Does TEDx have rules about what you can say?

I often hear people say things like “TED is so prescriptive,” “TED limits what you can say,” "TED censors your talk"


Well, yes - TED does have guidelines on what you can and can't say, and to be honest, I’m pretty OK with them.


1) No selling from the stage.

This is not an industry conference, it’s not your book tour and the audience are not potential clients.

The audience in the room are there to hear ideas not to be sold to and the online TED audience is a massive cross section of society, from ALL over the world, only a tiny fraction of whom fit your ICP.

Doing a TEDx has a natural, incredible down stream positive impact on your business- it brings you credibility, visibility and invaluable experience for future keynotes or pitches.

If your idea really is worth sharing, your business will benefit anyway- you don't need to sell anything on the day.


2) Only good science

The general rule of thumb is that your ideas must be based in science that is widely accept and peer reviewed. You can’t promote pseudo science, and if your idea hinges on anecdotal evidence, you MUST say so. It also needs to be your own research and your own perspective. Again, if your idea relies on someone else’s research- say so.


3) No proselytizing

TED is not your platform and it’s not a soap box either. It's a stage for ideas, and whilst TED wants big radical thinking and new perspectives that change the human experience, you can't try to prove correctness of one belief system over another.


4) No political agenda

Now I believe that pretty much everything is political. Our view on the world is influenced by our politics, and politics and policy are a key part of global conversation. TED doesn't shy away from ideas that have a political implication, but you can't be partisan, extremist or inflammatory from the stage.


This doesn't mean tone it back and make it safe. Share ideas that provoke a reaction, make the audience think and challenge what we've always assumed.

Just remember that your talk has a potential global audience- keeping these guidelines in mind will ensure your idea has the biggest impact.

The danger of breaking them is that your talk won't be published and that would be a massive loss to you and to those who need to hear your idea.

So if you're not sure, ask. We need to hear your big idea!