RIZZASTERParents' Questions About Chat Safety
/archive/warps/plugins/misc/imogen.bailey/ · last edited 25 Dec 2022 · Partnerships
Last month, a parent contacted us after noticing their child had received a message from another player that included a link. The link was not harmful, but it raised concerns about how our chat system handles external content. Upon investigation, we found that the message had been sent through a private chat and had not gone through any automated filtering. While the link itself was safe, it highlighted a gap in our ability to monitor all chat interactions effectively.
We had previously relied on basic keyword filters and moderator oversight, but this incident showed that more proactive measures were needed, especially for private messages where automated systems have less visibility. Our team of moderators had not been trained specifically on how to handle such situations, and there was no clear protocol for reporting or escalating concerns from parents or players.
In response, we updated our moderation training to include clearer guidelines on identifying and responding to potentially unsafe content, even in private chats. We also introduced a new reporting feature that allows any player or parent to flag a message for immediate review by a moderator. This change helps ensure that even messages not flagged by our system can still be addressed quickly and appropriately.
We also added a section to our community guidelines that explicitly outlines how we handle external links and what players can expect in terms of content safety. This helps set clear expectations and provides parents with more confidence that we’re actively working to keep the chat environment safe and respectful for all users.