Open Thread: Wattpad Refugees
With the recent rumblings about censorship and work deletions on Wattpad, many users are considering posting to AO3 for the first time. If that describes you, you may have questions.
This post is a collection of resources you can use to start finding the answers to these questions. If you don’t find what you’re looking for at the links below or you have something more specific to ask, please feel welcome to post questions in the reblogs and comments here.
If you’re an AO3 pro answering questions in these notes, be kind. We were all new once, and other fans helped us then. It’s time to pay it forward.
Resources (under the cut)
It's not the first site to turn on fandom, and it won't be the last.
At least AO3 makes it easy to find things, no matter how old or obscure.
Check out the fandom index by media type and try going directly to your fandom's tag or a ship or another tag and using the sidebar filters. AO3 does have a search box and even an advanced search, but those are less of a default compared to Wattpad and other sites.
Wtf happening with wattpad?
@headspace-hotel they updated their policies and changed what content is permissible. You can find the entire update here:
Wattpad Policies
my friend @orangestorapples made a pretty decent summary, see below
They no longer allow works:
- Created primarily for sexual arousal
- Exploitative or harmful
- Intended to shock, glorify harm, or promote hate
For their updated sexual content policies, they do not allow:
- Pornographic content (created primarily for sexual arousal)
- Any sexual content involving minors.
- Sexual exploitation, coercion, or non-consensual acts that are glorified
- Sexual roleplay, solicitation, or messaging
- Illegal sex acts in violation of applicable local and international laws, including but not limited to, bestiality, necrophilia, incest, or child sexual exploitation and abuse material
For their updated violent content policies, they do not allow:
- Content created primarily to shock or glorify harm
- Gratuitous or prolonged violence that doesn't support the broader narrative
For their updated Self-Harm and Suicide content policies, they allow:
- General, non-graphic references
- Stories that explore self-harm or suicide in a responsible, story-driven way
- Recovery, survival, or awareness-focused narratives
And do not allow:
- Graphic depictions
- Content that encourages, instructs, or glorifies self-harm or suicide
For their updated Real-World Harm and Extremism content policies, they do not allow:
- Glorification or support of real-world violence, hate groups, or extremist ideologies
- Content that promotes or imitates real-world harmful acts or actionable plans/steps on how to commit violent acts, illegal acts, or organize real-world violent crimes
For their updated Self-Expression and Sensitive Topics content policies, they allow:
- Survival stories that offer a sense of hope or support
- Could contain graphic descriptions
- Stories referencing or describing sensitive topics, in a non-glorifying way
And do not allow:
- Content that normalizes or glorifies harmful behavior
- Content where harmful acts are presented as desirable or rewarding
This legitimately sound like some kind of amish christian romance publishing imprint or something




















