We’ve got a full staff of moderators who work every hour of every day to make sure that the content that hits ROBLOX is safe for all ages. Though we have users of varying age groups, we make an effort to keep our younger audiences from seeing offensive words or pictures. Keeping moderators on ROBLOX 24 hours a day for seven days a week is a heck of a challenge, as the majority of our moderators have ever-changing schedules. But each of them enforces a strict code of rules that we’ve developed over time. Here, Community Manager Becky Herndon walks you through how we moderate content on ROBLOX.
We’ve noticed that our users have become increasingly curious as to how exactly we moderate content on ROBLOX. It’s actually a pretty straightforward process. We receive millions of things to look over a day, but the process differs depending on what we’re moderating.
In order to simplify the process, think of moderated content on ROBLOX as either “pre moderated” or “post moderated.” Pre-moderated content, like images, decals, and t-shirts, to name a few, are moderated and approved before they ever hit our website. We’ve tried to streamline the user experience by allowing users to alter aspects of, say, their t-shirt (setting price points for example), while waiting for approval.
Let’s go over our approval procedures. First off, ROBLOX features a built-in language filter that will automatically notify a moderator when a swear word, of any kind and in any context, is used. Swearing is not allowed on ROBLOX. If you swear, we will be notified.
Moderators look at a wide range of content throughout the day, including video, comments and anything that involves language. We also give users the ability to report other users if they’re misbehaving. Many times, users report a user for being mean or rude sometime after the event. Remember: if someone is giving you a hard time, it’s best to report it as it’s happening.
Upon reporting another user, the moderators will look at the offense and make a decision. Disciplinary action is handled on a case-by-case basis, and is always between ROBLOX and the user (we’re not out to humiliate anyone, we’re just working to keep things safe). Consequences are chosen based on the severity of the offense, as well as the users’ track record.
Post moderation happens far less, but it does occur. We shut down any place that encourages dating of any kind, and any places that may negatively affect our users (like something that resembles the twin towers, or New Orleans after the hurricane, etc).
We also allow users to appeal a disciplinary decision by sending an email to appeals@roblox.com. The appeals staff will take a look and decide whether or not to lift or shorten the ban placed on the user.
ROBLOX’s moderation system has two key strengths that make it the best choice for protecting our community. One is that our developers have designed it from the ground up to be highly adaptable and maintainable. The second strength is the moderation team, which is active all the time. Not only are they on top of responding to reports, they are constantly monitoring for any potential flare-ups.
If they are working every hour of every day, then why at times does a shirt take less than 10 seconds to be approved and at other times up to 2 hours to be approved? Answer me this.
I, personally, think that the moderation isnt so good. Comments are generally just spam, and theres a load of mean players out there, too many. Theres also alot of people who are adults ruining things for kids enjoying roblox. But it was nice to see that the mods and admins are working hard :)
I second that!
Overall, the system is good. But I’ve seen people say horrible swear words and get passed the filters, while saying the title of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy trilogy is blocked. The mods need to get their priorities straight…
The Roblox moderation is grate, but it dose not cover all areas. For example, Noob, Roblox dose nothing with this, its called Name Calling and is not seen as a good thing to be moderated, but when it is used in a mean way it could be reported for Rude. When I messaged info.Roblox, They do not see Noob as rude.
Roblox moderation dose not work good with groups. I have had High Rank users in a group say something a little rude, but they did not mean it as rude, they meant it as the users was not following orders, do what you need to do to fix it; that user got reported, and ban for 1 day.
In my opinion I think that Roblox’s Moderating system is Great but, computers can’t see everything that’s going on in the Roblox community.For example over about 10% of OBC lifetime is through Hacks and Roblox can’t really prevent Cheat engine so The Moderation system could be worked on a bit more.
i like MOST of the moderating system.although,there are a few flaws:if someone does swear or threatain,and get around the filter,few people will atualy report.another problem is that if someone is actualy smart enough to report,the person bieng ban just plugs in their thinking cap and makes another account.then they unplug it AGAIN and swear AGAIN.reply if ya agree.
did you know that your parent/you can switch off privacy mode? I have it off for game commands, place naming, and statements-questions.
I think that would be a bad idea. VERY bad.
The only bad thing is that when a bad user gets banned they just make anouther account and be mean again some times :/
I always though that they were doing a good moderation system. My guess of why there are still hackers is probably the same reason why they took down user made meshes: it is much harder to deal with 3D pics than 2D (decals) pics. I hope that the admins of ROBLOX figure out a way to do this, and bring back user made meshes and fix hacking. I am glad you guys are doing so well! Keep it up!
I agree!
I miss user created meshes too!
What languages do you moderate? Or do moderate only english?
I like the moderation system but there needs to be a section of exploiting. I’ve seen bunches of people hack and the really bad ones i had to file as “Bad words or threats”. Plus I once got a warning for naming the LMFAO title of their latest single lol.
Wow,
That is some tough work! But there needs to be a different Moderation. Such as checking a player if they Exploit,Or anything that could be bad. And Exploiting does not let the others let them enjoy the game. I cant stand on Sword Fight on the Heights when a Exploiter jumps in and flips the Map upside down.
Would the filter inform moderators if there was, say, a * in the word?
Hope someone gets back to this. Not that I’m looking for loopholes.
I have reported many people for being rude (and I am sure they got the chat feed), none of them have ever been banned as far as I can tell. And even if they ever do get banned, they just come back a day later or even a few seconds later. I think this moderation system may need some changes due to its range of users…
People don’t get banned for being rude, bro.
No, why? Still, younger kids can join the site.
You should make a Roblox for like 15+ accounts where we wont get filtered and banned/warned for as much stuff.
This would be negativly influencing younger users.
Why +15? The moderation system should monitor every user and content. I don’t really think there’s an exception to that =P
it would be nice to have 15+ its own group for cussing and all that. that would definetaly increase the population of roblox.
That could be abuseable.. someone could make an account over 15 if they wanted.
It’s not exactly hard to falsify your age. Many kids would start doing this and then when they see something they don’t like, they will just moan and it will get stopped.
thanks a lot!
I thank you all for doing this kind of work, BUT something should be done about the hacking on ROBLOX. I know alot of great game creators and scripters who (for example) give up on ROBLOX just because hackers steal their places when they get popular and take credit for it.
This really is an urgent matter as it scares away future and currently players and game creators.
I DO appreciate the hard work you guys do, but you guys might need to use a diffrent tatic on the Place and Item comment systems. All you see are non stop “POST DIZ 4 LI3F 0BC” “JO1N UZ!!” And all of that crap. The best solution i’ve came up with so far is disabling duplicated comments, like on the forums. May you guys please take this idea into consideration? Anyways, keep up the good work guys!
That’s pretty interesting. Never thought that you would work 24 hours a day.
Funny thing is I got banned for a day (yesterday, still got an hour left) and they posted this article, makes me think they posted it because of me lol. Although the reason I got banned was because I didn’t fully censor a word. I’m better off not saying them at all. Correct me if i’m wrong but is it against the rules to speak of your ban? I think I read it somewhere
It is, but what do they think we do on roblox all day?
Strange. My friend was banned for spamming in his blurb, which is not even possible. :o
In his blurb, he had been comparing China to ROBLOX as far as free speech, ironically.
That is probably why he was banned, he must of did something that is opposing or criticizing another Country. even though you mentioned free speech, he must of said something that Roblox Moderators found offensive.
I think so…
I want to thank ROBLOX mods, they do a lot to keep ROBLOX a safe site, I always use the report button when I see abusive behavior or if that happens to me. Thank you moderators! I apperciate all of the work you do to keep ROBLOX a safe environment.
ROBLOX, Please let non-13+ members name groups, add a description, shout, and name ranks. Please reply to this if you agree.
No, they deserve to have their own group and do their stuff with it if they please.
That’s what he’s saying.
Its against the law to do that i think.
If the non 13+ kids can talk, that means they can also HEAR what others are saying, possibly things like offensive language, swear words, innapropriate language, etc. for instance, and we cant let that happen.