https://www.reddit.com/r/modnews/comments/ikpgpp/an_update_on_subreddit_classification_efforts/
created by 0perspective on 01/09/2020 at 18:08 UTC*
370 upvotes, 47 top-level comments (showing 25)
Welcome to September, Mods.
A month ago we posted[1] about the evolution of the NSFW (Not Safe For Work) tag to a system that provides redditors with more information, and ultimately more control, over the content they see on Reddit. Today, I want to give a quick update on where we’re at with the new tags, and a heads up on a few things that you’ll start to see in your communities and modtools.
1: https://www.reddit.com/r/modnews/comments/hoac3v/keeping_reddit_real_subreddit_content/
Redditors have long asked for a way to quickly distinguish between pornographic and other NSFW content (we’re looking at you NSFL advocates). This new set does that, while also providing two additional tags about how often a community posts or discusses mature themes.
In addition to the content tags above, each community will also have an overview of mature themes. These will help provide more detailed information about the different types of content that people may expect to find when viewing a community. Currently, the themes include these categories:
Here are a few made up examples of what the tags and descriptions may look like for different types of communities:
Let us know what you think of the proposed content tag system and the mature themes we’re proposing as part of the trial and beta today. We’re not expecting this to be perfect and encourage you to help us improve this system with your feedback. Nothing is set in stone here so tell us where the rough edges are and how we can make this system better.
​
Now that a new set of tags has been established, the next step is getting more feedback and information from all of you. This will happen in two ways:
The high level content tags survey for mods[3]
2: https://reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/360048185132
The high level topic verification flow
We’ll continue to gather feedback and make improvements while releasing tags for review in batches. This is just the first of many stepping stones. In the meantime, if you have any questions, I’ll be here to answer them and hear your thoughts.
Comment by AssuredlyAThrowAway at 01/09/2020 at 18:17 UTC
87 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Are communities punished based on which classification they fall into (by, for example, being removed from /r/all or /r/popular)?
Comment by bakonydraco at 01/09/2020 at 18:41 UTC
22 upvotes, 2 direct replies
This gives a great understanding of how to set this up from a mod perspective, but I'm less clear on how this will look from a user perspective. Where will these icons show up to signal their information to users?
Comment by coderDude69 at 01/09/2020 at 20:14 UTC
17 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I think this is a good idea, though I have a few questions:
1. Where is the line between General and Mature? Would a subreddit that is otherwise for all audiences but allows swear usage be considered general or mature?
2. How does this apply for comments? How would a subreddit that more or less has clean posts but can have more mature comment sections be classified? I think maybe having two ratings for posts or comments could maybe work, or having comments be rated could also work more ideally, though at the cost of significantly more mod/commenter work
3. Would this remove the NSFW tag entirely, or be added in addition to it? For example, in absence of a post rating system, I don't think removing the NSFW tag on posts would be a good idea.
4. How would this affect reddit searching? Would a user be able to set a content rating (much like the current NSFW setting) to be able to choose what type of subreddits show up in searches?
5. Would this extend to user profiles? And if they did, would comments of certain maturity level users be nor shown/hidden?
I apologize for the length, but I think its clear that this kind of content rating has great potential. I also think better abilities to individually block content that you don't want to see would be a good addition on top of the full potential of this system. It would likely solve a lot of the granularity issues and edge cases
Comment by Watchful1 at 01/09/2020 at 18:17 UTC
31 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Is this only for entire subreddits or is a similar system eventually planned for individual posts?
Comment by as-well at 01/09/2020 at 22:48 UTC*
16 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I'm confused by the system. On r/philosophy we usually have unrated content; but at times a post may discuss porn, sexual ethics, or violence. Are we expected (or even required) to highlight this?
(Actually any of the tags could apply for individual post, pretty sure we also had posts about weapons or gambling).
What about r/askphilosophy or other academic subs where the same is true, any of the themes may be discussed?
Oh and while we're at it, an askPhil user likes to say sweet fuck; is that profanity you'd like us to highlight?
In general I think more guidelines and/or an exceptions route would be nice.
Comment by mokiboki at 01/09/2020 at 18:13 UTC
38 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Are there still plans for a NSFL tag (on posts)? This still leaves room for that.
Comment by ViktorErikJensen at 01/09/2020 at 22:56 UTC
10 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Maybe I'm stupid but what has "amateur advice" to do with anything related to this topic? Is that a code word for something else?
Comment by yossipossi at 01/09/2020 at 20:05 UTC
9 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I'm curious where subreddits I moderate such as r/SCP (the subreddit for the SCP Wiki), r/DankMemesFromSite19 (the former, but for memes about it), and r/SCPDeclassified (the latter two, but specifically for intellectual discussion) would fall. Although the content typically is SFW and relatively safe for minors, the Wiki does feature a number of articles that have disturbing or sexual content (which occasionally will come up in discussion), and things such as the "femur breaker" (which features a man strapped to a metal device screaming, but no explicit gore). Would this overall affect the community's tags?
Comment by WaitForItTheMongols at 02/09/2020 at 08:19 UTC
7 upvotes, 2 direct replies
So does the V-for-violence tag apply to subs like /r/trees? It says for communities that discuss drugs.
Would that also include /r/leaves?
What qualifies something to be considered common? /r/Multicopter often has photos of people cutting their hand open with propellers. That's gore. But it's also not the focus of the community.
Is bad_cop_no_donut violence, since it sometimes shows cops beating people up?
It's just hard to draw a line on what counts for these tags to apply.
Comment by LadyLuna21 at 01/09/2020 at 19:26 UTC
12 upvotes, 2 direct replies
So, using one of my own communities as an example, r/redditserials is a serialized fiction subreddit. While we do have strict rules about what is and isn't allowed, there is a very large variety in what is viewed as artistic freedom.
We've recently introduced a "Dark Themes" flair for things that aren't sexually NSFW but do make some readers uncomfortable. There is no set frequency to how often that flair is used, it varies author by author. Would the subreddit then be classified as V - because we do have that content occasionally, or simply M?
Categorizing a whole subreddit that is based upon artistic expression makes it difficult to know what truly represents the overall rating for the subreddit.
Now on the other hand, I would love to see this rating system implemented for each individual post. It would allow our readers to have a better understanding of what they are going to read before hand, and especially in r/redditserials case, an average rating from all chapters might give better insight to what the subreddit's overall rating should be.
Comment by alabomb at 01/09/2020 at 23:32 UTC
6 upvotes, 1 direct replies
How would gaming communities fit into these definitions of violence / gore?
It's not entirely clear to me from the post whether or not a distinction is being drawn between real-world violence and fantasy violence. For example, some games will have gratuitous/realistic depictions of blood & gore whereas others may eschew it entirely or find ways to abstract it.
Comment by kn33 at 02/09/2020 at 01:15 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Recreational weapons & gambling
These seem like they should be separate
Comment by Roxolan at 01/09/2020 at 19:41 UTC
6 upvotes, 1 direct replies
In case of disagreement, does the choice of what a sub is tagged as ultimately belong to the admins, to the mods, or to the community? (As a matter of policy, I mean. Obviously the admins ultimately control the database.) Same question for the themes/descriptions.
Is the tag purely descriptive, or to some extent prescriptive? E.g. what happens if a sub tagged G starts seeing hardcore porn (by normal users not in violation of the sub's rules)? I assume the tag will eventually change to match, but is there any risk the posts would get deleted, the mods pressured to enforce the tag, anyone penalised in any way?
Comment by impablomations at 02/09/2020 at 00:13 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
mod contractors
What are mod contractors?
Comment by busy_yogurt at 01/09/2020 at 23:11 UTC
4 upvotes, 1 direct replies
As a UX designer, just gotta say these are visually delicious.
I dig the colors, but maybe the X and the V could be a smidge more different from each other?
Comment by cyrilio at 01/09/2020 at 20:28 UTC*
9 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Why is everything regarding drug use regarded V? This doesn't make any sense at all. So it's ok for kids to use ritalin when its medication, but if I use it recreational it's suddenly lumped in with gore and violence!? You should make it a separate topic. More and more people use substances for therapeutic reasons and it has literally nothing to do with violence or gore.
You should categorize these things under lifestyle. Cause that is where they belong. I'm the mod of /r/drugs and many related subs. Please get in touch with me to discuss better categorizations. We don not want to be stigmatized anymore and you should recognize societal change towards drugs and their legitimate therapeutic uses.
Thoughts /u/borax ?
Comment by The-Purple-Dragon at 01/09/2020 at 18:32 UTC
4 upvotes, 1 direct replies
If we have our account settings to hide NSFW posts can we then change that to allow all tags but the x tag or others of we want to choose what forms of NSFW we see, instead of all or none?
Comment by Borax at 01/09/2020 at 20:33 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I don't think it makes sense that drugs and alcohol come under "violent and disturbing"? It would make a lot more sense for this large part of reddit to be classified under "mature" or to have a category/tag of its own. It is extremely different to gore.
Comment by kn33 at 02/09/2020 at 01:17 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Will this be supported with the API? I'm starting to be annoyed at 3rd party apps being left behind as reddit advances.
Comment by [deleted] at 02/09/2020 at 03:01 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
What about if things fall into multiple categories. Like violent porn? Will there be a hierarchical structure where one category is considered "the worst" which will be applied, will lit be double tagged, or is it up to the mods which one they choose?
Comment by JustZisGuy at 02/09/2020 at 06:07 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Is there going to be a religion or politics tag?
Comment by riiga at 02/09/2020 at 06:12 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
This type of classification system feels very American-centric. I think just adding a NSFL tag to complement the NSFW tag would be the easiest solution.
Comment by T_W_B_ at 02/09/2020 at 09:32 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
How can we mark posts that contain lots of flashing images and might enduce seizures?
Comment by freet0 at 02/09/2020 at 15:43 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Why? You banned all the NSFL content on the site. There's no gore or death or edginess left in this sanitarium.
Comment by YellIntoWishingWells at 02/09/2020 at 17:57 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Is the "G" and "M" really necessary? I always get that screen that asks to confirm if I'm 18 before I log in. If you have to go through that process it kind of nullifies those two tags.
