WHEN WE STARTED THE La Zenia Community Facebook Group for La Zenia and the Orihuela Costa, we had no idea that it would get so, well – big.
In less than 6-years, the group has gone from a small band of creative people to the largest Facebook community group in the South Costa Blanca area, with over 90,000 members.
The group has become a valuable source of local information for visitors to the Orihuela Costa, people who live here, and people who aspire to one day be our neighbours.
Between the La Zenia Facebook page, our Instagram followers, and the La Zenia Community Facebook Group, the online social presence represents the thoughts, interests, questions and opinions of more than 150,000 people and reputable local organisations too numerous to count.
So we thought this might be a good time to introduce some basic Facebook Group rules, so everyone knows how to interact, and we can all maintain the high expectations members hold for the group culture.
Facebook Group Rules Summary
- Rule number one: always be kind, thoughtful and courteous
- No hate speech, judgmental comments, harassment or bullying
- Damaging or misleading information (or “fake news”) is not permitted
- No promotion of a commercial business or Spam postings
- No promotion of any other social groups or Facebook pages
- No properties for sale within the La Zenia group
- Respect for animals and the prevention of animal cruelty
- No illegal content, intellectual property, defamatory or adult content
Rule number one: always be kind, thoughtful and courteous
We're all in this together to create a welcoming environment so let's treat everyone with respect. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness, tolerance and understanding are required.
We're all from different backgrounds and countries, and we all speak a multitude of languages, so don't be surprised if someone else's opinion doesn't conform to yours. They're entitled to their opinion too.
The group is not exclusively an English or Spanish language group, and you are welcome to converse with other members in the language of your choice. Facebook boasts powerful translation tools that are easy to use on a vast array of devices, so feel free to post in the language you're most comfortable with.
No hate speech, judgmental comments, harassment or bullying
We want the Facebook Community Group to be a safe online space for everyone, and we want people to feel comfortable asking questions. Bullying of any kind isn't allowed, and degrading or hurtful comments about things like race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender, physical appearance, ability or disability, age, or identity will not be tolerated.
Judgmental comments are unnecessary and have a chilling effect on the group. They hurt people, and make it harder for people to ask questions or reach out to others when they need help. Typically, judgmental comments tend to be off-topic, have no value, suggest that the principles of the post should align with theirs, or relay information that is irrelevant to the spirit of the original post.
Being part of the group requires mutual trust. Posts or comments that breach personal privacy, or identify people without their express consent, either by their name or their appearance, are not permitted within the group.
Posts or comments which include photos of official ID cards, bank cards, NIE/TIE documentation, EHIC/GHIC cards, driving licences, passports, or any other form of financial or government issued documents are not permitted.
Damaging or misleading information (or “fake news”) is not permitted
We make every effort to ensure that factual information that appears in our group is accurate, and fake news, misleading content, unsubstantiated speculation, or posts containing incorrect or out-of-date information are not permitted.
Our Facebook Group rules do not permit the publication of any post or comment which might be potentially damaging to any business. If you have had a bad experience with a local business here in Spain, please speak privately with a representative of that business directly.
No promotion of a commercial business or Spam postings
The La Zenia Community Facebook Group is a social group intended to benefit the people who live on the Orihuela Costa, the people who visit our beautiful part of Spain, and the businesses that we enjoy every day.
As a social group, local bars, restaurants, gyms and fitness centres, and other social venues are welcome to promote their business in any creative way of their choosing. After all, the rich and varied choices that social businesses bring to the area are a vital ingredient of life here in Spain.
An exception is also made for local artists and artisans promoting their products (in whatever form that may take), organisations involved in adult education at a centre or venue, and for people or businesses offering local services specifically for children.
If you would like to promote your local business on our social platforms, we have digital advertising options for commercial enterprises. Follow this link for more information about how we can help you reach more customers locally.
No promotion of any other Facebook groups
We love to hear your personal recommendations of other local businesses, so if you've got something nice to say about a restaurant, a hairdresser, or even your gardener or plumber, let everyone know about it. Just not your accountant, lawyer, or estate agent.
Personal recommendations are allowed, self-promotion isn't, and please don't advertise or promote other Facebook groups. You are welcome to post directly in the group or share from your page, but please don't share posts from other groups.
No commercial items for sale or promoting properties
Facebook Marketplace is a great place to buy and sell on the Orihuela Costa, but individual members may post items for sale if they wish to. This does not extend to commercial sellers such as vehicle retailers, perfumery, water treatment, home improvements, or other for-profit businesses, services, or retail.
Posts for items given away free or “free for collection”, or posts for items for sale by registered charities are also accepted in the group.
Selling homes or property in Spain is a notoriously complicated business, so please don't try to buy or sell a Spanish property using Facebook. We recommend contacting a local real estate agent or a registered property professional.
Content that provides or seeks advice, information, tips, and self-help for buying or selling property, is not accepted in the group. Advertising villas, apartments, or any type of residential or commercial property for sale is not allowed within the group.
Tourist rental property and advertising for short-term holiday accommodation will only be accepted in the group when accompanied by the Valencian Government's tourist licence number – complete, and displayed in a prominent location. Posts for rental property located outside of the Valencia Province will be removed.
Respect for animals and the prevention of animal cruelty
Posts or comments that are disrespectful to any animal or its owner(s) are not permitted. Posting images or comments about animal abuse or suffering, threating an animal or its owner with harm or distress, or encouraging others to engage in the abuse of animals is one of the quickest ways to find yourself permanently excluded from the group.
If you've lost your pet or found one, please feel free to share the information with group members. But we don't allow posts about pet rehoming, sales, or fostering – there are plenty of other Facebook Groups available for that purpose.
No illegal content, intellectual property, defamatory or adult content
We strive to maintain a family-friendly environment for everyone. Our Facebook Group rules don't allow swearing, depictions of nudity, or any form of content suited only for an adult audience.
Posts or comments that might be illegal (or offer goods or services that might be illegal), defamatory, or may infringe intellectual property rights or copyright are prohibited. Do not post photos or images that contain police officers, paramedics, or any member of our security or emergency services personnel.
Posts for illegal taxis or unlicenced airport transfer services are not permitted. Using the group to solicit illegal taxi services, an unlicenced taxi, or a personal “sharing” service (with or without payment) is not permitted.
Posts regarding the purchase, sale, gift or trade of prescription or non-prescription pharmaceutical drugs and/or non-medical (recreational) drugs, are prohibited by Facebook's Community Standards on regulated goods.
Posts or comments which are needlessly inflammatory, divisive, or incite hatred, crime, or violence have no place within the group. Fearmongering, or content which deliberately arouses public fear, worry, or alarm about a particular issue is not permitted. Commercial clickbait that is deceptive, sensationalised, or otherwise misleading, is not permitted.
The Community Group is an inclusive social group, so religious or political content is not permitted, including content that reflects the religious belief or political opinion of a person or group.
Content critical of national, local, or regional public service authorities in Spain is not permitted in the group. Do not comment or publish posts about criminal investigations (ongoing or not) or investigations carried out by the authorities of any country. In particular, posts intended to subvert police operations, including the location or use of speed measurement and road safety equipment are not permitted.
Simple Facebook Group rules, everyone is welcome to join the conversation
You don't need to live in La Zenia or have an interest in the Orihuela Costa area to join the group. Everyone is welcome.
The group is a wonderful medium for connecting people in other parts of the world to our locale, so feel free to share photos of the local area and your most memorable moments and experiences.
Do you have valuable local information? Let everyone know about it. Bars, share your offers and events and tantalise us with your inappropriately named cocktails. Restaurants, show off your culinary expertise and your needlessly exuberant menus.
People, jump into the conversation online. Click here to join the La Zenia Community Facebook Group and find out what´s going on locally.
Use of the La Zenia Community Facebook Group is subject to Meta's Groups and Events Policies. We operate a GDPR-compliant privacy policy for your peace of mind.
Photo credit: Elena Martin / Jackie Sullivan / LaZenia.com.
I have a property in Zenia Golf 2
Love this very informative platform
I live and work in the area