Community Rules

Complementary to Terms and Conditions v1.0 and Privacy Policy v1.0
Effective Date: August 12, 2026 · Version 1.0

NOTE: These Community Rules are a companion document to the tapus Terms and Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy. Terms defined in those documents carry the same meaning here. Where conflict exists between documents, the Terms and Conditions prevail.

A Letter to Our Community

Something extraordinary is possible when human beings decide to trust each other.

tapus was born from a simple and ancient truth: every person on earth has something to give. A skill, a talent, a spare hour, a homemade meal, a willingness to help. And every person on earth has something they need. What has always been missing is not the will to exchange – it is the structure to make it happen… safely, fairly, and at scale.

We built tapus to be that structure.

These Community Rules are not just a list of things you cannot do. They are a declaration of what tapus is built to be – a place of reciprocity, dignity, safety, and genuine human connection. A platform where your goodness is the currency. Where a guitar lesson, a birthday cake, a ride to the doctor, or an hour of patient listening can change someone's week, their month, their year.

We believe that when people with good hearts show up for each other – consistently, honestly, generously – they create something more powerful than money. They create community. And community, as it turns out, is the most valuable thing in the world.

The sky is the limit for what tapus can become. Every exchange you make is a vote for a world that works differently.

Welcome.
– team tapus

Section 1: The Tapus Pledge

Every Tapper who joins tapus implicitly makes a pledge to the community. By creating an account and participating in exchanges, you agree to uphold the following commitments:

01 - I will show up as my real self.

I will create an honest profile, represent my skills truthfully, and be the person I say I am – online and in person.

02 - I will give generously.

I understand that tapus runs on reciprocity. The more I offer, the more the whole community flourishes. I will bring my best to every exchange.

03 - I will receive graciously.

I will honor the time, skill, and effort of every Tapper who helps me. I will leave honest reviews and acknowledge the value of what I receive.

04 - I will communicate openly.

I will respond promptly, be clear about what I offer and need, and give enough notice if I need to cancel or reschedule.

05 - I will keep this community safe.

I commit to the safety and dignity of every Tapper – especially women and those who may be more vulnerable in local exchanges.

06 - I will act with integrity.

I will never deceive, manipulate, or exploit another Tapper. I will honor the spirit of every exchange, not just its minimum requirements.

07 - I will help tapus grow.

I understand that I am a founding part of something new. My behavior helps define what tapus becomes. I will be the kind of Tapper I hope to meet.

Section 2: The Spirit of Reciprocity

tapus is built on reciprocity – the ancient, universal principle that generosity begets generosity. This is not a marketplace where you can take without giving. The charm system is designed to reflect this: you must first give before you can receive. This is intentional. It is the foundation of everything tapus stands for.

"give what you have. receive what you need."

2.1 What Reciprocity Means in Practice

Complete exchanges you commit to. Your word is your currency on tapus. Backing out without good reason undermines the whole ecosystem.
Bring your real skill and real effort. A half-hearted exchange is a broken promise. Tappers are counting on each other.
Reviews are reciprocal. Leave them honestly and promptly. They help the whole community make better decisions.
If you cannot complete an exchange, communicate as early as possible. Respect for another person's time is one of the most generous gifts you can give.
Do not hoard charms. The charm system is designed to keep value moving. Participating freely and generously is what makes tapus work.

2.2 A New Form of Currency

Money has long been the gatekeeper of access. On tapus, human skill, time, creativity, and care replace it. This is not simply an exchange of goods and services – it is the beginning of a parallel economy built on what people can do rather than what they can pay.

We ask every Tapper to hold this vision seriously. When you offer a guitar lesson, bake a cake, give someone a ride, or sit with someone who is lonely, you are not just completing a transaction. You are demonstrating that the world can work differently. That there is enough to go around. That connection is currency.

This is radical. And it only works if every Tapper chooses to participate with an open heart.

Section 3: Women-First Safety and Trust

tapus was designed from day one with women's safety as a foundational principle, not an afterthought. This means our platform architecture, our community rules, and our enforcement practices are all shaped by the reality that women – and others who may be more vulnerable in face-to-face interactions – deserve a higher standard of safety than most platforms provide.

COMMITMENT: tapus operates under a women-first safety design. This means when any enforcement decision involves the safety of a woman or other vulnerable Tapper, we err firmly on the side of protection. No exception.

3.1 What Women-First Safety Means for All Tappers

Women-first safety design does not mean that men or other Tappers are less valued. It means that we acknowledge the statistical reality of gender-based risk in face-to-face interactions and build our platform to actively counteract it. Every Tapper benefits from a safer community.

All Tappers must respect the right of any Tapper – especially women – to cancel, decline, or end any exchange at any time for any reason, without explanation or consequence.
Romantic, sexual, or flirtatious communication of any kind is strictly prohibited on tapus unless both Tappers have mutually, explicitly, and voluntarily initiated it outside the exchange context. Even then, such communication must never be used to pressure, coerce, or manipulate.
Physical boundaries must be explicitly respected at all times during in-person exchanges. "I would prefer we keep this professional" is always enough. No means no. Always.
Unsolicited contact outside the Platform – including showing up uninvited at a Tapper's home or workplace – is grounds for immediate account termination.
Any Tapper who is made to feel unsafe, pressured, or uncomfortable during an exchange should end it immediately and report it. tapus will act swiftly.

3.2 Safety Reporting for Women and Vulnerable Tappers

tapus maintains a dedicated safety reporting pathway for Tappers who experience or witness gender-based harassment, intimidation, unwanted contact, or any behavior that makes them feel unsafe. Reports are treated with urgency, confidentiality, and zero tolerance.

Report safety concerns immediately at: support@tapus.co
All safety reports are reviewed within 24 hours
Accounts found to have engaged in any behavior that compromises another Tapper's safety or dignity will be suspended immediately pending investigation
Substantiated reports of harassment, stalking, physical intimidation, or sexual misconduct result in permanent account termination with no appeal

3.3 Guidance for Safe In-Person Exchanges

While tapus cannot guarantee the safety of any in-person exchange, we strongly recommend the following for all Tappers, especially when meeting someone for the first time:

Meet in a well-lit, public place for initial exchanges with unfamiliar Tappers
Share your exchange details – location, time, and the Tapper name you are meeting – with a trusted friend or family member before you go
Trust your instincts completely. If something feels wrong, it is wrong. Leave.
You are never obligated to complete an exchange that makes you feel unsafe, regardless of charm commitments or social pressure
Consider bringing a companion to in-person exchanges with unfamiliar Tappers, especially for first meetings

Section 4: Honesty, Integrity and Authentic Representation

4.1 Your Profile Must Be Truthful

Your tapus profile is your word. Everything on it – your name, your photo, your skills, your location, your reviews – must be accurate and honest. The entire tapus community depends on being able to trust what they see.

Use your real first name and a recent, accurate profile photo
Only list skills and services you are genuinely able to provide at the standard described
Do not exaggerate qualifications, experience, or abilities
If you hold a professional qualification relevant to your offer, you may state it, but do not imply you hold qualifications you do not
Keep your location accurate. Misrepresenting your location to gain access to exchanges you could not otherwise participate in is deceptive.

4.2 Your Offers Must Reflect Reality

What you list on tapus must be something you can actually do, make, or provide at the quality implied.

Descriptions must accurately reflect what you are offering
Photos of your work must be your own actual work, not stock images or the work of others
If your availability changes, update your listings promptly
Do not list services that require professional licensing you do not hold – see Section 6

4.3 Communicate Honestly About Scope

The tapus Offer Card system exists to protect both Tappers in an exchange. Use it. A clear, honest Offer Card – describing what will be done, by when, at what standard – prevents misunderstandings and builds trust.

Agree on the scope of your exchange before it begins, in writing via the Platform
If the scope needs to change, discuss it openly and update the Offer Card before proceeding
Do not agree to a scope you know you cannot fulfil in order to secure the exchange

4.4 Reviews Must Be Genuine

Only leave a review for an exchange you actually participated in
Reviews must reflect your genuine experience
Offering or requesting incentives for positive reviews is prohibited
Retaliatory negative reviews are prohibited
tapus may remove reviews that appear to be fake, incentivized, or retaliatory

Section 5: Decency, Respect and Human Dignity

5.1 How We Expect Tappers to Treat Each Other

Speak to other Tappers with courtesy and kindness in all Platform communications
Respect differences in culture, background, language, religion, age, ability, gender identity, and sexual orientation
Disagreements happen – handle them calmly, privately, and constructively
If an exchange does not go as hoped, raise it through the Platform dispute process rather than publicly shaming the other Tapper
Assume good faith. Most misunderstandings are exactly that.

5.2 Prohibited Language and Behaviour

The following are strictly prohibited in all Platform communications, listings, profiles, and reviews:

Hate speech, slurs, or any language that demeans a person based on their identity
Threats, intimidation, or language designed to make another Tapper feel unsafe
Harassment – including repeated unwanted contact after a Tapper has asked you to stop
Discriminatory behavior – refusing exchanges based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, age, or sexual orientation
Bullying, mockery, or deliberate humiliation of any Tapper
Doxing – sharing another Tapper's personal information without their consent
Any language or behavior that a reasonable person would find threatening, degrading, or hostile

5.3 No Place for Prejudice

tapus is a global community. Its power grows with every culture, language, and background that joins it. Prejudice, in any form, is not only prohibited, it is antithetical to everything tapus stands for.

Section 6: Prohibited Conduct and Offers

The following categories of conduct, offers, and exchanges are strictly prohibited on tapus. Violations may result in immediate account suspension or permanent termination.

6.1 Strictly Prohibited at All Times

Sexual solicitation or the exchange of sexual services in any form
Offers or requests involving illegal goods, substances, or activities
Any exchange that involves or targets a minor (under 18)
Impersonating another person, real or fictional, on the Platform
Creating multiple accounts to circumvent account actions or accumulate charms dishonestly
Using the Platform to recruit Tappers into multi-level marketing, pyramid schemes, or commercial sales
Soliciting money, payment, or monetary compensation of any kind from another Tapper in connection with an exchange
Sharing or distributing any other Tapper's personal information without their express consent
Using tapus to organize or promote political campaigns, commercial advertising, or fundraising
Threatening, blackmailing, or extorting any Tapper

6.2 Prohibited Offers Requiring Professional Licensing

Certain services are regulated by law and may only be performed by licensed professionals. Tappers may not offer the following unless they hold the required professional license in their jurisdiction and clearly state that license number in their listing:

Medical diagnosis, treatment, prescription, or health advice of any clinical nature
Legal advice, legal representation, or the preparation of legal documents
Structural engineering, electrical wiring, plumbing installation (where a licensed tradesperson is required by law)
Financial advice, investment management, or tax preparation (where regulated)
Childcare or babysitting where a license or background check is legally required
Any service that requires a government-issued permit, license, or certification that the Tapper does not hold

Where a Tapper holds a relevant professional license, they may offer those services on tapus, provided they clearly state their credentials. When in doubt, consult your professional regulator before listing.

6.3 Platform Integrity

Do not attempt to circumvent the charm system or engage in any form of charm manipulation or fraud
Do not use automated tools, bots, or scripts to interact with the Platform
Do not scrape, copy, or harvest data from tapus for any purpose
Do not attempt to reverse-engineer, hack, or disrupt the Platform or its infrastructure
Do not use the Platform to conduct surveillance on other Tappers

Section 7: Caring for Each Other

7.1 Look Out for Fellow Tappers

If you notice a Tapper appearing distressed, confused, or vulnerable during an exchange, check in with them
If you suspect a Tapper is being taken advantage of or in a concerning situation, report it to support@tapus.co immediately
If you receive communications or encounter behavior that seems designed to exploit, manipulate, or harm, report it
If a new Tapper seems to misunderstand how the platform works, help them gently

7.2 Be Patient with Each Other

tapus brings together people of many backgrounds, ages, comfort levels with technology, and experience with exchange platforms. Patience is a form of generosity. Offer it freely.

7.3 Welcome the New

The founding Tappers of tapus have an extraordinary responsibility. The culture you create in these early days will shape what tapus becomes for millions of people. Be the kind of community you wish existed. Welcome new Tappers warmly. Mentor those who are uncertain.

7.4 Celebrate What Makes Us Different

tapus is explicitly global. Its power is that a person in Trumansburg, New York can eventually exchange with a person in Tokyo, Lagos, or Buenos Aires. The skills, cultures, foods, crafts, languages, and perspectives that Tappers bring to this community are its greatest asset.

Section 8: The Global Vision – A World Without Cash Barriers

"The sky is the limit for Tappers with goodness in their heart."

Money, for all its utility, has always been a gatekeeper. Access to skills, services, goods, and connection has historically been determined by how much of it you have. tapus exists to disrupt that – not with technology alone, but with the collective decision of human beings to value what they can do over what they can pay.

Every exchange on tapus is a small act of economic revolution. When a retired teacher in Spain tutors a teenager who cannot afford lessons, and receives help assembling furniture in return, both walk away richer than money could have made them.

We believe that Tappers who bring goodness – honesty, generosity, patience, care – to every exchange will be the ones who help tapus grow into something the world has genuinely never seen: a global, community-owned economy where human value is the only currency that matters.

These Community Rules exist to protect that vision. Thank you for being part of it.

Section 9: Content Standards

9.1 What You Post Reflects the Community

Listings must be clear, accurate, and written in good faith
Photos must be your own, accurate representations of what you are offering
Messages must be respectful and relevant to the exchange being discussed
Profiles must represent who you genuinely are

9.2 Prohibited Content

Nudity, sexually explicit material, or content of a sexual nature
Violent, graphic, or disturbing imagery
Hate speech or content that targets any group based on protected characteristics
Misinformation about products, services, qualifications, or identity
Content that infringes the intellectual property rights of any third party
Commercial advertising or promotional content for businesses or products
Spam – including unsolicited mass messaging, repeated identical listings, or irrelevant content
Any content that violates applicable law in any jurisdiction

9.3 Content Moderation

tapus moderates content through human review, and soon to add an automated system. We operate a reactive moderation model supplemented by proactive monitoring of flagged accounts. Tappers are encouraged to use the Report function. All reports are reviewed within 48 hours, with urgent safety reports reviewed within 24 hours.

Section 10: Resolving Disagreements

10.1 Resolve Directly First

Message the other Tapper directly through the Platform to explain your concern
Give the other Tapper reasonable time to respond – at least 48 hours
Approach the conversation with curiosity rather than accusation
Propose a concrete resolution that works for both of you

10.2 Escalating to Tapus

If direct resolution is not possible or the issue involves a potential violation of these Community Rules, escalate by emailing support@tapus.co with your account name and the other Tapper's, a clear factual description, relevant evidence, and the resolution you are seeking. tapus will acknowledge receipt within 48 hours and aim to resolve standard disputes within 10 business days. Safety-related disputes are handled with priority.

10.3 Tapus's Role in Disputes

tapus is not a party to exchanges between Tappers. Our role in dispute resolution is that of a good-faith mediator. We review evidence from both parties and make a recommendation, but cannot legally compel either party to comply. Our enforcement tools are limited to Platform actions including warnings, charm adjustments, listing removal, and account suspension or termination.

Section 11: Enforcement and Consequences

tapus applies a progressive enforcement model for most violations, with immediate action for serious or safety-related breaches:

Written Warning: first or minor violation with no harm to another Tapper. Notification with guidance, recorded on your account.
Listing Removal: content or listing violates Community Rules. The relevant listing is removed, you are notified with the reason.
Temporary Suspension: repeated minor violations, moderate violations, or unresolved disputes. Access suspended 7-30 days, charms preserved, appeal process available.
Charm Adjustment: charm manipulation, fraudulent exchange completion, or abuse of the charm system. Balance corrected to reflect genuine exchange history.
Permanent Termination: serious violations including harassment, fraud, safety breaches, prohibited conduct. Account permanently closed, charms forfeited, no appeal for safety-related terminations.
Immediate Termination: sexual misconduct, violence, stalking, child safety violation, or criminal activity. Immediate permanent closure, reported to law enforcement where legally required.

11.1 The Right to Appeal

Tappers who receive a warning, listing removal, or temporary suspension may appeal within 14 days by emailing support@tapus.co with a clear explanation. tapus will respond within 10 business days. There is no right of appeal for immediate or permanent terminations related to safety, sexual misconduct, violence, child safety, or criminal activity. The safety of our community is not subject to negotiation.

11.2 Tapus Reserves Final Judgment

tapus reserves the right to take any enforcement action it deems appropriate at its sole discretion, at any time, for any conduct it determines to be harmful to the community or in violation of applicable law. Not every harmful behavior can be anticipated in a written document. We ask Tappers to use good judgment, and we will use ours.

Section 12: Updates to These Rules

tapus will update these Community Rules as the platform grows. We are committed to consulting with our community before making material changes.

Material changes will be notified to all Tappers by email and Platform notification at least 14 days before they take effect
Minor clarifications and additions may be made without prior notice
The current version is always available at tapus.co/community-rules
Continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Rules

We welcome feedback on these rules. If you believe a rule is unclear, unfair, or missing something important, tell us at hello@tapus.co.