Adult content
More actions
Resonite explicitly allows adult, also known as mature or NSFW (Not Safe For Work) assets to be uploaded and used in compliance with the ToS and Guidelines as well as themes and activities that are also considered adult in nature.
These and other policies, both explicit and implied, attempt to strike a balance between different communities, personal expectations and personal expression. The goal is making a welcoming place for everyone to both be themselves as well as feel safe.
If you need clarification or want to confirm details, please contact Moderation via the ticket system or on Moderation Office Hours.
Because the minimum allowed age on the platform is 16 with the hope to lower this in the future, the policies also include strict guidelines regarding the use of adult assets and content in public spaces. Many people also simply wish to not be exposed to such subjects.
This guide has two main sections:
- Public
- Covering what is and isn't allowed in public: Continue reading.
- Private
- Including details about running an adult session, including recommended access levels, you can jump to: Adult content#In private
Guidelines
For reference, from the November 2nd, 2024 copy of: https://resonite.com/policies/Guidelines.html here is the relevant section:
Adult Content
Adult content is content that should not be accessed by, shown to, or otherwise distributed to anyone under the age of 18. Content of this type is any content that is or contains: genitalia, sexually explicit avatars or objects, pornography, or sexually explicit activity.
Sexually explicit content and activity, including kink or fetish related activity is only permitted in sessions that fit the following listed criteria:
- Within sessions that are set to private, or set to contacts if your contacts list is curated to exclude minors and those not consenting to see adult content, or within a headless session that’s set to private or contacts with a contacts list that is curated as stated prior.
- Wherein all users are consenting to see adult content and are of age to do so.
If your world is suddenly going to have adult content in it, be certain that everyone in the world is at least 18 years old, and ask if everyone is consenting to see such content before bringing the content into the world.
Consent
Consent is both a very complicated and very simple subject.
At its heart it is getting permission to interact in some way with another person, however the complexity is in social norms and expectation. What is welcomed by one person could, and is likely to be, be completely unacceptable to another even in the same situation.
VR adds additional complexity due to the potential for greater immersion, resulting in radically different experiences for people in the same environments. To some people this is 'just a game', to others it is themselves complete with full physical sensations(phantom sense) and everything in between. Because of this spread of experiences extra care should be taken to ensure everyone is comfortable.
Consent also applies to non-sexual interactions, for example booping someone, using a weapon around or picking up another person.
For further thoughts on consent, review both the bellow quote as well as the 'Tea and Consent' video to the right.
Active Agreement: Consent cannot be assumed; an explicit "yes" or equivalent action is required before proceeding.
Ongoing and Reversible: It is not a one-time agreement. Either person can change their mind and stop at any point.
Informed and Free: Consent cannot be given if someone is pressured, coerced, unconscious, or incapacitated by drugs or alcohol.
Specific: Consenting to one activity does not automatically mean consenting to a different or higher degree of activity.
Remember: People may have different comfort levels or social expectations that might not match yours: Never Assume Consent.
In public
Resonite has a strict policy about adult or sexual content in public worlds. This includes having any such assets on your avatar.
Technical reasons for this include that because all assets loaded into a world have to be sent to everyone's computer in the session for rendering and pre-loading of the asset (Which is the same for other platforms with User Generated content) everyone in such a session containing adult content must be over 18 and consenting a public session by definition cannot conform to this rule.
Additionally, due to the nature of the platform and, while against the Community Guidelines, it's possible for anyone to look at any part of your avatar without permission. Do note that currently session Owners/Admins are allowed search through your avatar though it is suggested they seek permission first.
It should be noted that some people have been also known to make and use "NSFW Scanners" that detect assets and automatically ban or eject users from their avatars, while it can be seen as impolite or intrusive, if they are the owner of the session and have announced are running such a tool, they are within their rights to do so.
Assets
Your mesh or texture cannot have Adult textures or shapes as part of it's structure. This includes adjustable features such as blendshapes.
- A general rule used by moderation in public regarding shapes are 'convex is fine, concave is not'.
- Example: An subtle outward genital bulge for example is typically passable, but any further inward showing detail is unacceptable.
- Blendshape names don't need to be strictly safe, but they cannot do anything that would expose or show any adult assets.
- For example: Something that adjusts aspects of your avatar such as increasing a thigh gap, but isn't otherwise explicit in it's own right is acceptable.
- Removal is best done with an external tool such as Blender that gives you full and detailed control and visualization over the mesh.
- There are also a number of ways of removing unwanted blendshapes in game using features in the SkinnedMeshRenderer component. See here for details: SkinnedMeshRenderer#Blendshape removal
- Care should be taken to ensure the mesh data is actually removed or destroyed and not simply hidden.
- Textures must not have sexual or explicit details even if that part of the mesh has been removed.
- Colouring over or cutting out that part of the texture is fine even if it implies something was removed/hidden.
- Other assets
- Assets considered adult also include things like audio, for example explicit moaning. It's worth reviewing these items for suitability in public.
Themes
Because others may have different standards to you, it's worth considering others, for example: turning off/down jiggle physics on bulges, wearing something that covers your chest or being discrete about how you express yourself. In return people are expected to be tolerant of something they might be uncomfortable with. Respect goes both ways.
- Nipples
- In general naked chests including nipples, on all genders is allowed.
- Do note that the local laws of the session host as well as their desires may effect this.
- Due to the controversial nature of this subject consider wearing a top/cover in public even if the assets are still on your avatar.
- For at least some public discourse, see: remove allowing breast with nipple in public worlds #1008
- Accessories
- Non-sexualised accessories that may be considered fetish, for example, collars, bondage styled harnesses, pacifiers/dummies, piercings, etc. are allowed.
- General themes
- Things like inflatables, plush, statues, quadrupedal and similar so long as they have no sexual details are allowed.
- Controversial themes
- A number of allowances have been made regarding more complicated subjects. It should be acknowledged that the community reactions towards these subjects can be stronger and care should be taken when expressing these in public.
- This section is left vague for now. Feedback is being sought from affected individuals.
Systems
Resonite contains a number of adult themed systems, these cannot remain on your avatar even if deactivated when in public sessions.
Discreetly named DynVars from these systems are considered a grey area and don't typically count as adult content. It is recommended however to err on the side of caution even if you won't get in trouble.
Some systems such as common 'consent bands' are acceptable to wear in public, they might have an applied suggestiveness but are also used for people who wish to invite or caution against other forms of interaction.
Keeping safe with avatar content
Because of the flexible nature of the platform there are many ways to comply with the rules. The exact method will depend on the user and due to the nature of avatars can be a deeply personal matter as to what they would consider acceptable. This section only attempts to offer suggestions.
Best practice
Have two copies of your avatar, one for public worlds and one for Private/Adult Only spaces. Or even completely different avatars. This helps keep things from being missed when doing edits and allows for better separation. Make sure to only favorite the public one and keep adult versions somewhere obvious as well as the use of thumbnails to prevent accidental equipping.
Common
Using snappers or other install systems to attach a set of additional assets to your avatar when needed. This needs to be done with care to prevent accidental saving or spawning of those assets. This however does allows a single version of your avatar that can be used in both public and private sessions.
Some components that can be useful include ChildrenSaveBlocker to prevent saving the snapped assets and WorldAccessLevel to prevent spawning of assets in open sessions. Do note that relying only on technical solutions is not advised as sometimes things can still break.
Unacceptable
A single avatar that has adult assets that uses tricks to try or obfuscate that content. If adult or explicit content is on the avatar, it's not to be used in public. Remember that even if the the asset is not shown still gets sent to everyone in the session. This could include under 18 or non-consenting users.
If you have an avatar such as this and wish to never use another, stay purely in private spaces.
In private
Anything that is not illegal or against the ToS/Guidelines is allowed in private. Just follow the rules about session levels detailed bellow, ensure everyone everyone involved is both over 18 and has consented to see such content.
Remember: The session host is responsible for ensuring everyone present is in compliance with these rules and bears the final responsibility for any infractions. "I didn't know" is not an excuse.
Adult content session matrix
In order to provide some assistance, presented below is a table showing the sessions that can and cannot contain adult content. This table is derived from the guidelines but is not actually part of the guidelines itself.
When using this table for your sessions, keep in mind that it is still possible for activity and sessions that break the guidelines to still occur. Please use this table for advice but always refer to the full guidelines.
| Session visibility | Not hidden | Hidden | Cloud variable controlled access | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not hidden | Hidden | |||
| Anyone | No | Not recommended** | No | Yes |
| Registered Users | No | Not recommended** | No | Yes |
| Contacts+ | No | Not recommended** | No | Yes |
| Contacts | Maybe* | Yes | Maybe* | Yes |
| LAN | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Private | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
In all cases, users must be 18+ and have consented to see adult content.
* All users on your contacts list must be 18+ and have consented to see adult content.
** Users in your session can invite other users who must also have consented and be 18+. If you cannot be certain of this. Don’t use it.
Consent still matters
As detailed at the top of the page, a key principal for all of Resonite is consent. All the same rules apply in private sessions as in more public ones and any violations of this are taken just as seriously.
Many places use 'consent bands' as a part of their social interactions. Such items should only be treated at most as starting point and wearing of one never implies or gives actual consent. It can also change or be retracted at any point for any reason.
It is worth checking out sites such as: https://www.consent.gov.au/check-your-understanding <Need a US and EU version too>
Remember: People may have different comfort levels or social expectations that might not match yours: Never Assume Consent.
Video
Miss Molly on why adult content on your public avatars is so dangerous:
Frooxius on adult content in Resonite: