Child Safety Policy

At sideq., the safety of our users, especially children and minors, is our highest priority. HK Media GmbH, the publisher of sideq., is committed to maintaining a safe, positive, and supportive environment for all users. This Child Safety Policy outlines our approach to protecting minors on our platform.

1. Age Requirements

sideq. is designed for users aged 13 and older. We take the following measures to enforce this requirement:

• Users must provide their date of birth during registration
• We verify that users meet the minimum age requirement before account creation
• Accounts created by users under 13 will be terminated upon discovery
• We comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and similar international regulations
• In jurisdictions where a higher age of consent applies (e.g., 16 under GDPR), we require parental consent for users below that age

2. Content Moderation

We maintain strict content moderation policies to protect all users:

Prohibited Content

The following content is strictly prohibited on sideq.:

• Any content that sexualizes, exploits, or endangers minors
• Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) or any related content
• Content depicting or promoting harm to children
• Grooming behavior or inappropriate contact with minors
• Bullying, harassment, or intimidation targeting any user
• Violent, graphic, or disturbing content
• Content promoting self-harm or dangerous activities
• Hate speech or discrimination

Moderation Practices

• All user-generated content is subject to review
• We use a combination of automated systems and human moderators
• Reported content is reviewed within 24 hours
• Violating content is removed immediately upon detection
• Users who post prohibited content face immediate account suspension or termination

3. Reporting Mechanisms

We provide multiple ways for users to report concerning content or behavior:

In-App Reporting

• Every piece of content has a report button accessible through the options menu
• Users can report other users directly from their profile
• Reports can be submitted anonymously
• Specific categories are available for child safety concerns

Direct Contact

For urgent child safety concerns, contact us directly:

• Email: [email protected]
• All child safety reports are treated with the highest priority
• Reports involving potential harm to children are escalated immediately

4. Law Enforcement Cooperation

We work closely with law enforcement agencies to protect children:

• We report all discovered CSAM to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) as required by law
• We cooperate fully with law enforcement investigations related to child safety
• We preserve relevant data when legally required for investigations
• We proactively share information with authorities when a child's safety is at risk
• We comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding child protection

5. Safety Features

sideq. includes several features designed to protect users:

Privacy Controls

• Users can set their account to private, requiring approval for followers
• Users can control who can send them direct messages
• Users can block other users at any time
• Private account content is not visible to non-followers

Communication Safety

• Direct messaging can be restricted to followers only
• Users can delete messages and conversations
• Inappropriate messages can be reported directly from the chat

Content Controls

• Users can delete their own content at any time
• Comment sections can be disabled on submissions
• Users can hide comments they find inappropriate

6. Data Protection for Minors

We take extra precautions with data belonging to users under 18:

• We collect only the minimum data necessary to provide our service
• We do not sell personal data of any users, including minors
• We do not serve targeted advertising based on personal data
• We do not share minor's personal data with third parties except as required to operate the service
• Parents or guardians may request access to or deletion of their child's data by contacting us

7. Education and Awareness

We believe in empowering users with knowledge about online safety:

• Our Community Guidelines clearly explain acceptable behavior
• We provide in-app tips about privacy and safety features
• We encourage users to report any suspicious or uncomfortable interactions
• We recommend that parents discuss online safety with their children

8. Parental Guidance

We encourage parents and guardians to:

• Talk to your children about their online activities and who they interact with
• Review the privacy settings on your child's account together
• Encourage your child to come to you if they encounter anything uncomfortable
• Consider setting the account to private for added protection
• Contact us immediately if you have any concerns about your child's safety on sideq.

9. Enforcement Actions

Violations of our child safety policies result in immediate action:

• Content Removal - Violating content is removed immediately
• Account Suspension - Accounts involved in violations are suspended pending review
• Permanent Ban - Serious violations result in permanent account termination
• Law Enforcement Reporting - Criminal violations are reported to appropriate authorities
• Device Bans - In severe cases, we may ban devices from accessing our service

10. Continuous Improvement

We are committed to continuously improving our child safety measures:

• We regularly review and update our safety policies and practices
• We invest in new technologies to detect and prevent harmful content
• We stay informed about emerging online safety threats
• We welcome feedback from users, parents, and experts to improve our safety measures

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this policy or need to report a child safety concern:

For urgent child safety concerns:
[email protected]

For general inquiries:
[email protected]

Publisher:
HK MEDIA GmbH
Kirchenstraße 10
25335 Elmshorn
Germany