Content Moderation
Ongoing coverage on Content Moderation.
Latest coverage
VPNs are under fire, as new UK government survey says 22% of kids are using them
A UK government survey indicates that 22% of children have used a VPN in the past three months, primarily for privacy, accessing region-locked content like Netflix, or adult material. The survey also highlights that online games and gaming communities are the most common platforms lacking mandatory age checks. The government plans to use these findings to inform future policy development regarding online safety and VPN usage.
Roblox responds to backlash over classic clothing changes "unifying" requirements for 2D and 3D
Roblox is implementing new requirements for 2D and 3D avatar items to create a safer marketplace, including ID verification and a revised upload fee. Initially set at 200 Robux, the upload fee has been reduced by 60% to 80 Robux following community backlash. The company stated that 2D clothing is not being phased out and that these changes aim to improve content safety and creator accountability.
Persona 4 Revival changes some of Yosuke's controversial scenes: "We wanted to lighten that up and make it a little bit more fitting for the world we live in now"
Persona 4 Revival producer Kazuhisa Wada has stated that Yosuke's character will undergo changes to better fit contemporary societal norms. While the core story remains intact, specific dialogue and interactions involving Yosuke will be adjusted to be less insensitive. These modifications aim to address controversial elements that have aged poorly since the original Persona 4's release.
"We have to have free human expression in some capacity": Patreon CEO shares frustrations about getting adult content past payment processors
Patreon CEO Jack Conte expressed frustration with payment processors like Stripe and Mastercard, who dictate policies on 'adult content' and threaten to withhold services. This pressure has led platforms like Steam and Itch.io to change their policies, impacting creators. Conte highlighted Patreon's efforts to build leverage through a 'hot-swappable payments architecture' to better support artists on the platform, while acknowledging the ongoing challenges in navigating these complex financial and content regulations.
After Belfast riots, UK reminds social platforms they're obligated to remove hateful content
The UK's communications regulator has reminded social media platforms of their obligation to minimize hateful content. This reminder follows recent riots in Belfast, emphasizing the platforms' duty to prevent the spread of hate speech.
Snap will no longer allow younger teens' Spotlight videos to be publicly viewable
Snap will no longer allow videos from users under 16 to be publicly viewable on its Spotlight feature. This change aims to enhance safety for younger users on the platform.
You can make the hyper-violence in Marvel's Wolverine more PG-13, if you want to
Marvel's Wolverine will feature adjustable violence settings, allowing players to opt for a more PG-13 experience if desired. This feature offers players control over the game's intense hyper-violence.
"What the f*** do I pay you for if that’s your opinion?" Gabe Newell reportedly once shouted at one of Valve's Lionel Hutzes during Steam porn debate
Valve boss Gabe Newell reportedly reacted strongly to a debate about allowing pornographic content on Steam, yelling at general counsel Karl Quackenbush. The incident is part of a broader discussion on Valve's corporate culture, stemming from an ongoing antitrust lawsuit filed by Wolfire Games. Newell testified in the suit, denying Steam has a monopoly and asserting customers have numerous purchasing choices.
Gabe Newell reportedly snapped 'What the f*** do I pay you for if that's your opinion?' at Valve lawyer pushing for more content moderation on Steam
Valve co-founder Gabe Newell reportedly admonished Valve general counsel Karl Quackenbush for advocating a stricter content moderation policy on Steam. The anecdote suggests Newell favors a more laissez-faire approach to NSFW content, which Steam has largely maintained despite occasional pressure from payment processors.
Instagram tests new limits on what types of posts teens can 'repeatedly' see
Instagram is testing new restrictions on the types of posts teens can repeatedly see, focusing on content related to body image and mental health. These measures aim to create a safer online environment for younger users.
Fantia walks back on censorship due to severe backlash
Fantia has reversed its decision to enforce stricter censorship on creator content after facing significant backlash from artists and creators. The platform initially demanded all works, including past submissions, be censored within five days, leading to widespread outrage and creators leaving the service. Fantia will revert to its previous policy while new standards are discussed with a legal authority.
YouTube says it's making AI-generated content labels more prominent—and to help you see them, here they are…
YouTube is implementing more prominent AI-generated content labels to help users distinguish between real and AI-altered videos. The new labels will appear below the video player for long-form content and as an overlay for short-form videos. YouTube will also use new internal signals for auto-detection, though creators can still update disclosure statuses.
Fantia enforces stricter censorship guidelines while opening up to global audience
Fantia is implementing stricter censorship and mosaic standards for creators, effective May 25th, 2026, which will also apply retroactively to previously published works. This policy change coincides with the platform's major translation update, adding English, Chinese, and Korean support to attract a global audience. The platform faces potential creator exodus due to the demanding new guidelines and the manual effort required for compliance.
Evening Crowdfunding
Kickstarter has apologized for its recently criticized adult content rules, admitting they "botched it" and betrayed the platform's "f*ck the establishment spirit." The company is addressing backlash regarding its policy changes.
GTA Online got a hantavirus cruise mission, but Rockstar quickly contained its spread
Rockstar Games quickly removed a mission from Grand Theft Auto Online that featured a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship. The mission was apparently not widely experienced by players before its removal.
Steam overhauls tags, removing 'NSFW' & 'Mature' for being too general
Steam has overhauled its tagging system, removing general tags like 'NSFW' and 'Mature' to improve clarity and discoverability. New, more specific tags such as 'Bullet Heaven', 'Espionage', and 'Capybara' have been added to better categorize games.
Steam's NSFW and Mature tags ditched by Valve in favour of "more descriptive" ones like Sexual Content and Gore, as part of wider revamp
Valve has revamped Steam's tagging system, replacing broad tags like NSFW and Mature with more descriptive ones such as Sexual Content and Gore. This change aims to improve game discovery and recommendations by providing clearer categorizations for genres and themes, with 17 new tags added and 28 removed.
LinkedIn doesn't want your AI slop anymore
LinkedIn is reportedly cracking down on AI-generated content, deeming it not only lazy but also uninteresting. This move suggests a shift in the platform's approach to user-generated material, prioritizing quality and engagement over automated output.
YouTube's AI deepfake detection tool is now available to all creators 18 and older
YouTube has made its AI-powered deepfake detection tool available to all creators aged 18 and older, including new users. This move aims to improve content moderation and transparency on the platform regarding manipulated media.
X, a bastion for hate, claims it will reduce hate content in the UK
X, formerly known as Twitter, has committed to Ofcom that it will improve its review of reported posts to reduce hate content within the UK. This move comes as the platform faces scrutiny over its content moderation policies.