Content Moderation Policy

1. Overview

GlitchRealm is committed to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and high-quality gaming platform. This Content Moderation Policy outlines how we review, approve, and moderate user-generated content including game submissions, reviews, community posts, and user profiles.

Our moderation efforts aim to:

• Ensure all content complies with our Terms of Service and Code of Conduct
• Protect users from harmful, illegal, or inappropriate content
• Maintain platform quality and user trust
• Support creators while enforcing community standards

2. What We Moderate

2.1 Game Submissions

All game submissions undergo review before publication. We check for:

• Content Compliance: No prohibited content (see Section 4)
• Technical Functionality: Game must load and be playable
• Accuracy: Titles, descriptions, and screenshots must accurately represent the game
• Intellectual Property: No copyright or trademark infringement
• Quality Standards: Games must meet minimum quality thresholds

See our Game Submission Policy for detailed approval criteria.

2.2 Reviews and Ratings

User reviews are moderated to prevent:

• Spam, bot-generated, or fake reviews
• Harassment, personal attacks, or hate speech
• Off-topic content or external links
• Review manipulation or vote brigading
• Profanity or inappropriate language

2.3 Community Posts and Comments

Community discussions, forum posts, and comments must follow our Code of Conduct. Moderated content includes:

• Threatening, abusive, or harassing messages
• Spam, advertisements, or self-promotion
• Doxxing or sharing private information
• Impersonation of others
• Misinformation or scams

2.4 User Profiles and Avatars

Profile information, usernames, and avatars must be appropriate and not contain:

• Offensive, hateful, or explicit imagery
• Impersonation of GlitchRealm staff or other users
• Copyrighted material used without permission
• Contact information or external links (in usernames)

3. Moderation Process

3.1 Automated Filtering

We use automated systems to detect:

• Profanity and hate speech patterns
• Spam and duplicate content
• Malicious links or scripts
• Known copyrighted content

Automated flags are reviewed by human moderators for final decisions.

3.2 Human Review

Our moderation team manually reviews:

• All game submissions before approval
• Flagged content and user reports
• Appeals and disputed decisions
• High-impact content (featured games, promoted posts)

3.3 User Reporting

Users can report inappropriate content using the "Report" button available on games, reviews, and community posts. Reports should include:

• Clear description of the violation
• Specific policy being violated
• Screenshots or evidence (if applicable)

False or malicious reports may result in account penalties.

4. Prohibited Content

The following types of content are strictly prohibited on GlitchRealm:

4.1 Illegal Content

• Child sexual abuse material (CSAM)
• Content promoting terrorism or violent extremism
• Sale or distribution of illegal goods/services
• Pirated or stolen content
• Content violating export control or sanctions laws

4.2 Harmful or Dangerous Content

• Instructions for self-harm or suicide
• Promotion of eating disorders
• Dangerous challenges or stunts
• Instructions for creating weapons or explosives

4.3 Hate Speech and Harassment

• Content targeting individuals based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics
• Threats, doxxing, or coordinated harassment
• Glorification of violence against groups or individuals

4.4 Sexual and Adult Content

• Pornography or sexually explicit material
• Non-consensual intimate imagery
• Sexual content involving minors (real or depicted)
• Sexualized violence or exploitation

Note: Artistic nudity, educational content, and age-appropriate romantic themes may be allowed with proper content warnings.

4.5 Deceptive or Malicious Content

• Malware, viruses, or phishing attempts
• Scams or fraudulent schemes
• Impersonation or identity theft
• Fake engagement (bots, paid reviews, vote manipulation)
• Misleading metadata or clickbait

4.6 Spam and Low-Quality Content

• Mass-produced or template-based games with minimal effort
• Duplicate submissions or plagiarized content
• Broken, unplayable, or non-functional games
• Excessive advertising or promotional content

5. Enforcement Actions

Violations may result in one or more of the following actions:

5.1 Content Removal

• Immediate removal of prohibited content
• Deletion of reviews, comments, or posts
• De-listing of games (removed from public view)

5.2 Account Warnings

• First-time minor violations receive a written warning
• Warning message sent to user email
• No impact on account standing if compliance improves

5.3 Temporary Restrictions

• Temporary ban on submitting new games (7-30 days)
• Commenting or review privileges suspended
• Cooldown period for re-submission after rejection

5.4 Account Suspension or Termination

• Repeated violations or severe breaches
• Illegal content, harassment, or malicious behavior
• Circumventing moderation systems
• Suspension: Temporary (30-90 days) with possible reinstatement
• Termination: Permanent ban, all content removed

5.5 Badge Revocation

• Verified creator badges revoked for policy violations
• Special badges (beta tester, contributor) removed

6. Appeals Process

If you believe content was moderated in error, you may appeal the decision:

How to Appeal

1. Email support@glitchrealm.ca with subject line "Moderation Appeal"
2. Include your account email, content ID, and reason for appeal
3. Provide any evidence supporting your case
4. Appeals are reviewed within 5-7 business days

Appeal Outcomes

• Upheld: Content remains removed/restricted
• Overturned: Content restored, warning removed
• Partial: Content edited to comply, penalty reduced

Appeal decisions are final. Repeated frivolous appeals may result in loss of appeal privileges.

7. Transparency Reports

We are committed to transparency in our moderation practices. GlitchRealm publishes quarterly transparency reports including:

• Number of content removals by category
• Account actions taken (warnings, suspensions, bans)
• User reports received and response times
• Appeals filed and outcomes
• Government requests for content removal (if any)

Reports are available on our About page.

8. Moderator Guidelines

Our moderation team follows strict guidelines:

• Consistency: Apply rules uniformly across all users
• Context: Consider intent, cultural differences, and context
• Fairness: No bias based on user status or popularity
• Confidentiality: User data and reports kept private
• Education: Explain violations and help users improve

Moderators must recuse themselves from cases involving personal conflicts of interest.

9. Special Considerations

9.1 Age-Appropriate Content

GlitchRealm is intended for users 13+. Content must be appropriate for teenage audiences. Mature themes (violence, language, suggestive content) require content warnings.

9.2 Cultural and Regional Differences

We recognize cultural differences in acceptable content. However, content must comply with:

• Canadian laws (our jurisdiction)
• International human rights standards
• Our platform-wide Code of Conduct

9.3 Parody and Satire

Parody, satire, and commentary are allowed if clearly labeled and not used to harass or spread misinformation.

9.4 Educational and Newsworthy Content

Educational content, historical references, or news discussions about sensitive topics may be allowed with proper context and warnings.

10. Developer Responsibilities

Game developers are responsible for:

• Moderating user-generated content within their games (if applicable)
• Responding to reports about their submitted games
• Updating or removing games that violate policies
• Providing accurate content warnings and age ratings
• Monitoring and addressing player feedback

Failure to moderate game-specific content may result in game removal or developer account penalties.

11. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Moderation Policy to reflect:

• Changes in laws or regulations
• New platform features or content types
• Evolving community standards
• Feedback from users and creators

Material changes will be announced via email and platform notifications 30 days before taking effect.

12. Contact Us

For questions about content moderation:

• General Inquiries: support@glitchrealm.ca
• Report Content: Use the "Report" button on content or email support@glitchrealm.ca
• Developer Support: developers@glitchrealm.ca
• Legal Issues: legal@glitchrealm.ca