Request for Non-18+ Lobby Name Auto-censor & Further Protections for Minors

[Kaiju]

Hello, I am making this discussion post bc tonight was the first time I spoke with a kid on this game. I was speaking to someone else in the global chat and this person said how they're 13, wanna be a computer engineer, all that stuff, super smart kid and with a really bright future; however, it made me really think about it for the first time when starting to play this game, how this game lacks really any protections for minors, despite the game literally basically being animal crossing and def appealing to younger audiences.

On behalf of this person and likely so many other minors who play this game, I'd really like to see that lobby names with any sort of sexual innuendo be prohibited for Non-18+ lobbies; anytime I open the lobby browser I'll see stuff as well with fetish innuendos in the names like "furry fart party" literally just now as a Non-18+ lobby.

I understand there is only one dev behind this, but I ask that there are at the very least SOME protections put in for them; I've had weird ass people come up to me and take off their clothes and start kissing me and ♥♥♥♥ and without even knowing my age, there are def some really weird ppl that play this game, and especially people that could pose a threat to a younger audience.

Maybe a way to fix this is to sorta have what Roblox has implemented, where there is a 17 or less mode and an 18+ mode, where if you're under 18 you can't see 18+ lobbies at all and can only play with other minors. I'm not sure what the best solution is to this, but I'd love to see something done about it.

Thank you,

- Ashe

[ezra (sada's wife)]

I second this and couldn't have put it better. I would love to see better moderation, even if automodded, and better security measures to keep everyone safe. I work with kids that age and there's no excuse for that kinds of content to be around them, it is very concerning to me. Hopefully hiring others to help out is an option.

[rin]

Originally posted by Professor Sada's Wife:

I second this and couldn't have put it better. I would love to see better moderation, even if automodded, and better security measures to keep everyone safe. I work with kids that age and there's no excuse for that kinds of content to be around them, it is very concerning to me. Hopefully hiring others to help out is an option.

anyone under the age of 13 shouldn't have a steam account and anyone under the age of 18 shouldn't be allowed to play games like this, even if they seem harmless chatroom esque games always harbor malicious/depraved people this is also why you don't go onto chatroom websites as a kid, and you shouldn't be on this glorified chatroom even if it has a silly character on it.

[Kaiju]

Originally posted by rin:

Originally posted by Professor Sada's Wife:

I second this and couldn't have put it better. I would love to see better moderation, even if automodded, and better security measures to keep everyone safe. I work with kids that age and there's no excuse for that kinds of content to be around them, it is very concerning to me. Hopefully hiring others to help out is an option.

anyone under the age of 13 shouldn't have a steam account and anyone under the age of 18 shouldn't be allowed to play games like this, even if they seem harmless chatroom esque games always harbor malicious/depraved people this is also why you don't go onto chatroom websites as a kid, and you shouldn't be on this glorified chatroom even if it has a silly character on it.

I fully agree.... but recall when you were a kid, remember how everyone got their hands on games like COD bo2 even tho it's rated M? How you made your steam account probably also when you were a kid, whereas I myself made mine when i was just 13 too? Kids are kids, you gotta remember that. They wanna play what's cool, they wanna play the new games, they wanna be like the "big kids," and they're especially gonna play a game like this one that's not even rated T or M. They will play these games regardless and find ways to play them despite the restrictions; however, restrictions on older people can help protect the kids who do find their way to games like these.

[Mr. Danjrfan]

Originally posted by rin:

Originally posted by Professor Sada's Wife:

I second this and couldn't have put it better. I would love to see better moderation, even if automodded, and better security measures to keep everyone safe. I work with kids that age and there's no excuse for that kinds of content to be around them, it is very concerning to me. Hopefully hiring others to help out is an option.

anyone under the age of 13 shouldn't have a steam account and anyone under the age of 18 shouldn't be allowed to play games like this, even if they seem harmless chatroom esque games always harbor malicious/depraved people this is also why you don't go onto chatroom websites as a kid, and you shouldn't be on this glorified chatroom even if it has a silly character on it.

Womp, wompity, womp

[Mr. Danjrfan]

Originally posted by Kaiju:

Hello, I am making this discussion post bc tonight was the first time I spoke with a kid on this game. I was speaking to someone else in the global chat and this person said how they're 13, wanna be a computer engineer, all that stuff, super smart kid and with a really bright future; however, it made me really think about it for the first time when starting to play this game, how this game lacks really any protections for minors, despite the game literally basically being animal crossing and def appealing to younger audiences.

On behalf of this person and likely so many other minors who play this game, I'd really like to see that lobby names with any sort of sexual innuendo be prohibited for Non-18+ lobbies; anytime I open the lobby browser I'll see stuff as well with fetish innuendos in the names like "furry fart party" literally just now as a Non-18+ lobby.

I understand there is only one dev behind this, but I ask that there are at the very least SOME protections put in for them; I've had weird ass people come up to me and take off their clothes and start kissing me and ♥♥♥♥ and without even knowing my age, there are def some really weird ppl that play this game, and especially people that could pose a threat to a younger audience.

Maybe a way to fix this is to sorta have what Roblox has implemented, where there is a 17 or less mode and an 18+ mode, where if you're under 18 you can't see 18+ lobbies at all and can only play with other minors. I'm not sure what the best solution is to this, but I'd love to see something done about it.

Thank you,

- Ashe

Lovely idea!

[doggysnacks]

Two things need to change I think:
1. auto filter for explicit keywords and phrases to mark a lobby 18+

2. Make 18+ lobbies OPT IN and recquire ppl to go into settings and check a warning to enable.

Good common sense steps imo, akin to what you suggested and that ive seen implemented elsewhere.

HOWEVER ultimately online chatroom games like this are inherently extremely unfitting and dangerous for children and only so much can reasonsbly be done, especially by a solo dev. (Roblox still has massive issues with predators) This game may have a cutesy artstyle but it is very apparently not targeted to kids with a lot of the jokes, and content. Trying to make it kid friendly 100% is fruitless and kids should prob be discouraged from playing any game like this. BUT since children are bound to play making it harder to encounter adult discussion is reasonable. I think the suggested changes are warranted and wouldnt come at a detriment to the adult users.

[Mr. Danjrfan]

Originally posted by cookie:

Two things need to change I think:
1. auto filter for explicit keywords and phrases to mark a lobby 18+

2. Make 18+ lobbies OPT IN and recquire ppl to go into settings and check a warning to enable.

Good common sense steps imo, akin to what you suggested that ive seen implemented elsewhere.

HOWEVER ultimately online chatroom games like this are inherently extremely unfitting and dangerous for children and only so much can reasonsbly be down especially by a solo dev. This game may have a cutesy artstyle but it is very apparently not targeted to kids with a lot of the jokes, and content. Trying to make it kid friendly 100% is fruitless and kids should prob be discouraged from playing any game like this. BUT since children are bound to play making it hardee to play I think the suggested changes are warranted and wouldnt come at a detriment to the adult users.

From what I’ve seen with a certain tag if you beg for something simple that yk shouldn’t even be thought about you get a joke so while I (a guy who spends his free time operating an elevator) like the idea of having 18+ stuff be an option you need to tick in the settings the developer will most likely A. Play the suggestion off as a joke or B. Not implement it.


Also yes I couldn’t agree more chat rooms are inherently bad for children, just look how people who grew up on them turned out.

[Marcie]

The game should check your date of birth from your steam account

[Kaiju]

Originally posted by cookie:

Two things need to change I think:
1. auto filter for explicit keywords and phrases to mark a lobby 18+

2. Make 18+ lobbies OPT IN and recquire ppl to go into settings and check a warning to enable.

Good common sense steps imo, akin to what you suggested that ive seen implemented elsewhere.

HOWEVER ultimately online chatroom games like this are inherently extremely unfitting and dangerous for children and only so much can reasonsbly be done, especially by a solo dev. (Roblox still has massive issues with predators) This game may have a cutesy artstyle but it is very apparently not targeted to kids with a lot of the jokes, and content. Trying to make it kid friendly 100% is fruitless and kids should prob be discouraged from playing any game like this. BUT since children are bound to play making it hardee to play I think the suggested changes are warranted and wouldnt come at a detriment to the adult users.

Absolutely! I fully agree with your reply and I think those are some incredibly necessary additions for this game as well as how this game can't be 100% catered to kids but we should at least try our best to put in protections for them in contrast to having no protections at all like it is rn; thank you so much! :D

[Kaiju]

Originally posted by Marcie:

The game should check your date of birth from your steam account

YES!!!!!!

[Mr. Danjrfan]

Originally posted by Marcie:

The game should check your date of birth from your steam account

Explain how you would do that in Godot, concept is good but you have to think about how it can be implemented

[Yes Indeed!]

back in my day parents had a responsibility to know and regulate what their kids were accessing, in the same way they oughtn't let their kids play in a quarry. the cultural shifting of this responsibility to content-producers encourages irresponsible latchkey parenting

[Mr. Danjrfan]

Originally posted by Yes Indeed!:

back in my day parents had a responsibility to know and regulate what their kids were accessing, in the same way they oughtn't let their kids play in a quarry. the cultural shifting of this responsibility to content-producers encourages irresponsible latchkey parenting

FINALLY SOMEONE SAYS IT!!!! ITS THE PARENTS JOB TO MODERATE WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE DOING!!!

[Kaiju]

Originally posted by Carlton, Your Doorman:

Originally posted by Marcie:

The game should check your date of birth from your steam account

Explain how you would do that in Godot, concept is good but you have to think about how it can be implemented

True, that is quite a bit of a challenge; ofc they could add in a check at the beginning of the game before you start playing that asks for you to input your DOB, but ofc kids will just lie half the time so they can get access to the higher up chats, HOWEVER, I'm sure it'd guide more kids away from going into 18+ lobbies or the lobbies with flagged lobby names for example in comparison to having no DOB check whatsoever, some would likely look at it and be stressed like "oh no, what if I lie here about my DOB?" or "oh, I don't want to play with older people, I think I'll put in my actual DOB." However, this also means adults can lie about their DOB too and be right in the games with a higher concentration of minors. If possible, it'd be fantastic if there was a way to check DOB off your steam account, maybe thru a third party API implemented w/ Godot of some sorts, I'm not entirely sure, but if we keep at it I'm sure we'll figure out a great solution.

[Mr. Danjrfan]

Originally posted by Carlton, Your Doorman:

Originally posted by Yes Indeed!:

back in my day parents had a responsibility to know and regulate what their kids were accessing, in the same way they oughtn't let their kids play in a quarry. the cultural shifting of this responsibility to content-producers encourages irresponsible latchkey parenting

FINALLY SOMEONE SAYS IT!!!! ITS THE PARENTS JOB TO MODERATE WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE DOING!!!

If a kid shots his friend while playing around with a gun that was laying around do you blame the gun manufacturer or the parents obviously you blame the parents but why does that not apply to games