Review & disclosure rules
TriedTruly only works if readers can trust what they read. These are the rules everyone on the platform agrees to. They are short on purpose.
For reviewers
- Say what you think. Good, bad or mixed. You qualify by posting a real review, never by the rating you give.
- Always disclose. Every review must say, clearly and near the top, that you got the product for free, were refunded or were paid. Use the platform's paid-partnership label where one exists, or wording such as “#gifted” or “the brand sent me this for free in exchange for an honest review”.
- Give it a star rating. Every review comes with stars, from one to five. Any score qualifies, and it is shown exactly as you gave it.
- Use it first. Review only what you have actually tried.
- Post from your own account, the one you linked and we confirmed. Keep the review public.
- Follow each platform's rules. Some communities and platforms restrict incentivised reviews. See the list below.
For brands
- Ask for honesty, not a verdict. You may brief reviewers on what to cover. You may not ask for a rating, a recommendation or silence about problems. Briefs that do are blocked.
- You choose reviewers, not reviews. You pick who gets a spot. You cannot edit, approve or veto what they post.
- Perks are owed for verified reviews, whatever they say.
Why a review can be rejected
This is the complete list.
- Not posted from the creator's linked account
- Review is missing, private or was removed
- The free product / payment isn't disclosed
- The review isn't about this product
- Posted before the creator was selected
- Not a genuine review (empty, copied or AI filler)
- Posted in the wrong place for this campaign
In Norway
Campaigns aimed at Norwegian reviewers follow the Consumer Authority's guidance on advertising in social media and on user reviews.
- Open with «Reklame» or «Annonse». Start the post with «Reklame» or «Annonse». A hashtag at the end, or English tags like #ad or #gifted, are not enough in Norway. Also switch on the platform's paid-partnership label where there is one.
- Star ratings on Google and Facebook are the brand's decision and risk. The authority's position is that a rewarded review should not be counted next to ordinary customer ratings. We tell brands this before they choose those platforms.
- Some products can't be advertised at all: alcohol, tobacco and nicotine, gambling and prescription medicine. Campaigns for these are blocked.
- Free products can be taxable income. Reviewers are responsible for reporting them.
Platform by platform
Every platform sets its own rules about reviews that come with a perk. We show these to brands before a campaign goes live. They are summaries, not legal advice, and platforms change them: check the current policy before you rely on it.
Instagram
Partly automatic, finished by a personIncentivised posts are allowed when clearly disclosed. Use the paid-partnership label or a clear hashtag.
TikTok
Checked automatically, usually in secondsIncentivised posts are allowed when clearly disclosed. Use the paid-partnership label or a clear hashtag.
Snapchat
Checked by a person from the link and a screenshotIncentivised posts are allowed when clearly disclosed. Use the paid-partnership label or a clear hashtag.
Reddit
Checked automatically, usually in secondsMost subreddits ban undisclosed promotion. Creators must follow each community's rules and disclose the perk in the post.
Google Reviews
Checked by a person from the link and a screenshotGoogle's review policy prohibits offering free products, discounts or payment in exchange for a review, even an honest one. Google can remove such reviews and restrict the Business Profile.
Facebook Rating
Checked by a person from the link and a screenshotMeta requires incentivised recommendations to be clearly disclosed. Creators must say they received the product for free.
RedNote
Checked by a person from the link and a screenshotIncentivised posts are allowed when clearly disclosed. Use the paid-partnership label or a clear hashtag.
YouTube
Checked automatically, usually in secondsIncentivised posts are allowed when clearly disclosed. Use the paid-partnership label or a clear hashtag.
X
Checked automatically, usually in secondsIncentivised posts are allowed when clearly disclosed. Use the paid-partnership label or a clear hashtag.