Home: FAQ: What is meant by "flags" and "flagging"?

 

Craigslist offers free and nearly instantaneous self-publishing for classified ads for tens of millions of user postings each month. They are subject only to our Terms of Use and other posted guidelines.

The Craigslist flagging system allows Craigslist users to mark inappropriate postings for speedy removal while at the same time preserving everyone's ability to express themselves freely and in a timely fashion.

By using the flagging feature located at the upper right corner of each post, you can take action if you feel a posting is inappropriate, by clicking on:

• miscategorized - wrong category/site, discusses another ad, otherwise misplaced
• prohibited - violates craigslist Terms of Use or other posted guidelines
• spam/overpost - posted too frequently, in multiple cities/categories, or is too commercial

If a post receives enough negative flags it will automatically be removed (only one flag per person per post is counted).

Posters whose postings are repeatedly flagged are subject to staff review and additional remedial measures.

You can also nominate funny or memorable postings for inclusion in "Best of Craigslist".

Millions of postings are removed through community flagging each month, and of these we consistently find that 98-99% are in violation of the craigslist terms of use or other posted guidelines.

No moderation system is perfect, and 1-2% of ads removed through flagging are within our terms of use--but without the flagging system, craigslist would quickly become unusable.

If your ad has been flagged off and you'd like help figuring out why, visit our flag help forum and provide the appropriate information about your posting to the helpful volunteers there.

Flagged postings that meet our guidelines and Terms of Use may be reposted, reworded as necessary.

Posted diatribes against flagging tend to get flagged off quickly.