Content Policy

1. Platform Description

OnlyLit is a platform for original, long-form creative and literary fiction: serialized stories in which character, voice, and plot are the focus. Authors publish their work and readers subscribe to follow it. Mature themes are permitted only as elements of a longer narrative arc, subject to the standard set out in this policy.

This Content Policy applies to all users — Creators and Subscribers alike — and supplements OnlyLit's Terms of Service. Capitalized terms not defined here have the meanings given in the Terms of Service.

2. Creative-Fiction Standard

OnlyLit publishes narrative fiction. Mature themes, including sexual content where it is relevant to a longer, character- and plot-driven arc, are permitted only as elements of a story, not as its purpose.

Content whose primary purpose is sexual gratification, meaning material produced for that purpose rather than as narrative fiction, is not permitted and will be removed. A work must stand as a story on its own: with characters, a setting, and a narrative arc that carry the piece independently of any explicit passages it may contain.

OnlyLit determines, at its sole discretion, whether a work meets this standard. Works that do not may be removed, re-tiered, or returned to the author for revision.

3. Age Requirement

OnlyLit is strictly limited to users who are 18 years of age or older. No exceptions are made. Creators are responsible for ensuring that any characters depicted in sexual or romantic situations within their content are explicitly adults. Ambiguous ages must be written and presented unambiguously as 18 or older.

Access to content flagged as adult or 18+ requires completed age verification on a reader's account. Creators found attempting to circumvent the age-gating system — including by deliberately mislabeling content — will have their accounts permanently suspended.

4. Required Content Tagging

Creators are required to accurately tag their content prior to publication. Specifically:

• All content that contains explicit sexual descriptions, nudity, or adult themes must be tagged as 18+ before publication.
• Content involving dark themes (violence, non-consent as a narrative element within prohibited bounds) must be appropriately warned for reader safety.
• Mislabeling content — whether to circumvent paywalls, age gates, or platform review — constitutes a violation of this policy and the Terms of Service.

OnlyLit may retroactively apply tags, remove content, or require revisions if a Creator's tagging is found to be inaccurate or misleading.

5. Prohibited Content

The following categories of content are strictly prohibited on OnlyLit under all circumstances, regardless of subscription tier, paywall status, fictional framing, or Creator status:

6. Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) — Zero Tolerance

OnlyLit maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and any content that sexualizes minors, whether real or fictional.

Upon discovery of any such content, OnlyLit will:

1. Immediately remove the content from the platform;
2. Permanently ban the associated account with no possibility of reinstatement;
3. Report the content and any available identifying information to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) via the CyberTipline, as required by 18 U.S.C. § 2258A; and
4. Cooperate fully with any resulting law enforcement investigation.

This policy applies to written descriptions, implied references, and all other forms of content. The fictional nature of the content is not a defense under this policy or under applicable law.

7. Moderation and Enforcement

OnlyLit moderates content both reactively and proactively. Reactively, we review all reported content, with a target response time of 48 hours from the time of submission; for reports involving CSAM or imminent threats of violence, we respond immediately.

Proactively, in addition to user reports, a human moderator reviews a randomized sample of each author's published works to verify that they meet the standards set out in this policy, including the Creative-Fiction Standard above. These reviews are logged. Works found not to meet the standard are flagged for removal or re-tiering, and repeated or serious departures are handled through the enforcement actions below.

Enforcement actions include, in order of severity:

• Content removal — the specific post or content is removed and the Creator is notified;
• Warning — issued for first-time or minor violations;
• Temporary suspension — account access restricted for a defined period;
• Permanent termination — account permanently closed, typically for severe or repeated violations; and
• Reporting to authorities — mandatory for CSAM and certain other violations.

OnlyLit reserves the right to remove any content or terminate any account at its sole discretion, without prior notice, where it determines that this is necessary to protect users or the platform.

8. Reporting

All users — Creators and Subscribers — are encouraged to report content that may violate this policy. To submit a report:

• Use the Report button found on any post or profile page; or
• Email admin@onlylit.com with the relevant content URL and a description of your concern.

Reports submitted in good faith are kept confidential. We do not disclose the identity of reporters to the subject of a report. Abusive or false reports submitted in bad faith may themselves result in account action.

9. Appeals

Creators whose content has been removed or whose accounts have been suspended may submit an appeal within 30 days of the enforcement action. To appeal, email admin@onlylit.com with the subject line “Content Appeal” and include:

• Your account username;
• The content or action being appealed; and
• Your explanation of why you believe the enforcement action was in error.

Appeals are reviewed by OnlyLit moderation staff. We will respond within 14 business days. Appeals are not available for accounts terminated for CSAM violations. Our decision on appeal is final.

10. Contact

For content policy questions or concerns not covered by the report button, contact us at: