Community Guidelines#

Last updated: 23 April 2026

Cranny is built by people who love discovering hidden gems — and it only works because of the community sharing them. These guidelines exist to keep things honest, respectful, and genuinely useful for everyone.

They apply to everything you submit: spots, traces, photos, descriptions, tags, and your profile.

What makes a great spot#

The best spots on Cranny are the ones you'd actually want to tell a friend about. A great spot has:

  • A clear, honest description — what is it, what makes it special, what should someone know before going?
  • Accurate coordinates — place the pin where someone actually needs to stand, not just nearby
  • Good photos — a photo that shows the real experience, taken by you or someone who gave you permission to share it
  • Relevant tags — helps others discover it through search and filters
  • Honest access info — if it's hard to find, seasonal, or has any quirks, mention it

Spot location#

Where you pin your spot matters. The map pin should mark the exact spot — the place where someone needs to stand to experience what you're sharing. Not the nearest parking spot, not the general area, not "close enough."

Be as accurate as possible. If you're pinning a viewpoint, put the pin at the viewpoint. If it's a bench, put it at the bench. If your photo was taken there, Cranny can read the GPS coordinates embedded in the image and suggest a location — just double-check it's right before confirming.

About proximity: Cranny enforces a minimum distance between spots to avoid clutter and duplicates. If another spot already exists very close to where you're pinning, you'll need to move the pin or reconsider whether a new spot is necessary.

Spot uniqueness#

Each spot on Cranny should represent a genuinely distinct place. This can be tricky when similar things are close together — here's how to think about it:

Generally, two things are separate spots if:

  • They offer different views, experiences, or angles
  • You'd want to visit one specifically, not just "the area"
  • They can't both be experienced from a single location

Generally, they're the same spot if:

  • It's the same object or feature at essentially the same location (e.g., two photos of the same bench from slightly different distances)
  • Adding a second spot would just be a duplicate with a different photo

Example: A row of benches at a viewpoint — the viewpoint is one spot. Each bench is not a separate spot. But a second viewpoint 100m away with a meaningfully different perspective? That's its own spot.

When in doubt, ask: would a newcomer benefit from both being listed separately, or would it just create confusion?

Traces#

Traces are updates attached to spots — a recent photo or short video showing what the spot looks like right now. They're not a second version of the spot; they're a window into the moment.

What makes a good trace:

  • Shows the spot as it currently is — the view, the light, the conditions
  • Adds something the original spot photos don't (a different season, a different time of day, an event happening there)
  • Is honest — don't post a trace from months ago as if it's current

What traces are not for:

  • Advertising or self-promotion
  • Unrelated content that doesn't show the spot
  • Repeated or nearly identical photos already in the spot

The same content rules that apply to spots apply to traces: no harmful content, no privacy violations, no content you don't have the rights to share.

Photos#

Photos bring spots to life, but please keep these in mind:

  • Only upload photos you took yourself or have explicit permission to share
  • Don't upload photos that contain identifiable people without their consent — especially children
  • Avoid photos that reveal private property details, security information, or anything that could cause harm
  • No watermarks, promotional material, or third-party logos unless they're incidental to the scene

A note on photo location data: When you select a photo from your library, Cranny may read the GPS coordinates stored in the image (if your camera recorded them) to suggest a spot location. This happens on your device — the raw photo metadata is never sent to our servers. Only the coordinates you confirm and submit are stored. If you'd rather not share location data from your photos, you can place the pin manually instead.

What's not allowed#

To keep Cranny safe and trustworthy, the following are not permitted:

  • Fake or fabricated spots — don't submit a spot that doesn't exist or that you haven't verified
  • Dangerous spots submitted without warning — if a spot involves real risk (unstable structures, restricted access, etc.), that must be clearly stated in the description
  • Private property without disclosure — if a spot is on private land or requires special permission to access, say so clearly. Don't encourage trespassing.
  • Harmful or offensive content — no hate speech, discriminatory content, threats, or material that targets individuals
  • Spam or self-promotion — spots exist to share genuine places, not to advertise businesses or services
  • Misleading information — don't misrepresent a location's safety, accessibility, or characteristics
  • Copyrighted content you don't own — photos, text, or other material you don't have the rights to share

Respect the place and the people#

When you visit a spot:

  • Leave it as you found it — don't damage, litter, or disturb the environment
  • Respect local rules and signage
  • Be mindful of other people at the location, especially in residential areas or places of cultural significance
  • Don't share access details for spots where increased traffic would cause harm (fragile ecosystems, private land, etc.)

Respect other community members#

  • Be constructive and kind in any community interactions
  • Don't harass, threaten, or target other users
  • Disagreements about spot quality are fine — personal attacks are not

Reporting content#

If you come across a spot, trace, photo, or any content that violates these guidelines, please report it. We review all reports and take appropriate action, which may include removing content or suspending accounts.

To report something, use the report button in the app or contact us at [email protected] with a description of the content and why you believe it violates these guidelines.

Moderation process#

We review all reports and take action based on the severity and nature of the violation. Here's how it works:

  • Review timeline — We aim to review all reports within 7 days of submission. Complex cases may take longer.
  • Possible actions — Depending on the situation, we may: remove the reported content, issue a warning to the user, temporarily suspend the account, or permanently terminate the account.
  • Notification — We will notify both the reporter and the content owner of the outcome of a moderation decision where appropriate.
  • Appeals — If you believe a moderation decision was made in error, you can appeal by contacting us at [email protected] with a description of the content and why you believe the decision was incorrect. We will review your appeal and respond within 14 days.
  • Contact — For any questions about content moderation, reach out at [email protected]. This is also our single point of contact for moderation-related inquiries.

Enforcement#

We reserve the right to remove any content that violates these guidelines, with or without notice. Repeated or serious violations may result in account suspension or permanent termination.

These guidelines are part of our Terms of Service. If something isn't covered here, our Terms apply.

Questions?#

If you're unsure whether something is okay to post, err on the side of caution or reach out at [email protected] — we're happy to help.

Community Guidelines | Cranny