Comment Moderation Rules

Substack Introduced Its Reply Rules To Automate Comment Standards

Substack launched Reply Rules, a moderation feature that gives individual writers greater control over discussions by letting them publish brief guidance for replies, paired with AI-assisted moderation that learns from hidden responses. The system applies to comments on posts, Notes and Chat, ensuring readers see an author's rules before submitting a reply.

Writers can set plain-language instructions such as “stay on topic” or “no AI slop,” as well as more creative participation guidelines. Substack said the feature learns from moderation actions taken by authors and can automatically hide future replies it predicts would violate those preferences. The company did not disclose detailed information about how the underlying system operates.

For creators, Reply Rules reduces repetitive moderation work while helping maintain the tone and quality of community discussions. For readers, visible participation guidelines provide clearer expectations around engagement. The launch reflects a broader trend toward author-led, AI-assisted moderation tools that give creators more direct control over online conversations.

Open at source ↗