Survivor’s Group Chat (Facebook): Information, rules & guidelines
This document, the ‘Survivor’s Group Chat’ (Facebook): Information, rules & guidelines’ was last updated on 13.01.2025.
General
Facebook really is the “OG” of the social media platforms and although it may seem like Instagram, TikTok, X and Threads have taken over the scene, let’s take a look at some pretty cool features that sets Facebook apart from the other apps! And while we’re at it, let’s clarify the rules.
Why we’ve chosen Facebook for our ‘Survivor’s Group Chat’
1. Privacy and controlled access
This private group chat requires approval by our administrator1before group membership, ensuring that only trusted members are a part of this community. Additionally, members’ posts within the group are first approved by our admins before being published, thereby ensuring that nothing offensive, inappropriate or in violation of our Community Guidelines is circulated within the community. Members can also choose to post anonymously if they wish to do so. Conversations and shared content within the group are not visible to non-members or anyone outside the group. Additionally, nobody outside the group can see who is a member of the group.
2. Content monitoring and safety
Our trusted and board approved admins (Beyond Surviving) monitor, approve, remove and disapprove posts and members. No one else has this authority.
3. Rules
All members who are approved by our admins must agree to comply with Beyond Surviving’s Community Guidelines, Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions and the rules set out for the group prior to joining the group.
Group rules:
4. Ease of use and accessibility
Most people are familiar with Facebook and it’s widely accessible over many devices (phone, laptop, iPad, etc.)
5. Fosters community and connection
In addition to communicating with the members of this private group as a whole, members can also connect one-to-one with fellow members within the group more privately, using the private messaging function.
Security and privacy advice
We understand that for many victim-survivors of DSGBVA, anonymity is a significant concern. We also recognise that for some, living with abuse, violence, or the threat of it is an all-too-real reality. Connecting with others who understand can be incredibly healing and supportive, especially during difficult times.
To help maintain your privacy and security, we recommend turning off notifications and alerts for the group chat on your device. This ensures that only you can view the messages and access support in private, at a time that works for you.
This precaution can help prevent others from accidentally seeing the group chat popping up on your device and asking unwanted questions. This safe space is for you—your healing, your wellbeing, your growth and your connection with others who have similar lived experiences.
Need further support? If you or someone you know needs to contact a rape crisis centre, SATU, domestic abuse service, or another relevant service, you will find a list of such services by scrolling down to the bottom of The Survivor’s Hub on our Website.
Joining the group chat
To request membership to our group chat and connect with fellow survivors and victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and abuse (DSGBVA), click on the link “Survivor’s Group Chat” in the The Survivor’s Hub of our Website www.beyondsurviving.ie. Our admins will either approve or disapprove your membership.
Beyond Surviving reserves the right to approve or deny membership at our sole discretion. Some of the reasons for denying membership include:
● We suspect the account is spam or has been flagged as potential spam.
● The account displays content that contradicts the group’s values or mission.
● The account has been reported for inappropriate or harmful behavior elsewhere or in other groups.
● We detect activity suggesting the account is associated with harassment or trolling.
● The account has not satisfied our criteria when answering the membership questions.
● The account did not answer all membership questions or did not answer all membership questions within one hour of initiating the membership request.
● The account has been reported or flagged by other groups or individuals.
● The account contains inappropriate, harmful, or irrelevant content.
Beyond Surviving is not required to explain its membership decisions. Beyond Surviving reserves the right to deny membership or remove membership to the group.
Rules, guidelines & terms
If you have been admitted to the group chat—welcome! Beyond Surviving is passionate about connecting survivors and victims of DSGBVA with one another and facilitating the building of meaningful relationships with others who have similar lived experiences. As a group member and a user of our Website, you should be aware of what is expected of you and your behaviour towards others. You, as a group chat member and a user of our Website are subject to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy, as per ‘the Agreement’, and you also agree to comply and abide by our Community Guidelines and follow the rules set in the best interest of the community we endeavour to create. You also confirm that you are at least 18 years of age.
Rules to be followed
1. Be kind and courteous
Kindness isn’t just free here—it’s required and expected of everyone!
Please treat everyone with respect, courtesy, fairness and acceptance. As a basic rule of thumb; if you wouldn’t like it said to you, don’t say it to anyone else. We don’t tolerate unkindness and you will be removed from the group.
2. Do not identify anyone other than yourself
Do not post any information that may identify someone else. Posts that contain identifiable information about accused persons, perpetrators or someone else will not be published. If you yourself choose to post publicly, that’s fine, but do not reveal anyone else’s identity and respect everyone’s right to remain anonymous. Additionally, remember that by Irish law, people have a right to their good name. This right is protected by defamation law. ‘Review Guidelines’ are available upon request.
3. Respect everyone’s privacy & anonymity
Being part of this group requires mutual trust. Authentic, expressive discussions make groups great, but may also be sensitive and private. What’s shared in the group must stay in the group. Maintaining one’s anonymity is a common concern for victims-survivors of DSGBVA so bare this in mind. Everyone has the right to post anonymously. Do not seek to name or identify anyone in your posts. Do not engage in speculation or gossip. It will not be tolerated or published in this group!
4. You must be 18 years old or above
You must be 18 years old or above to request membership and join this Group Chat. By requesting membership, you confirm you age to us as being at least 18 years of age and agree to comply with Beyond Surviving’s Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy & Community Guidelines.
5. No stories of sexual violence or child sexual abuse
We don’t publish stories of sexual violence (please visit We-Speak.ie instead), or stories related to child sexual abuse, of any nature, both current and historic. If your post relates to child sexual abuse, and contains identifiable information about yourself or another person and contains child protection or welfare concerns then we have a duty to report such concerns.
6. No hate speech or bullying
We do not tolerate hate-speech, bullying, actively blaming survivors or encouraging violence or hatred. Do not make any degrading or offensive comments about things such as race, age, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender or identity, disability or disease, etc. No one likes a bully. You and your posts will be removed from the group.
7. No promotions or spam
Self-promotion, spam and irrelevant links aren’t allowed and won’t be published. However, if you do have recommendations for fellow survivors, such as a great healing or wellness activity, then please share with us and spread the word!
8. Related content
Your posts, messages and user-generated content (UGC) must relate to exploring and nurturing the healing journey, wellbeing and personal growth in relation to recovering from domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and abuse. As set out in our ‘Community Guidelines’ (section 3), Beyond Surviving is intended for exploring, nurturing and openly discussing the healing journey, wellbeing and personal growth, and the experiences, learnings, discoveries, knowledge and insights that survivors and victims of DSGBVA, as well as their supporters, have gained along their journey to healing, wellbeing and recovery (for more information, please refer back to point 3.4 and 3.5 of our ‘Community Guidelines’). That means that our community is not for sharing and discussing your story and detailed experience of abuse and violence ‘in detail’. To share your story of sexual violence, please visit We-Speak instead.
9. Rights & waiver
Our admins reserve the right to disapprove membership and posts. We reserve the right to remove content and members from the group, should they be in breach of defamation law, or any of our other policies and guidelines. By being a member of this group, you explicitly express your understanding and agreement to these rules. We are not obliged to inform you of our decisions which are made in the best interests of this community and its members.
10. By using Beyond Surviving’s Website & Facebook Group Chat:
You confirm you have read, understand and agree to Beyond Surviving’s:
By continuing to use our Website and this Facebook Group Chat, we assume you have read, understand and agree to our above mentioned policies, terms and guidelines. You also confirm you are 18 years of age or above.
Monitoring of content
Beyond Surviving’s admins will approve and/ or disapprove of membership requests to our group chat before they are admitted to the group. Beyond Surviving’s admins will approve and/ or disapprove of members’ posts to our group chat before they are published to the group. Beyond Surviving reserves the right to remove any members and/ or members’ posts/ UGC from the group at any time, but particularly to protect the safety of those who use the group chat and engage with and use this community. Beyond Surviving is not required to explain any decisions we make regarding the group chat and its members and can approve, disapprove and remove members and posts at our sole discretion without the need to notify or explain. Beyond Surviving admins will continuously monitor the group chat and its content/ messages to ensure that all members are abiding by the ‘Community Guidelines’, rules, guidelines, terms and policies. Should it be concluded that members are not complying with such rules, guidelines, terms and policies, this may result in member suspension and content removal with no notice or explaination required.
Violations
If we conclude that you are violating our rules, guidelines, terms and conditions, and policies, either on our Website or other Services and resources which have been made available by us, your user-generated content (UGC) will not be published on the Beyond Surviving Website or the ‘Survivor’s Group Chat’ or any other communication channels we may use, and you, along with your submitted messages/ submissions/ UGC will be removed from the group. We do our best to ensure fair outcomes, but in all cases we reserve the right to not post, publish or remove UGC or restrict your access, for any reason, but particularly to protect survivors and victims and the community. For further details on our review processes, you can request to view a copy of our ‘Review Guidelines’ by contacting us at: info@beyondsurviving.ie
Repeat violations may result in permanent suspension. You can report violations of these guidelines to us directly by emailing us at: info@beyondsurviving.ie
Disclaimer
Beyond Surviving reserves the right to amend, remove and add to this document and the rules, guidelines and procedures set out in this document should we deem it necessary and without the requirement to provide notice. It is our utmost priority to protect and safeguard all users and those who engage with our Website, Content, the Beyond Surviving community, this group chat, and our Service offerings, as well as to protect our Website, Content, this community, this group chat and our Service offerings. We reserve the right to enforce, or not enforce, these guidelines in our sole discretion, and these guidelines don’t create a duty or contractual obligation for us to act in any particular manner.
When using Facebook or accessing and clicking on any external links, ‘Linked Sites’ and third-party sites which have been made available by us, such as social media platforms, you confirm your understanding that you are leaving our Website and entering global social networking platforms. Please be aware that your anonymity is not maintained or protected by us when you engage with and use such social media platforms. It is every individual’s responsibility to maintain and protect their own anonymity (should they wish) when leaving our Website including leaving our Website through any social media links and ‘Linked Sites’ made available by us.
You also understand that you are subject to the third-party’s terms and conditions, privacy policies and any other policies and terms they have in place.
Further information
Facebook’s terms and policies can be found on their website here: