WhatsTrue Crew Community Guidelines
The purpose of the following guidelines is to set a Code of Conduct and expectations for volunteers and members of the WhatsTrue Crew to foster a safe, educational environment for all.
Misinformation is false information that is spread in error, often with good intentions to help community members i.e. family or friends. An example of this is an unsourced article that says ginger and turmeric will cure COVID-19. While spread with positive intent, this false information can have serious setbacks if taken seriously and spread in our communities.
Disinformation is information that is deliberately false or misleading, often spread for political gain or profit, or to discredit a target individual, group, movement, or political party. (Media Manipulation Case Book)
Content and messaging in WhatsTrue Crew groups will exclusively pertain to mis- and disinformation in South Asian American communities, especially on WhatsApp. If you have any questions about this, please reach out to Irfan Ibrahim or Aishika Jennela using the contact info below.
No place for hate - no tolerance for hate speech of any kind, including racism, Islamophobia, Homophobia, Transphobia, etc. The South Asian community is diverse and we respect individual differences.
No harassment, bullying, gaslighting, and the like. We have a zero-tolerance policy and will not hesitate to remove you and your content.
These chat groups are a safe place where we let others speak and withhold judgment of others' experiences.
We trust and care for everyone in this group. Assume good intentions from everyone.
It’s ok if you don’t understand everything. This is a lot of information. We encourage asking questions and reaching out with concerns.
This is an intergenerational space with multiple language communities represented, so things may get lost in translation from time to time. Please exercise patience and trust as a group so all our voices are heard and considered.
We let ourselves speak for ourselves and tell our own stories. Use “I” statements.
Confidentiality is what is said here stays here. Respect the privacy of group members outside of WhatsTrue Crew & Desifacts programming.
If there is a conflict, as a group, we will practice de-escalation with involved parties. Individuals who refuse to have civil discourse and are insistent on causing disruption will be removed from the group.
No solicitations. Do not ask for donations, money, business, free consulting services, or for someone to do your job for you. This includes external events or activities not related to Impact or mis/disinformation work specifically. Individuals will be given a warning and after that, will be removed from the group if behavior persists. We also ask that you do not promote or endorse political candidates at local, state, or federal level, or engage in partisan discourse.
WhatsTrue Crew is a grassroots effort to stop mis/disinformation spread in South Asian American communities on WhatsApp across the country. This is a safe space for people to request fact-checks and resources, build digital literacy skills, and learn with like-minded individuals. Please respect everyone’s growth journeys and timelines as we talk about some difficult topics from time to time.
Disclaimer: These guidelines are subject to change as we build out this community together as new information and issues arise. We appreciate your input and feedback as we grow the WhatsTrue Crew.
If you see any bad behavior or have any concerns, please send us a WhatsApp message at +1 610-580-0377 or contact Irfan Ibrahim, Digital Organizer, at irfan@iaimpact.org.
