View source for American Girl Wiki:Rumors, Leaks, and Hearsay

[[File:MeetKit1.jpg|300px|thumb|Don't publish hearsay: it's bad news!]]
[[American Girl]] is an active, 35+ year old business with constant new items and characters. There are regular releases, re-releases, new items, new characters, new books, and/or new details. People are ansty to learn more or have the first "scoop" on upcoming product. In this internet age leaks happen often--especially when people obtain items early for review, through online auctions, or from secondhand sources--and many want to be the first to "break the news."

However, the {{SITENAME}} has made it our policy to '''not''' allow any information on any topic from any non-legitimate non-verified, and/or fandom-based sources. The only information we accept are from legitimate, verified, clarified sources. Such sources include the following examples: 

:* American Girl itself, through its own outlets and methods including through its parent company, Mattel (e.g. American Girl posts a leak image of a new character on their Instagram account, does a Facebook Live, sends out catalogs to users, or states upcoming lines or product in the publicly available Mattel annual shareholders meeting)
:* Confirmed sales locations, such as images that can be verified as sold through stores (e.g adding information about a Costco bundle when it is on the shelf)
:* Legitimate books sellers or publishers (e.g. A listing of a new book on Amazon.com along with publication dates or information on a audiobook publisher's website)
:* News outlets/media sources who have received press releases or early product (e.g. an article about a Girl of the Year prior to release through a media release, such as news or screened pop-culture blogs)
:* Professionals who have worked with AG on their social media, screened by admin (e.g. the author of a book stating origin of a character's name or inspiration for an outfit)

We don't allow rumors, leaks, hearsay, speculation or third-party and/or unverified sources. Some examples of third party, unverifiable sources: 

:* A person purchases an unreleased piece of clothing that is factory second from China, and posts images of the outfit online.
:* A fan page and/or social media account shows images of the packaging of a not yet released product stating a character's name.
:* Images are circulating of stock images through searches across the internet and AG '''has not released the images yet.''' Until AG themselves release the images, they are not verified. Even if they are direct stock images. 
:* A person says they have an "inside" leak from an American Girl employee or store clerk, citing which Truly Me dolls will be retired next or what items will be released in the future.  
:* A search for registered trademarks online, which may reveal early names or trademarks applied to through American Girl. While there is a possibility of being legitimate, many companies make trademarks on items that may go nowhere. Remember Emory van Zant? 
:* A YouTube reviewer gets product of an upcoming release before full release, or a person goes to a prerelease party and takes pictures of upcoming product they post online. Legitimate, perhaps. Verified? No. YouTube is not a source unless it's AG's account--and furthermore, we highly discourage the use of any fandom sources.
:* An "influencer" on Instagram posts unboxed items a week before a new line launch. The stuff might be legit, but the Wiki doesn't want to promote any influencers, no matter what they have that's legit.
:* American Girl releases speculative information about an upcoming product, but no other information has been released other than a light announcement e.g. the logo for the 2024 Girl of the Year or "keep an eye out for something with Kit soon!" If there is not enough information to write a non-speculative article or edit using specific details and it's merely a repeat of things stated on the news pages, then the article/edit is speculation.

So, for example, if the [[Girls of the Year|new Girl of the Year]] has leaked via images of the back of a package on a fan-run account? That's not legitimate. If a YouTube account gets stuff before official release? Doesn't count, even if it's true. If American Girl does, however, on Facebook Live? That counts. 

We as a wiki won't put up anything about anything--not even a starter article--until we have something more official than hearsay and fandom. No speculation or "news archive" articles are allowed for lines, products, or characters that are unreleased. This is not only to protect us as a fan site, but to protect you from unfounded rumor and misinformation. The news page is good enough until more details are released. 

We don't care about being first. We care about being right. Just be patient. Better to wait and be right than jump and have to retract. 

If you post leaks, we'll ban you for six months on the first offense. Because we're not playing. That should give us enough time to get real news instead of something off the Instagram account you came across or have to deal with speculation, and give you enough time to learn your lesson about how serious we are about rumor-mongering. 

--[[User:Nethilia|Nethilia]], admin

[[Category:Policy]]