REMINDER on DH Content Policy
Our Content Policy is one of the main policies that keeps Darkhearts Playground both an inclusive, but also safe and compliant place – avoiding not only getting into a grey area when it comes to legislation but also triggering situation for our members.
Why the reminder – and why now?
Note: For full transparency, this is a re-draft of a completely different communication that was drafted yesterday, announcing the ban of ALL CGI content. We have put a hold to it for now because there is some really creative, harmless, lovely content generated by members; and we want to trust our members ability to know and respect the grey areas.
When we presented our former Content Policy we made very clear that we didn’t want to walk on the grey area, but to be a few steps ahead when it comes to legislation and the wellbeing of our members.
Further legislation on realistic content has been passed, and even found to contain traces of real content in the AI generation process. Thankfully, this was already covered by our current policy; proving it was the right choice.
Having said that, we find some members almost walking into the grey area – and this requires heavy monitoring from our side.
We want you to help us help you.
Our initial announcement raised some concerns on whether we were in a similar path as Second Life. Let me reassure you that we are not: our ‘agenda’ is the safety of the amazing place that Darkhearts is, and its members.
We are not in any sort of reputational journey.
We are not a corporation trying to attract more members in sacrifice of the wellbeing of the current ones.
Clearly explaining the differences
| Type of content | Allowed | NOT allowed |
| Minors | Snap from your avatars Realistic PG CGI images Clearly manga/anime images Roleplaying | Real images, adult or PG Realistic non-PG CGI images, including modelling Text referring to RL scenarios |
| Animals | Avatar, snaps of avatar Clearly manga/anime images Roleplaying | Real sexualised images Realistic non-PG CGI images Text referring to RL scenarios |
| Violence/Non-consensual | Consensual snaps from your avatars Clearly manga/anime images Roleplaying | Real, non-consensual images Text referring to real-life scenarios. |
| Hate-speech/discrimination | Roleplaying (i.e. Gor, historical era RP) | Realistic hate-speech or discrimination |
When we say PG, as some staff members have suggested: think Disney.
When we say ‘modelling’ we refer to images in bikinis, etc.
Context is also important: a realistic, PG, CGI generated image surrounded by lewd text or a lewd context (profiles, locations…) is NOT okay.
Note-worthy grey areas
We have seen a couple of cases where some individuals have pushed the boundaries of RPing, pretending to ‘act’ an age RL that they are not, leveraging realistic (PG) AI images. Bear in mind that this does not even require the content policy – MSA requires every member to be +18.
For qTox users: we love privacy – specially in a world were speaking out loud about lack of sleep makes amazing suggest you some better mattress. However, if you are ‘luring’ DH members into other platforms for anything that is not allowed in DH, we will take that into consideration.
Last words
We are proud of all of you folks. Except a few, minor, grey areas, we haven not had any ‘scares’. We also see a growing influx of new members – and we trust the DH veterans to coach them.
To the new ones: Boundaries between ‘gaming’ a RL are important. There is a difference between playing GTA, and expecting to get drugs from other GTA users.
If your goal is to leverage DH as a sort of ‘gateway’ for questionable activities, you will fail. Many of us have been victim of abuse, and have clear, defined, boundaries between empowerment and safety, and misbehaviour.
Darkhearts is a place for inclusiveness that prioritises the safety, joy, and empowerment of its members.
As Staff, we have a duty towards that.
Anael Starchild
Chief Operating Officer
