Frequently asked questions
Why Koan?
A kōan is a question posed in Zen practice that cannot be answered by reflex or habit. It requires you to stop, think, and engage honestly. That is what we are trying to build — a space where questions are taken seriously and answers are earned rather than performed.
The name also carries the idea of something public and open (公 means "public" or "shared" in Japanese and Chinese). Honest conversation is a public good. Koan is an attempt to treat it like one.
How Koan works
What is Koan?
Koan is a social platform for honest, thoughtful conversation. It is structured around five channels — Casual, Education, Deliberation, Exploration, and Sense-Making — each with its own standards for what good discussion looks like. Posts are not ranked by engagement. There is no algorithm deciding what you see. You see what people actually wrote.
Why is it invitation only?
Because trust matters. The founding cohort sets the tone for everything that follows. We are growing slowly and deliberately so that the community that forms is one worth belonging to. Invitations are personal — if someone invited you, they believe you will contribute something worth reading.
What are channels and topics?
There are five channels: Casual, Education, Deliberation, Exploration, and Sense-Making. Each channel has its own standards — what counts as a good post, whether sources are required, how speculation should be flagged. Topics are the specific conversation spaces within each channel. Welcome is a topic within Casual. How Democracy Works is a topic within Deliberation. You can propose new topics within any channel.
How is this different from other social platforms?
No algorithmic amplification. No engagement optimisation. No advertising. No hiding behind anonymity to behave badly. Real moderation with real consequences. Posts are not ranked by how angry they make people. Sources are required in some spaces. Speculation must be labelled as speculation. Deleted posts leave a record. These are not cosmetic differences — they reflect a fundamentally different set of values about what a public conversation space should do.
Your account
Can I use a pseudonym?
No. Koan requires your real name. Accountability is a core value of the platform. You can't hide behind anonymity to behave badly here. That's intentional.
How do I change my name or bio?
Go to your profile by clicking your name in the navigation bar, then click the Edit profile button in the top right of your profile page.
Do I need to use my real name?
Yes. Koan's community standards require you to participate as a real person under your real name. We cannot technically verify this, but false identification is a breach of our terms and grounds for permanent suspension. Accountability is the foundation the platform is built on.
Can I delete my account?
Yes. Contact us at hello@koan.social and we will delete your account within 48 hours. Posts you have made will be tombstoned — attributed to a deleted account rather than removed entirely, because others may have replied to them.
Posting and replying
Can I edit or delete my posts?
You can edit a post within 60 minutes of posting. After that the record is fixed. You can delete a post at any time, but it leaves a tombstone — a visible marker that a post existed and was deleted by the author. This is intentional. The practice of deleting posts after they have been replied to is a form of manipulation. Replies to deleted posts remain visible but are closed.
What are sources and when do I need them?
In Sense-Making topics, sources are required for factual claims. In Education topics, they are strongly encouraged. In Casual, Exploration, and Deliberation topics, sources are not required but are always welcome. A source can be a link, a citation, a reference to a study, or an explanation of where the information comes from.
What is the Exploration acknowledgement?
When you post in an Exploration topic, you acknowledge that you are posting speculative or exploratory ideas — not established facts. This is a feature, not a warning. Exploration is for thinking out loud. The acknowledgement is a reminder to frame your ideas accordingly.
Privacy and data
What data do you collect?
Your name, email address, and password when you register. Everything you post. Your IP address, logged for security and moderation purposes. Your display name and bio if you add one. That is it.
Do you use tracking cookies?
No. We use only functional cookies — the kind that keep you logged in. No tracking cookies, no advertising cookies, no third-party pixels.
Do you sell my data?
No. We do not sell, rent, lease, or share your personal data with third parties for commercial purposes. There are no advertisements on Koan and there never will be.
How long do you keep my data?
For as long as you have an account. If you request deletion, we action it within 48 hours. We may retain minimal records where required by law.
Moderation
What happens when I report something?
Your report goes to the moderation queue. A moderator reviews it and takes one of five actions: dismiss, warn, remove, suspend, or escalate. You receive a notification when the report is actioned. Reports are taken seriously — and so is dishonest reporting.
What happens if my content is reported?
A moderator reviews the report. If action is taken you will be notified with an explanation. Warnings are logged. Repeated violations may result in suspension. Serious violations may result in permanent suspension.
Can I appeal a moderation decision?
Yes. Contact us at hello@koan.social and explain your case. We will review it. We engage honestly and expect the same in return.
Following and notifications
How do follows work?
You can follow topics and other members. Following a topic or member will eventually notify you when new posts appear — this feature is coming soon. Follow counts are public. Who you follow and who follows you is private.
Who can see who I follow?
Nobody. Follow counts are visible on profiles and topics, but the lists of who follows whom are private.
Something else?
If your question is not answered here, contact us at hello@koan.social or report a bug if something is not working as expected.