Content Policy

Welcome to AO3, a home for transformative fanworks built by and for fans. We know that diving into a new creative platform can be exciting, and understanding the rules of the house helps everyone feel comfortable. So, let's have a straightforward chat about our Content Policy. Think of this as your friendly map to what you can expect here.

Our Core Principle: A Place for All Fanon

First things first, our fundamental belief is in the freedom of expression. The Archive of Our Own was created to preserve and share fanworks in all their diverse glory. This means we host a incredibly wide range of content, from genfics and fluff to stories that explore darker, more mature themes.

You might come across content that's not your personal cup of tea, and that's perfectly okay. The beauty of AO3 lies in its powerful filtering system. Our policy is designed to protect your right to create and share your work, not to act as taste police. We trust you to curate your own reading experience.

Your Toolkit: Tags, Ratings, and Warnings

This is where you, as a creator and a reader, have the most power. Our policy requires you to use the tools we provide to label your work appropriately. It’s all about informed consent—letting readers know what they're about to get into.

1. Ratings: Just like with movies, you need to select a rating. Is your story safe for all audiences (General)? Maybe it has some mature themes (Teen)? Or perhaps it contains explicit content (Mature or Explicit)? Picking the right rating is the first step.

2. Archive Warnings: These are our big four: Major Character Death, Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Rape/Non-Con, and Underage. If your story contains any of these, you must warn for it. If you'd rather not specify, you can use "Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings." And if your story fits none of the above, simply select "No Archive Warnings Apply." This system is crucial for helping readers avoid content they find distressing.

3. Additional Tags: This is your playground! Use tags to describe your story's tropes, relationships, genres, and any other content. The more specific you are, the easier it is for readers to find what they love and skip what they don't. "Happy Ending," "Angst with a Happy Ending," and "Canon-Typical Violence" are great examples of helpful tags.

What Isn't Welcome Here?

While our umbrella is wide, it doesn't cover everything. Our policy clearly states that we do not allow:

1. Content that violates U.S. law. As we're based in the U.S., we must comply with its laws, particularly concerning child sexual abuse imagery.

2. Plagiarism. This is a big one. You must only upload transformative works you created yourself. Copying someone else's story and posting it as your own is strictly prohibited and can lead to your account being suspended.

3. Non-fanwork content. The Archive is specifically for fanworks. This means things like random personal blogs, commercial advertisements, or unrelated spam don't belong here.

We're a Community, Not an Algorithm

A key part of our policy is how we handle problems. We don't proactively screen content. Instead, we rely on a community-based model. If a user finds a work that they believe violates our Terms of Service, they can file a report. Our all-volunteer Policy & Abuse team will then review it based on the posted policy, not on personal opinion.

This puts the power in the hands of the community, ensuring that the Archive remains a platform for fans, governed by fans.

So, go ahead and explore, create, and share. Use your tags wisely, respect the choices of other creators, and help us keep AO3 a vibrant and supportive home for fandom for years to come. Happy reading and writing