I know this might be something without a clear answer but the ideas been kicking around for some friends and I for a while:
If a Group Public world is restricted to 18+ verified users and the group name hosting the instance is very clear about the content of the instance (for example a group name of “Nudists” or “No Clothes Crew” or something as descriptive) is this still considered ‘Private’ the way Friends+ seems to be included in now?
I’m interested in hosting worlds where people can be naked and I don’t want to take risks trying to guess at the vague ToS. I do not believe it to be giving anyone unwanted content if they can see what they’re in for first and this would keep children as a concern completely off the table.
I don’t want some public orgy room, I don’t want to encourage public sexual behavior, and I don’t think accurate physical representation in VR is inherently sexual. Some of us feel extremely uncomfortable in our real bodies and being able to simulate a body that feels more natural in a safe place around consenting adults seems reasonable to me.
I’m shocked at the maturity level of 18+ rooms and it’s honestly been a hugely refreshing experience. I trust adults in the presence of moderation that have paid for the right to be there to not go into a room marked “naked people in here” if that offends them.
I also want to advocate for appropriate content tagging when uploading avatars. If you have sexually suggestive material turned off and you see someone naked I see that as a failure of the uploader it should be reported.
Hello, first i believe that a lot of people aren’t mature indeed based on those kind of things, but i like that you may want to have a 18+ place with some mature aspects, but no sexual aspects as well.
I’m just an individual but,
Based on the Wiki Instances - VRChat Wiki and the Community Guidelines Community Guidelines — VRChat What is considered as private instances are any instance that require an “invite”, and by so, Group public is considered public, what would work would be group+, group only, invite, invite+, friends, friends+.
Once you are sure to use those kind of instance and that they are moderated accordingly, then would apply as mentionned in the community guidelines
Certain portions of the “inflammatory behavior” guideline may not apply in Private instances as long as everyone present consents.
Hope this helps, but again, that’s my interpretation of the guidelines.
Hey, thanks for the openminded response. I’d consider a paywall no longer public in the same sense as other public rooms but I understand the distinction you’re making.
“As long as everyone present consents” reads to me as someone seeing a sign that says “No pants in here” and consenting to continue anyways. If Public 18+ rooms were available without the Group setting there’d be more of an issue to me, but with the inclusion of a Group there’s the opportunity to let people know what’s in that room and to consent via entering.
If I’m following what seems to be the spirit of it all it seems like they want to avoid big negative attention where kids are finding their way into strip clubs and getting preyed on by bad actors. Valid and worth keeping that locked down, 100%.
If in the future 18+ is expanded to no longer require VRC+ or any payment, I would hope that extra precautions could be put in place but I’m sure that’s already a big concern to the devs.
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This is an interesting concept @Arix-Mica, but it highlights a glaring inconsistency with VRChat’s so-called “Community Guidelines.” VRChat pretends to take a strong stance against explicit and inappropriate content in public instances, yet public NSFW avatars and blatant violations of TOS are all over the place, even in Group Public worlds.
I’ve reported over 80 avatars with clear TOS violations—ranging from explicit nudity to suggestive content—and VRChat’s moderation barely lifts a finger. Weeks go by before any action is taken, if it even happens at all. It’s not just isolated incidents, it’s systemic negligence.
How is VRChat planning to regulate 18+ Group Public worlds effectively when it can’t even handle the rampant abuse happening right now? This idea of “consent” through signage is a good one, but the platform can’t even enforce basic avatar guidelines. If public 18+ worlds were allowed, we’d be opening the floodgates for even more abuse without any confidence that VRChat’s moderation will step in.
If VRChat leadership can’t step up and actually enforce their own rules in the current state, expanding into more explicit spaces is like handing gasoline to an arsonist. Fix the moderation problems first before expanding into more complex territory. Otherwise, it’s just more false promises and ignored reports.
I don’t care about how consistent VRC is with their policy. I really don’t. I’d actually rather that they play as loose as they can and be forced to have as little enforcement as possible. I think people like you who “mass report” are a big problem and you should mind your own business.
If you don’t like it, block it and walk away.
I’m not interested in attempts for some “oh please think of the innocents” talk. Personally, I think it’s completely the fault of parents if they allow their children unmonitored access to the internet and I’m sick of needing to parent other people’s kids.
If a child sees something on the internet that’s not my problem and I’m sick of people like you pretending that it should be. Raise your own kids and keep them away from me.
You can consider me an arsonist in your terror scenario then, I want people like you to get out of my business. I’d rather you burn that let you restrict my expression.
@Arix-Mica, your entire response is a masterclass in selfish deflection. You don’t care about consistency or moderation? Of course, you wouldn’t—those are the very things that keep platforms safe and accountable, which seems to interfere with your little playground of “expression.” What you’re describing isn’t freedom; it’s reckless entitlement.
“Block it and walk away”? That’s the lazy mantra of those who want zero accountability. The problem isn’t just seeing it—it’s the fact it’s there at all in public spaces, easily accessible and blatantly violating the platform’s own terms. It’s like saying if someone litters or vandalizes a public space, everyone else should just look away and step around it instead of holding the offenders accountable. Absolute nonsense.
And let’s be clear, hiding behind the tired excuse of “parent your own kids” doesn’t justify allowing unmoderated filth to proliferate in spaces that are supposed to be safe and community-focused. If VRChat didn’t intend for moderation, they wouldn’t have rules in the first place. But they do—and it’s people like me, who actually care about the platform’s integrity, who ensure those rules are followed when VRChat fails to do so.
You want to be an “arsonist”? Fine. But don’t cry foul when you get caught playing with fire. Your desire for zero oversight is exactly why communities like VRChat become toxic, unsafe, and unwelcoming for anyone who values decency and actual community standards.
I’m not here to coddle reckless “expression.” I’m here to hold people accountable. If you’re so against that, maybe you’re the one who should step out of the way.
Thank you for saying I’ve had a good idea. I appreciate the compliment. I’ll ignore all the completely unrelated fearmongering about moderation or the fact that I advocated reporting badly tagged uploads and accept that you agree with my idea.
I am selfish, yes. If filth wants to proliferate I suppose that’s just what humanity desires. I want spaces I enjoy and I don’t want you taking them from me for some standard I disagree with. I don’t think it’s up to you to decide what is and isn’t appropriate for others to do.
I wish you a happy time on the internet but it sounds like you’re going to have a rough go of things. “Decency” sounds like a lot of work for you and you have my pity. We have far far more moderation available to each one of us than you would ever get in real life. For instance, I can’t just block you right now and exile you from my life the way I would in VRC.
People are right, you really do sound like chat gpt.
Have a wonderful day
I appreciate the attempt at humor, @Arix-Mica, but I’m not here to stroke egos or back-pat ideas that compromise platform safety. VRChat’s current structure—allowing NSFW content to slip through public instances under the guise of “just block it and move on”—is the very reason we’re having this conversation. It’s not fearmongering; it’s reality. It’s the reason crashers, predators, and explicit content are rampant and unchecked. Ignoring it doesn’t make it go away—it emboldens it.
Your laissez-faire attitude of “if filth wants to proliferate, so be it” is precisely why platforms like VRChat are infested with inappropriate content in public spaces. I’m not saying shut it all down—I’m saying keep it contained and responsible. If VRChat’s own Community Guidelines actually mattered, your idealistic “anything goes” mindset would be an outlier, not the norm.
I find it amusing that you wish me well on the internet but simultaneously advocate for a lawless digital playground where the burden of safety is entirely on the individual, not the platform. “Decency” isn’t a dirty word—it’s the bare minimum expectation of a community that respects all its members, not just the ones that want to parade around with zero consequence.
And as for the ChatGPT remarks—if advocating for actual platform standards and accountability reads like something AI-generated, maybe it’s because your version of “normal” is completely disconnected from real-world expectations. I’m not here to babysit VRChat’s moderation team—I’m here to demand that they do their job.
I’m sure that concept is as foreign to you as the idea of genuine platform accountability.
At first i thought it was just stupid, but i relly begin to believe that you run your responses through ChatGPT or that you are strait up a bot.