whereto.ph

Content & Review Moderation Policy

Last updated: August 27, 2026

This policy explains how whereto.ph moderates user-generated content to maintain quality, trustworthiness, and safety for our community.

How We Moderate Content

Automated Screening

  • All submissions are scanned for spam, inappropriate language, and obvious violations
  • Duplicate content and suspected fake reviews are flagged for manual review
  • Links and promotional content are automatically detected
  • Photos are checked for inappropriate content using image recognition

Manual Review Process

  • Our moderation team reviews flagged content within 24-48 hours
  • Complex cases involving disputes are escalated to senior moderators
  • All business listing claims are manually verified before approval
  • Reported content is prioritized and reviewed within 2-5 business days

Community Flagging

Community members can report problematic content through:

  • The "Report" button on reviews and listings
  • Our Report a Problem page
  • Direct email to moderation@whereto.ph

What Gets a Review Removed

Reviews may be removed if they:

  • Are fake or fraudulent: Not based on a real experience at the location
  • Violate community guidelines: Offensive language, personal attacks, discriminatory content
  • Are off-topic: Focus on unrelated issues, political rants, or personal disputes
  • Contain conflicts of interest: Written by business owners, employees, or competitors
  • Include inappropriate content: Illegal activities, private information, or spam
  • Are duplicates: Multiple reviews of the same place by the same user
  • Violate privacy: Include personal details about staff or other customers
  • Are promotional: Primarily advertising another business or service

Photo and Content Guidelines

Photos We Remove

  • Images showing other people without clear consent
  • Copyrighted images taken from websites or promotional materials
  • Blurry, dark, or irrelevant photos that don't show the business
  • Inappropriate, offensive, or illegal content
  • Personal items unrelated to the business experience

Listing Information Standards

  • Business names must match official signage or legal registration
  • Addresses must be accurate and verified
  • Categories must correctly represent the primary business type
  • Duplicate listings of the same business are merged or removed
  • Residential addresses cannot be listed as businesses (unless home-based with permits)

Business Owner Dispute Process

Valid Grounds for Disputes

Business owners can request review removal if the review:

  • Describes an experience that clearly didn't happen at their business
  • Contains factually incorrect information about their services
  • Violates our community guidelines (offensive content, personal attacks)
  • Was written by a competitor or someone with a conflict of interest
  • Includes private information about staff or customers

How to Dispute a Review

  1. Use our Report a Problem form
  2. Select "Business Owner - Dispute Review" as the issue type
  3. Provide the specific review URL and detailed explanation
  4. Include supporting evidence if available (receipts, photos, policies)
  5. Wait for our moderation team to investigate (typically 3-7 business days)

What We Don't Remove

We generally don't remove reviews simply because they are:

  • Negative or critical (if based on genuine experience)
  • About a single bad experience (if described respectfully)
  • Focused on price, value, or business policies
  • Critical of customer service (if specific and constructive)
  • Different from other reviews or overall rating

Moderation Timeline and Process

Typical Response Times

  • Automated actions: Immediate (spam, obvious violations)
  • Standard reports: 2-5 business days
  • Business disputes: 3-7 business days
  • Complex cases: 7-14 business days
  • Appeals: 5-10 business days

Decision Communication

When we take action on reported content, we notify:

  • The person who reported the content (via email or platform notification)
  • The content author (if content is removed, with explanation)
  • The business owner (if the dispute involved their listing)

Appeals Process

If you disagree with a moderation decision, you can request an appeal:

  • Submit an appeal through our Report a Problem page
  • Reference the original case number (if provided)
  • Explain why you believe the decision was incorrect
  • Provide any additional evidence or context

Appeals are reviewed by a different moderator than the original decision. We aim to resolve appeals within 5-10 business days.

Consequences for Violations

Progressive Enforcement

  • First violation: Content removal with educational notice
  • Minor repeat violations: Warning and temporary restrictions
  • Serious violations: Points deduction and longer restrictions
  • Severe or repeated violations: Account suspension
  • Fraud or harassment: Permanent ban

Business Account Consequences

  • Fake review creation may result in listing being unclaimed
  • Harassment of customers can lead to business account suspension
  • Repeated violations may result in permanent listing removal

Transparency and Improvement

We're committed to fair and transparent moderation:

  • We regularly review and update our policies based on community feedback
  • Moderation decisions are logged and can be reviewed for consistency
  • We provide clear explanations when removing content
  • Our moderation team receives ongoing training on policy updates

Contact Our Moderation Team

For questions about content moderation or to report violations:

Our Commitment

We strive to balance free expression with community safety. Our moderation policies aim to preserve authentic, helpful content while removing harmful or misleading information. When in doubt, we err on the side of keeping content that contributes to informed decision-making.