As we see more and more bots on Lemmy World every day, it’s about time we publish a set of rules for bots and bot-owners.

So here goes:

  • Bots shall not be used for any kind of advertising.

  • The bot accounts must be clearly marked as a bot. Both in the bio and by marking the account as a bot.

  • The owner of the bot and contact details must be mentioned in the bot’s bio.

  • Bots are only allowed to post in communities they have the explicit permission from the community’s owners to do so.

  • Bots from other instances that post in Lemmy World communities must follow the same rules.

  • Bots shall not just be posting Reddit content.

  • Bots shall not be “spammy”, as in multiple posts per minute.

  • Breaking any of these rules will result in a ban for the Bot and, if required, its owner.

  • Commands must use the bots mention as prefix, and not a text prefix like !help

These rules will be updated when needed.

  • @Ryumast3r
    link
    141 year ago

    Can we get a more specific definition of what “reddit content” means, in the context of the rule:

    “Bots shall not just be posting Reddit content.”

    I.e.: content that might be found on reddit, vs content about reddit vs content "cross-posted from reddit (e.g. every top-level ask reddit thread) vs content that “at any point was on reddit”

    This clarification is maybe a bit pedantic but I think also necessary.

    • @RinktheDink
      link
      141 year ago

      I have seen a few bots that strictly repost content posted on reddit. I think they may be calling that out

    • @Surp
      link
      5
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      I’m guessing it means if it has reddit in the URL or is a short link to a reddit url don’t post it. Simple enough.

      • @Ryumast3r
        link
        31 year ago

        I hope that’s the case but I would still like the clarification, even though I don’t run any bots.

    • @HardlightCereal
      link
      41 year ago

      Good point. I have years of OC I’ve posted to Reddit and would like to post here. I’m not a bot, but what about bots that do something similar?