Written viewpoint rules on nine US social platforms (October 2026)

What this dataset measures

Built to test the claim that X is the only social media site that does not censor. Platforms are the largest US networks plus the alternatives promoted by politicians on the left and right (Bluesky, Mastodon, Truth Social, Rumble). Topics are current political flashpoints where moderation rules can restrict a viewpoint, plus two baseline rules every platform shares (voter suppression and support for designated terrorist groups) for comparison.

Geography

United States

Unit of observation

One platform and one topic

Update cadence

Irregular; re-check when platforms revise policies

Curator

FactHub

Curated data tables

These related tables form this versioned dataset release. Each table has its own downloadable file and field definitions.

Platform policy by topic

What each platform's written policy says it does with content on each topic, as of 2026-10-10.

Unit of observation: One platform and one topic

View this table

policy-matrix.csv text/csv · 50.2 KB (51,396 bytes)

12 field definitions

Field	Type	Meaning	Units	Value type
platform	string	Platform name. Meta covers Facebook, Instagram and Threads, which share Meta's Community Standards. mastodon.social is the largest Mastodon server.	—	observed
topic_id	string	Stable topic code (T01-T12B).	—	observed
topic	string	Plain-language topic description.	—	observed
tier	string	viewpoint (a contested opinion or claim), baseline (a rule nearly every platform shares), or scope (which groups a hate rule protects).	—	derived
in_viewpoint_index	boolean	Whether the topic counts toward the viewpoint index (T01-T05 and T06B).	—	derived
verdict	string	removed, restricted (reduced reach, label, warning, demonetized, or not recommended), allowed (policy explicitly permits it), not_addressed (no rule found), vague (a general rule could cover it but does not name it), or n/a for scope rows.	—	derived
verdict_detail	string	Explanation of the verdict, including exceptions and dated changes.	—	derived
policy_quote	string	Verbatim excerpt from the policy page supporting the verdict; empty when no rule exists to quote.	—	observed
quote_verified	string	verbatim if the quote was confirmed on the live page on 2026-10-10; no_quote if empty.	—	derived
source_id	string	Id of the source entry for the policy page.	—	observed
policy_url	string	URL of the policy page.	—	observed
checked_date	date	Date the policy was read.	—	observed

Supporting files

Source snapshots, manifests, quality reports, documentation, and other materials used to produce or review this release.

• policy-rows.js Transformation manifest · text/javascript · 34.4 KB (35,204 bytes)

  Source data for the matrix: policy URLs, topic definitions, and each verdict with its quote.

• verify-quotes.js Quality report · text/javascript · 2.3 KB (2,333 bytes)

  Script that fetches each policy page and checks every quote appears verbatim.

• build-policy-dataset.js Transformation manifest · text/javascript · 21.3 KB (21,835 bytes)

  Script that builds the CSV and this dataset's content from policy-rows.js.

• dataset-parts.json Documentation · application/json · 30.3 KB (31,029 bytes)

  Sources, table definitions, saved analysis and events for this dataset, as JSON.

Saved analyses

Sources

1. X Help Center: Abuse and harassment policy Primary: platform policy page

   Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

   Archived copy captured October 1, 2026

2. X Help Center: Hateful conduct policy Primary: platform policy page

   Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

   Archived copy captured October 1, 2026

3. X Help Center: Civic integrity policy Primary: platform policy page

   Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

   Archived copy captured October 6, 2026

4. X Help Center: The X Rules Primary: platform policy page

   Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

5. X Help Center: Violent and hateful entities policy Primary: platform policy page

   Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

   Archived copy captured August 21, 2026

6. X Help Center: Violent content policy Primary: platform policy page

   Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

   Archived copy captured September 25, 2026

7. X Help Center: Illegal or regulated goods and services policy Primary: platform policy page

   Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

8. Truth Social: Terms of Service Primary: platform policy page

   Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

   Archived copy captured October 6, 2026

9. Truth Social: Community Guidelines Primary: platform policy page

   Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

   Archived copy captured October 10, 2026

10. Rumble: Terms and Conditions (last updated September 1, 2026) Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

    Archived copy captured October 10, 2026

11. Reddit Rules Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

    Archived copy captured October 10, 2026

12. Reddit Help: Hate Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

13. Reddit Help: Quarantined communities Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

14. Reddit Help: Illegal or prohibited transactions Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

    Archived copy captured August 20, 2026

15. Reddit Help: How Reddit fights the dissemination of terrorist content Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

16. Reddit Help: Violence Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

17. YouTube Help: Hate speech policy Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

18. YouTube Help: Harassment and cyberbullying policies Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

    Archived copy captured October 8, 2026

19. YouTube Help: Medical misinformation policy Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

20. YouTube Help: Elections misinformation policies Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

    Archived copy captured October 10, 2026

21. YouTube Help: Violent extremist or criminal organizations policy Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

    Archived copy captured October 10, 2026

22. YouTube Help: Sale of illegal or regulated goods or services policies Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

    Archived copy captured October 10, 2026

23. YouTube Help: Violent or graphic content policies Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

    Archived copy captured October 10, 2026

24. Google Publisher Policies: Climate change misinformation (monetization) Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

    Archived copy captured October 10, 2026

25. Meta Community Standards: Hateful conduct Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

    Archived copy captured October 10, 2026

26. Meta Community Standards: Bullying and harassment Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

    Archived copy captured October 10, 2026

27. Meta Community Standards: Misinformation Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

    Archived copy captured October 10, 2026

28. Meta Community Standards: Dangerous organizations and individuals Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

    Archived copy captured October 10, 2026

29. Meta Community Standards: Restricted goods and services Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

    Archived copy captured October 10, 2026

30. Meta Community Standards: Violent and graphic content Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

31. Oversight Board decision on "From the River to the Sea" posts (September 4, 2024) Primary: Oversight Board decision applying Meta policy

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

    Archived copy captured October 10, 2026

32. Washington Times: Meta to remove posts targeting "Zionists" (July 9, 2024) Secondary news report of a policy change (Meta announcement page no longer loads)

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

33. Bluesky Community Guidelines (last updated September 19, 2025) Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

    Archived copy captured October 10, 2026

34. TikTok Community Guidelines: Safety and civility Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

    Archived copy captured October 6, 2026

35. TikTok Community Guidelines: Integrity and authenticity Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

36. TikTok Community Guidelines: Regulated and commercial activities Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

    Archived copy captured September 28, 2026

37. TikTok Community Guidelines: Sensitive and mature themes Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

    Archived copy captured October 10, 2026

38. mastodon.social server rules (instance rules API) Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

    Archived copy captured October 10, 2026

39. Mastodon Server Covenant Primary: platform policy page

    Retrieved October 10, 2026. Publisher copyright; short quotations used for commentary. Not redistributed; linked only

    Archived copy captured October 10, 2026

Limitations and reproducibility

Partially reproducible: Every verdict cites a live policy page and, where one exists, an archived copy. Quotes were checked verbatim against the live pages on 2026-10-10: automatically with verify-quotes.js for pages that allow automated fetches, and in a browser for X, Truth Social, Reddit Help and Meta, which block automated fetches or render text with JavaScript. Verdicts are FactHub's reading of each policy and involve judgment, especially where rules are vague.

• Written policy only. The dataset does not measure how often or how evenly platforms enforce these rules; no cross-platform enforcement data exists.
• Verdicts are interpretations. "Vague" marks a general rule that could cover the topic but does not name it; reasonable readers may classify some cells differently.
• mastodon.social is one server. Other Mastodon servers set their own rules and can block whole servers (defederation).
• Reddit rows are site-wide rules only. Individual subreddits add their own rules and moderator bans, which are not captured.
• Bluesky users can also subscribe to user-run labelers and block lists, which are not Bluesky's rules and are not captured.
• Truth Social's discrimination clause applies to "Interactive Content" (comments and replies); whether it covers ordinary posts is unclear.
• Meta's July 2024 "Zionist" rule (T11C) is sourced to contemporaneous news coverage because Meta's announcement page no longer loads.
• Some sources lack an archived copy because the Wayback Machine was rate-limiting captures on 2026-10-10; X, Truth Social and Reddit Help also block FactHub's server-side fetch, so no content digest was recorded for them.
• The viewpoint index counts six topics equally. Counting vaccine and climate misinformation rules as viewpoint restrictions is itself a judgment; some readers treat them as accuracy rules.
• Platforms change policies often; verdicts reflect 2026-10-10 only.