Substack's Reply Rules let creators control how people respond

Substack announced a new feature called "Reply Rules" that lets creators set guidelines for comments on posts, in Notes, or in Chat. Rules can ask readers to eliminate AI slop or profanity, or require replies only in haiku form. Reply Rules are available for all English-language publications.

The system learns from creators' actions, such as when they hide replies, and will automatically filter comments that do not match those preferences. Creators keep visibility over hidden replies and can unhide them later. The feature may reduce the need to sift through every comment manually.

Substack has pursued a decentralized moderation model, leaving writers responsible for policing their own communities. Creators already have tools to lock posts or threads, delete comments, and ban or suspend users when necessary. The platform has faced criticism over its moderation practices, particularly around far-right newsletters, with critics saying a more lenient approach allows harmful rhetoric to thrive.

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