Direction, Not Scripts
Definition
The governing rule of Karmic's Community Leverage framework: a brand may invite people into its subreddit and give them reasons to participate, but must never tell them what to say, how to vote, or what conclusions to reach.
Context
The same line appears in the FTC's rule on consumer reviews and testimonials, which prohibits fake and misleading reviews. In practice, it rules out gift cards for participation, talking points, suggested replies, and requests for upvotes or specific opinions.
Relevance to Reddit
This rule is the line between community building and astroturfing. Following it protects a brand from Reddit enforcement and regulatory risk, and preserves the independence that makes member advocacy credible.
