed

   • Leaving a WeChat ID, QQ, phone number, QR code or outside link, or writing "add me" or "DM me", to pull people off AOW
   • Getting around this with look-alike spellings, split-up words or text inside images

   For example

   • Writing "want dog clothes? add me on WeChat" in a post

   Allowed

   • Messaging and following each other inside AOW
   • Asking "where can I buy this?" or "is this brand any good?"

   What happens

   We remove it and record a breach, which counts toward reduced reach (see "What happens if a rule is broken" below). In Human Q&A, contact details and words about selling are blocked, so the post will not go through.

   5.3No Cash-Back, Red Packet or "Side Job" Offers

   Not allowed

   • Red packets, cash-back, share-to-win giveaways, side jobs, daily-paid work, fake orders, get-rich-quick offers, loans or gambling

   For example

   • "Share this post and three people win cat food. Winners, add me to claim"

   Allowed

   • Warning others about what these scams look like

   What happens

   We remove it and record a breach, which counts toward reduced reach (see "What happens if a rule is broken" below).

   5.4Businesses: Promote with AOW's Tools

   Not allowed

   • A business posting ads or touting for customers everywhere from a personal account
   • Leaving contact details on product pages, deal pages, store pages or in chats to get customers to pay outside AOW

   For example

   • A store replying to a buyer in the comments: "add me on WeChat and buy direct, it's 20 cheaper"

   Allowed

   • Using the promotions in the merchant centre: Product promotion and Store promotion
   • Introducing your products as normal in your own store and in chats with customers

   What happens

   We remove it and record a breach, which counts toward reduced reach (see "What happens if a rule is broken" below). Businesses that break this rule are also dealt with under the AOW Platform Rules.

6. 06

   Rule 6

   No Scams, and No Selling Animals

   Trust is the most precious thing on AOW. We have zero tolerance for scams and for selling animals privately.

   6.1Do Not Pretend to Be Someone Else

   Not allowed

   • Pretending to be another person, a celebrity, an organisation, a vet clinic, a rescue group or AOW staff

   For example

   • Calling your account "AOW Official Support" and messaging people to say their account has a problem

   Allowed

   • Naming your pet after a celebrity, as long as you do not pretend to be the celebrity

   What happens

   We remove it. This is a serious breach: it skips the reduced-reach steps and goes straight to our team, who may mute the account, ban live streaming or suspend the account.

   6.2Do Not Trick People Out of Money or Accounts

   Not allowed

   • Fake prizes, fake support and fake refunds to get people to pay or transfer money
   • Asking for passwords or verification codes, or sending phishing links
   • Taking money outside AOW and then not sending anything

   For example

   • Messaging someone "you've won! Just pay the shipping first"

   Allowed

   • Ordering and paying as normal in the AOW Shop or at a store on AOW

   What happens

   We remove it. This is a serious breach: it skips the reduced-reach steps and goes straight to our team, who may mute the account, ban live streaming or suspend the account.

   AOW staff will never ask for your password or a verification code.

   6.3No Fake Fundraising

   Not allowed

   • Making up stories about an animal being sick, hurt or rescued to ask people for money
   • Using someone else's photos and pretending you rescued the animal

   For example

   • Using a photo of an injured puppy found online and asking people to "please transfer money, they need surgery urgently"

   Allowed

   • Real rescue and vet stories. It is fine if people choose to tip you

   What happens

   We remove it. This is a serious breach: it skips the reduced-reach steps and goes straight to our team, who may mute the account, ban live streaming or suspend the account.

   6.4Do Not Sell or Rehome Animals Privately

   Not allowed

   • Selling, transferring or rehoming animals in posts, comments, messages, group chats or Q&A, whether or not money is involved
   • Posting paid breeding (stud) offers

   For example

   • "Our cat had four kittens, $800 each, DM me"
   • "Free puppy to a good home, just pay a care fee"

   Allowed

   • Sharing your animal's new babies and watching them grow
   • Sharing how you adopted or rescued an animal
   • Asking what you need to adopt, or how to find a good breeder
   • Helping lost animals get home with lost and found posts

   What happens

   We remove it. This is a serious breach: it skips the reduced-reach steps and goes straight to our team, who may mute the account, ban live streaming or suspend the account.

   6.5Selling, Stud and Adoption Only in Approved Stores

   Not allowed

   • A store that AOW has not approved as a breeder or rescue organisation listing animals in its online store or local store

   For example

   • A pet supplies store listing kittens as a deal

   Allowed

   • Buying or adopting animals from breeders and rescue organisations approved by AOW, in their stores
   • Pet supplies stores selling food, toys and other supplies

   What happens

   Animal listings from online stores and ordinary local stores are sent back immediately and will not go on sale. Only breeders and rescue organisations whose credentials AOW has checked by hand, one by one, can list animals in their own store, and their credentials are shown publicly on their store page.

7. 07

   Rule 7

   Follow the Law

   What you do on AOW also has to follow the law where you live.

   7.1Nothing Illegal

   Not allowed

   • Drugs, guns, restricted knives, gambling, fake invoices and other illegal goods and services
   • Teaching people how to break the law

   For example

   • Selling banned medicines in a post

   Allowed

   • Talking about laws and the news, like what paperwork you need to take a pet overseas

   What happens

   We remove it. This is a serious breach: it skips the reduced-reach steps and goes straight to our team, who may mute the account, ban live streaming or suspend the account.

   7.2Do Not Buy or Sell Protected Wildlife or Banned Items

   Not allowed

   • Buying, selling or showing off protected wildlife, or their fur, bones or other parts
   • Buying or selling anything local law bans

   For example

   • Posting a wild owl for sale

   Allowed

   • Wildlife photos taken at zoos, sanctuaries or rescue centres
   • Sharing which animals are protected

   What happens

   We remove it. This is a serious breach: it skips the reduced-reach steps and goes straight to our team, who may mute the account, ban live streaming or suspend the account.

   7.3Do Not Keep Animals Illegally

   Not allowed

   • Catching protected wildlife to keep at home, or keeping an animal that local law does not allow people to keep, and showing it off

   For example

   • Catching a wild bird in the park, keeping them in a cage and posting about it

   Allowed

   • Keeping animals legally where it is allowed, like reptiles with the right licence
   • Rescuing injured wildlife and handing them over to a local wildlife rescue

   What happens

   We remove it. This is a serious breach: it skips the reduced-reach steps and goes straight to our team, who may mute the account, ban live streaming or suspend the account.

8. 08

   Rule 8

   Respect Other People's Work and Rights

   Behind every photo and every video is someone's time and care.

   8.1Do Not Use Other People's Photos, Videos or Music

   Not allowed

   • Posting someone else's photos or videos as your own
   • Using someone's original music, art or writing without permission

   For example

   • Saving a video of someone else's famous dog and posting it as your own dog

   Allowed

   • Using the music built into AOW
   • Using someone's work with their permission and saying where it came from
   • Using "Share" in AOW to send someone's post to a friend

   What happens

   We remove it and record a breach, which counts toward reduced reach (see "What happens if a rule is broken" below). If you think your work or rights have been infringed, you can report it or email hello@all-our-world.com, and we will look into it.

   8.2Do Not Infringe Trademarks or Likeness

   Not allowed

   • Using someone else's brand or trademark to pass yourself off as official, or selling fakes
   • Using someone's photo in an ad or a joke without their permission

   For example

   • Adding an advertising slogan to someone else's selfie and posting it

   Allowed

   • Saying honestly which brand you use
   • People walking past in the background of your photo

   What happens

   We remove it and record a breach, which counts toward reduced reach (see "What happens if a rule is broken" below).

9. 09

   Rule 9

   Protect Young People

   Kids and animals together are lovely, and that is exactly why we think one step ahead for the kids.

   9.1Minors Cannot Be on a Live Stream on Their Own

   Not allowed

   • A live stream with only minors on camera and no adult there

   For example

   • Letting a child live stream alone while the adults are out

   Allowed

   • Kids appearing on a live stream together with an adult

   What happens

   Our team can end the live stream. This is a serious breach: it skips the reduced-reach steps and goes straight to our team, who may mute the account, ban live streaming or suspend the account.

   9.2Nothing That Could Harm Minors

   Not allowed

   • Getting a child to do something dangerous, like riding a big dog or being left alone with a dog they do not know
   • Putting children alongside sexual or violent content
   • Sharing a child's school, address or daily route

   For example

   • Filming a child grabbing a bone from a dog's mouth to see how the dog reacts

   Allowed

   • Everyday family photos and videos with your animals, with an adult nearby
   • Teaching kids how to be gentle with animals

   What happens

   We remove it. This is a serious breach: it skips the reduced-reach steps and goes straight to our team, who may mute the account, ban live streaming or suspend the account.

   9.3Do Not Lure or Bother Minors

   Not allowed

   • Luring minors into tipping, spending money or meeting up in person
   • Asking minors for photos or contact details

   For example

   • Messaging a young teenager to get them to tip you with their parents' money

   Allowed

   • Chatting kindly with everyone about animals in the comments

   What happens

   We remove it. This is a serious breach: it skips the reduced-reach steps and goes straight to our team, who may mute the account, ban live streaming or suspend the account.

10. 10

    Rule 10

    Share Authentic Content

    What AOW wants to see is animals as they really are.

    10.1Do Not Make Things Up or Spread Rumours

    Not allowed

    • Made-up news, rumours, or wrong "advice" that could hurt animals, like "chocolate is fine for dogs"
    • Passing off AI-made or edited images and videos as real

    For example

    • Reposting old news from another city as "this just happened in our neighbourhood"

    Allowed

    • Things that are obviously a joke, like editing a crown onto your dog
    • Saying clearly that something was made with AI or edited
    • Your own honest feelings and opinions

    What happens

    We remove it and record a breach, which counts toward reduced reach (see "What happens if a rule is broken" below).

    10.2No Fake Calls for Help

    Not allowed

    • Fake lost pet posts, fake calls for help, or fake "urgent adoption" appeals

    For example

    • Making up a "my kitten is missing" story to get followers

    Allowed

    • Genuinely looking for a lost animal, or genuinely needing advice

    What happens

    We remove it and record a breach, which counts toward reduced reach (see "What happens if a rule is broken" below).

    10.3Check In with a Photo of Your Own Animal, Taken Right Then

    Not allowed

    • Checking in with a toy, an ornament, a photo of a screen, someone else's photo or an old photo

    For example

    • Checking in with a photo of a lucky cat ornament

    Allowed

    • A photo of your own pet taken moments ago, whether they are sleeping or eating

    What happens

    AOW checks check-in photos first. If a photo does not pass, that check-in does not count, and it is not recorded as a breach. If someone uses these tricks to get check-ins and rewards, our team can cancel those rewards once we have checked, and serious cases lead to account suspension.

    10.4No Fake Engagement, No Cheating

    Not allowed

    • Using multiple accounts, cheats, scripts or engagement groups to inflate likes, follows, comments, Pet Vote votes or check-ins
    • Buying or selling accounts, likes or follows

    For example

    • Opening five extra accounts to vote for your own pet in Pet Vote every day

    Allowed

    • Sending your vote card to friends with "Get votes" and asking them to vote from their own accounts

    What happens

    Once we have checked, our team can cancel rewards gained this way, and serious cases lead to account suspension (suspended accounts cannot like, follow or vote).

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