Most importantly, Valleywag policed acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Micro-celebrities were held to standards created and maintained by the editors and reporters, standards that reflected the larger values of Silicon Valley culture. These standards were fairly conservative and included monogamy, or at least not promiscuity; a lack of visible "famewhoring"; spending money wisely rather than buying sports cars, mansions, or elaborate vacations; negligible political leanings; and, above all, no hypocrisy (a value that harkens back to the theme of authenticity as consistency). These mores were applied unevenly, particularly in regard to gender; while Thomas painted Leah Culver as promiscuous, he reported on but rarely judged Kevin Rose for his steady flow of attractive girlfriends.

Alice E. Marwick, Status Update, loc. 367