Age Verification/NSFW Content | Voters

Age Verification/NSFW Content

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Jasper Raine

I'm going to get straight to the point on this one. On a platform like VRChat, NSFW stuff is
 going to happen, no matter what the terms says and no matter what is/isn't allowed. People are going to do this no matter what you do and in fact it already does happen... all the time. I feel the best solution to the problem is some sort of age verification as well as usage of the NSFW tags in the SDK for avatars and worlds.
The use of the age verification system would let users set their birth date or just their age and would automatically filter out content with any NSFW tags along with the option to hide birth dates and ages either from everyone or people that aren't friends or both. The report system would be a way to get around issues with this as well as users showing proof with ID so that false reports do not occur. Plus with this system, legally the situations players find themselves in would fall upon the players themselves rather than VRChat, especially if you make a disclaimer specifying this in the terms. As it currently stands, potentially the legal issues fall on VRChat for not enforcing the terms enough to filter out NSFW content and this would resolve the issue entirely. It's only a matter of time before something happens in-game and VRChat gets sued. I'm no lawyer, but it doesn't take one to know stuff like this happens.
As for NSFW Content Filters, this would also solve the issue for adults that do not want to see certain NSFW content. Again, making it legally their responsibility rather than VRChat's responsibility. Making use of the check boxes in the SDK would make it much easier for this filter to work.
There's honestly no good reason for this to not already be a feature in VRChat beyond lack of time as I know it does take time to implement something like this and some effort on the team's part, but this would solve a lot of potential future issues and I'd rather not see this platform in the same position as the Titanic, thinking everything is going great and then one thing happens and it's all over.
Edit: I'd like to also add at this point that most VRChat users, or at least from what I've seen, actually don't care if NSFW stuff is in VRChat. Most people generally have a "keep it in the bedroom" sort of mentality where they're fine with it if it's not in their face. I've in fact seen many NSFW avatars in public worlds as well as NSFW discussions and other content in public worlds and people just don't care because the users, avatars, and worlds stay in VRChat without being reported or anything. There is literally no way around NSFW content and this is the only solution that makes sense: Just allow it and use content filters and age verification.

April 12, 2019

ivankazuya

I would like to see this feature added. For the sake of keeping minors safe.

sinsandrocks18

Please consider adding this, i'm getting real tired of seeing minors running around in public instances bare naked.

Casxapinkgoblin

Absolutely! Me and my freinds have been saying this for a very long time. It just makes sense in a game like VRchat, we're so suprised that it hasn't ever came about.

G․O․D

Would like it to use another service for verification but do really want this.

Ronnie Pawpad

SecondLife (SL) went through this process around 2009, when it was 7 years old. I remember it well. Personally, I'd rather go through some form of secure ID system that complies with GDPR and is a part of/tied to the VRChat Account System than trust that information to strangers over some third party social platform. This is what SL Did back then, and it worked mostly fine. Of course it upset a bunch of people at the time, but they were either faking their age or eventually warmed up to it because in the long run it only serves to protect the broader community. Linden Labs didn't store any of that information, it was simply used to set a flag in the account database to 1, which tagged you as being age verified 18+ and enabled you to enter worlds tagged as such. in contrast, trusting that information to 'community members' is risky, and you're also trusting the security of whatever platform of choice is in use to exchange that information. IF VRchat could take this particular page out of an already written book, that'd be a huge boon for everyone imo. Kids can go do their thing in one corner of VRChat, Adults can socialize with other adults in another corner of the virtual world without fear of accidentally hurting anyone in the lower age bracket.

I should also point out, that at least initially, this system was somewhat optional/opt in too. While i'm not fond of it being optional, I can see argument for that being a compromise for people who would rather not hand their ID in to any form of system. It could be handled the same way when opening instances, simply checking a box to 'enforce age verification in this instance' to turn it on.

deavial

I have to walk a fine line with answering here because I do not represent VRChat, nor am I giving legal advice to VRChat in this post. Attorney, not your attorney.
This topic is dangerous and should NOT be decided by a committee, a development team, project managers, or even executives. It should be decided by your attorney and ONLY by them.
The laws in the US, between the federal government and each individual state, do not work the way the OP stated—they are the exact opposite. Once age verification is implemented, you are now liable for many things. You opted to become a gatekeeper and are now subject to those parameters. This does not even account for laws in other countries.
While I am not saying don't add age verification, I am saying tread lightly. The process you elected for DCMA already places you in absolute liability; enacting another choice here without an attorney could potentially jeopardize the platform.

Jasper Raine

deavial Thanks for this, I had no idea. Hopefully VRChat will consult someone.

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ᴅʀᴀᴛᴇʀ

Add it. I don't want my ID with VRC but at the same time I don't want underage girls to catfish older guys or vice versa. The latter being a stronger argument than the former. Let's get on the ball with this and improve your moderation system.

arianwen27

Strongly agree, so many problems could be prevented by having a trusted age confirmation system. It's gotten to the point that some groups or instances ID check users before allowing them in. This causes people to give their IDs to random people and lie, causing even more issues for everyone involved. Being able to open a profile and see a marker saying 18+ or having 18+ instances would probably prevent a lot of lewd avatars showing up in publics where younger people can see them.
Yes there's the avatar content tagging system to try and prevent some of this. But it's ran by honestly. Most people don't tick that little box and reporting them does nothing. Giving them a dedicated space will separate those avatars from people who really shouldn't see them.
I understand some people worry about giving their ID to vrc and having their ID linked to their account, but it would probs never end up being like that. Eg, roblox uses a third party service for their ID checks, roblox doesn't get your ID or anything, they just get a yes or no.
TLDR, groups and worlds already ID check, people lie, give a way to really tell ages and give a space so people don't have their lewd avatars around younger people.

Piggalicious

I heavily disagree. I agree we should have something better but I don't want to give my ID to VRC or any third party. I dont want it linked to my VRC and I don't want any chance of my ID being stolen in a data breach that happens all the time.

BabyNuni

here is the problem for this tho many kids are going to put an older age especially smarter ones 14-17 I feel like we should have to also have an extra verification for any kind of ID but than again don't know if I trust vrc with that.. I downloaded roblox a bit ago and had to take a pic of my ID to be able to use Voice chat ( yes some kids still got in cause of stupid parents but that was 13+ I feel like if parents saw 18+ they wouldn't do that and there is just less of a chance) so I feel like its possible for VR chat too as long as they don't save the IDs and it instantly deletes.

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