I Used to Be the Digital Police.

I always get a reaction when I tell people I used to be the digital police of TikTok.

But that's honestly one of the easiest ways to explain the work.

For five years, I worked in Trust & Safety, including work involving misinformation, disinformation, platform integrity, and community guidelines.

So when somebody tells me their content was flagged, or they don't understand why something got removed, I look at it differently.

A lot of people approach social media from the creative side. They're thinking about what to post, what sound to use, what trend is popular, and how to get more engagement.

And those things matter.

But there's another side to being successful on a digital platform that doesn't always get enough attention.

Understanding the rules of the platform you're building on.

Your social media strategy shouldn't begin and end with trying to go viral.

You need to understand the community guidelines, the kinds of claims you're making, how you communicate about sensitive topics, and whether the content you're producing could create problems for your account or your audience.

And for businesses, that understanding becomes even more important.

Think about how much time and money organizations put into their digital presence. They're investing in content, advertising, creators, and campaigns.

Yet sometimes the most basic question gets overlooked: Do we actually understand the platform we're using?

Now, I'm not telling you that I know some secret formula that will keep your account from ever being flagged. Platform rules change, decisions aren't always straightforward, and nobody outside the platform can guarantee an outcome.

But I do know the value of making informed decisions before you post.

And that's a big part of what I bring into the creative and marketing work I do today.

I can appreciate a good campaign while also thinking about platform policies, the audience, the message, and the potential risks.

Because creativity and responsibility shouldn't be competing priorities.

Published November 6, 2026