When a balloon is reported it ends up on our screens for moderation. We've two choices - relaunch the balloon or gently deflate it and retire it from the sky. So what makes us take a balloon out of the sky? These aren't hard and fast rules but they'll give you a steer.
Dodgy Material / Language
Everyone can catch a balloon - which means children as well as adults. So if a reported balloon has anything that you wouldn't want a child to see then it's probably on a one way ticket out.
To be specific - 'adult' photos, swearing etc are out.
SPAM
Nobody likes a spammer so if a balloon is blatantly spam like or if there is a pattern of subtle spamming that people are reporting then balloons are likely to be removed.
Derogatory or Defamatory remarks
If someone is nasty to someone else, resorts to name calling or is ageist, racist, sexist or anything else that is derogatory or defames their character then that tag or balloon will be removed and the person responsible may be suspended or banned.
Politics or views you don't like
We are not political animals and freedom of speech is still alive and kicking in this world so reporting a balloon that has views you disagree with but doesn't break the above could very well find itself refloating. However read on for the next guideline.....
Five strikes
OK..so we see nothing wrong with a balloon and we keep relaunching it. We do take the trouble to count how many times it has been reported. So if a balloon is reported for multiple times then we begin to think we have missed something. By the time it gets to five then we have to act. Whether our translation service is failing us and we miss that it is offensive OR people generally are turned off by the content OR the launcher wishes they'd never floated the balloon in the first place THEN, unless we think there's a good reason, the needle comes out and the balloon is a gonner.... Please accept our apologies if your balloon is a victim of this policy!
Can I get my balloon back if it's been moderated out
No. We may have got it wrong but it's a balloon! Just launch another one!