Gatekeep

Gatekeep (also gatekeeping) is the practice of controlling access to a space, resource, or opportunity by applying standards, rules, or norms that determine who is allowed to participate. The term is derived from gatekeeper, the person who guards a gate; metaphorically, gatekeeping refers to mechanisms that decide entry or inclusion, and is used as both a descriptive and evaluative term in social discourse.

In different domains, gatekeeping can take many forms: in online communities, moderators enforce rules, monitor behavior, or require certain disclosures before allowing participation; in publishing and media, editors and gatekeepers decide which works reach audiences; in professions, licensing, certification, and credentialing serve gatekeeping functions; in research, peer review acts as a gatekeeping process.

Critics argue gatekeeping can reinforce existing power networks and exclude marginalized groups, hindering access to information or opportunities; supporters argue it protects quality, safety, or communal standards. The concept is contested in online discourse, with calls for more inclusive and transparent criteria. Gatekeeping is distinct from general moderation or curatorial duty; it reflects power relations and control of scarce resources.