Every story submitted to New York Youth Speaks undergoes an editorial review process before publication. This review focuses on protecting anonymity, maintaining emotional safety, and ensuring readability while preserving the writer’s authentic voice. Editors may correct spelling and grammar, clarify meaning, adjust structure for readability, and remove or change identifying details such as names, addresses, schools, or locations.

Moderation is not meant to censor your story, but to protect you and others. We will not alter the core message, emotional meaning, or tone of your writing. However, we may decline to publish content that includes explicit hate, threats, personal accusations, graphic depictions of violence or self-harm, or content posed as revenge or harm toward specific individuals. The purpose of moderation is to create a safe and respectful platform, not a place for defamation or harm.

Once reviewed, a story may be published, held for clarification if you provided an email address, or declined. While we value every submission, publication is not guaranteed, and editorial decisions are final.

Right to Remove Your Story

The stories published on New York Youth Speaks are part of our collective archive of youth expression; submitted and approved work is generally not removed after publication. This policy protects the integrity of the platform, prevents retroactive censorship, and acknowledges that once a story is shared, it becomes part of a larger community record.

Authors may request changes or removal only if there is a clear safety concern, identifying information, or legal issue present in the story. Requests based on regret, discomfort, or personal preference will be reviewed but are not guaranteed to result in removal. Final decisions regarding editing, retaining, or removing content are made at the sole discretion of the editorial team.

This policy reflects our belief that stories matter — not just for the writer, but for others who may feel seen or understood because someone was brave enough to share.