Tackling Censorship and Building a Safer Community

Posted 6 months ago by Meeows

Meeows Admin

Thank you all for bringing the recent issues with censorship to our attention. As IMVU has transitioned to a new chat tool, we are in the process of fine-tuning the system, and your feedback has been instrumental in helping us improve this new model. We are working diligently to restore the experience you're accustomed to, while also ensuring we continue protecting minors on the platform. In addition, we are committed to reducing bullying, harassment, and toxicity to create a safer, more positive environment for everyone.

If you experience any odd behavior regarding AP rooms, please don't hesitate to contact our support team so we can address and resolve the issue as soon as possible.

We know these changes are frustrating, and we really appreciate your patience as we work through them. While we can't fix everything overnight, please know that we're listening and making steady progress to bring you the best experience possible. Thank you for sticking with us!

7 Votes

92 Comments

DjMrsKaceyAnnaPaige posted 6 months ago

This is going too far. In an Ap room and talking about research at the Univerisity. Talk about big brother watching you what is next our personal messages.

9 Votes

JanXuan posted 6 months ago

Fix it please, I'm going crazy. Sometimes there is no problem, and then again two times in a row.

8 Votes

JanXuan posted 6 months ago

Not censored, There is completely nothing logical on how this works.

If IMVU is going to rely on AI for making things work, I can tell you from another experience, that that is a bad idea. Even AI image generators can't "think". Tell them to make something "not with stained glass windows" and all it can produce is "stained glass windows" because in the AI "thinking" all churches have stained glass windows. AI can't do a reliable job!

9 Votes

JanXuan posted 6 months ago

It just happened again. A room welcome, omg.

But when I said it without "Welcome" it was not censored.

So Welcome is the bad word?

9 Votes

MrsLuciaSFirenze posted 6 months ago

have an AP room, AP pass, age verification etc, and cant say the F word???? what gives?

10 Votes

Aisharosalegend8 posted 6 months ago

I hope vu fix the filters it so hard to texting with them

7 Votes

JanXuan posted 6 months ago

Just now:

8 Votes

MindyKitten posted 6 months ago

I have been here for 14 years and am well over the age limit to do what i want to do on IMVU. I do not interact with anyone else but my bf. I have purchased AP and VIP passes, AP products from your catalogs and you have given me AP products as gifts. I have had AP clubs and homes which i purchased from your catalogs. All within the last 14 years. And now, in your appreciation of me spending hundreds or thousands of dollars over the years, you have censored my private discussions between me and my boyfriend of 12 years. C'mon IMVU, I think you are better than this.

9 Votes

Davon posted 6 months ago

Nods

3 Votes

Meeows posted 6 months ago Admin

@MagicRose This is likely a temporary issue with the chat system, which we are actively reviewing and revising as necessary. This mixed-behavior should be resolved soon.

6 Votes

JaniaJade posted 6 months ago

I understand being worried about toxisity and having hatefull remarks, but is that not why theres a boot and block button. why do we need moderators in our private rooms telling us what we can say. if we dont like it all we have to do is leave or boot. this seems like you are punishing us all for the bad behavior of others... i complained about censorship a while ago. i also warned thoes that said i should suck it up that it would only get worse if we didnt stop it there.

9 Votes

Meeows posted 6 months ago Admin

@Kanjiirahlni We would like to clarify that the recent changes are not related to AP+ and was purely coincidental in timing. We have received reports of negative experiences on our platform, including instances of bullying, harassment, and toxicity. In response, we are actively training our new chat model to better handle these types of conversations. While we aim to support open dialogue, we do not tolerate use of harmful or hateful language. Our goal is to foster a more inclusive and positive community for everyone, and we appreciate your support as we work toward this important mission.

3 Votes

MagicRose posted 6 months ago

Many of us are experiencing the same issue here. This makes no sense. There are 2 avatars (people) in one private room, both of whom are AP and age verified, both using the same version of the client. Yet one person CAN type the exact same words WITHOUT receiving an admin warning/whisper and the other person can NOT type it. The other person DOES receive an admin whisper reading Your Message was not delivered due to a possible Community Guidelines violation and the message is not sent. This is a major issue. Please advise. Thank you so much!

11 Votes

Kanjiirahlni posted 6 months ago

Another thing that I and many others are worried about; does this have anything to do with AP+?

One of the listed features on AP+ is "Private Chat Rooms: Invite someone and enjoy intimate and private conversations with other AP+ age verified members in specially designed chat rooms."

Does this mean we won't be able to have "Intimate and private conversations" if we're just normal AP?

3 Votes

Kanjiirahlni posted 6 months ago

Also, I'm concerned about what you mean when you say "we are committed to reducing bullying, harassment, and toxicity to create a safer, more positive environment for everyone".

Does this mean you will be censoring "hate speech" or "offensive speech"? Because that is a TERRIBLE idea, considering there's no accurate way to determine what is considered "hate speech" or "offensive speech".

yes, bullying is bad (m'kay?), and nobody likes toxicity, however outright censoring people from "saying mean things" is much worse than either of those.

6 Votes