How Sharely moderates submissions

1. The Importance of Moderation in Community Directories

Open web directories face a constant challenge: maintaining high directory quality without restricting legitimate creator expression. Unmoderated platforms quickly deteriorate into link spam farms filled with broken URLs, affiliate redirects, and deceptive phishing traps.

Sharely (read overview) maintains strict quality controls through a human-centric moderation pipeline (automated safety scanning guide). This article provides full transparency into how moderation decisions are made.

2. Automated Safety Verification

Every link submitted on Sharely is scanned instantly by our automated safety engine:

• Instant Result: The link undergoes real-time SSRF-safe checks, HTTPS verification, malware/phishing domain scanning, and adult content screening.
• Approved (`approved`): Clean, safe links are published immediately to the Explore Grid and receive their dedicated showcase page.
• Rejected (`rejected`): Submissions violating content safety guidelines are blocked instantly with clear warning feedback.

3. What Moderators Check During Review

Sharely community moderators follow a standardized checklist when reviewing pending submissions:

1. Destination Accessibility

Moderators verify that the target URL resolves to an active, accessible website (`200 OK`) and is not parked, dead, or throwing server error codes (`404`, `500`).

2. Title & Description Representation

Moderators compare the submitted title and description against the actual destination page content. Submissions with deceptive or clickbait slogans ("Win a Free iPhone Now!") are rejected or flagged for title updates.

3. Content Safety Compliance

Submissions must adhere to Sharely's Content Policy. Prohibited categories include malware/virus downloads, phishing credentials forms, illegal copyright infringement, hate speech, adult explicit content, and deceptive financial scams.

4. Rejection Reasons & The Appeals Process

If your submission is rejected, don't worry! Common rejection reasons include minor metadata typos, temporary destination server downtime, or incorrect category selection.

Submitters can update their link details from their creator dashboard or file a formal review request via our Appeals Portal. Appeals are re-evaluated within 24 hours.

5. Conclusion and Next Steps

Sharely's moderation standards protect creators and visitors alike. Ready to share your link? Submit your project today on our Link Submission Form.