SL Mobile App Access to Adult-Rated Regions Inevitably Removed

As Second Life's iOS/Android app finally gets close to launch, here's a good catch from Reddit /SecondLife host "0xc0ffea". In a message to users of the closed Mobile Alpha group, a Linden Lab staffer inevitably announced the app won't be able to access Second Life's naughty sims:

We are planning the exciting transition of the Second Life mobile app from Private Alpha to Public Beta in the near future. Expanding the audience for the app means that we must comply with app store requirements, including limits on the types of content that can be displayed in apps.

In order to move forward, we will soon be removing access to Adult-rated regions on the mobile app. In the longer term, we are working on finer-grained controls for content maturity in order to allow maximum freedom while complying with app store requirements.

For now, you will see this message when attempting to visit an Adult region: "The location you selected exceeds the content maturity limit on this device. App stores restrict the type of content that can be displayed in apps."

I say "inevitable", because Apple is fairly restrictive about violent and sexual content in its App Store:

Apps should not include content that is offensive, insensitive, upsetting, intended to disgust, in exceptionally poor taste, or just plain creepy. Examples of such content include... Overtly sexual or pornographic material, defined as “explicit descriptions or displays of sexual organs or activities intended to stimulate erotic rather than aesthetic or emotional feelings... Depictions that encourage illegal or reckless use of weapons and dangerous objects, or facilitate the purchase of firearms or ammunition.

I guess strafing hordes of zombies from an AC-130 gunship doesn't qualify as reckless use of weapons, but OK.

What's definitely clear is vast swathes of Second Life land are rated "Adult", even if the overall theme isn't pornographic in nature -- many landowners mark their land "A" simply so they don't have to worry about being penalized for, say, Impromptu Pixel Penis popping up in public.

There's an irony here, of course. Some of Second Life's most interesting areas are Adult-rated to expand on creative possibilities not usually available to mainstream games. You can play Grand Theft Auto on your iPhone, but I doubt SL mobile users will ever be able to access SL"s GTA-inspired Crackden, even though it has a wealth of roleplay creativity. 

I wonder if adding "finer-grained controls for content maturity" are even possible for all scenarios. (Again, the TTP probability of IPP is high.) For SL content creators, however, there's an important takeaway: Start creating content and experiences that are fully available in General-rated sims, where mobile users can access them.

Comments

[sirhc desantis]

So a corp whose products I do not own and have not used in over 25 years is having an effect on SL? Really? And I am supposed to 'adapt' to appease some imaginary flock of 'new' punters lured by a project that is looking likely to be stillborn?

Well OK - how about I add a zero to the cost for any iCult eedjit that wants to buy - well they seem to like paying over the odds already so why not :) Bonus - my original plan was to reset all my stuff to A but that struck me as silly - this way I might make a wee bit more.

[Kaylee West]

How about making the app available on another site not so restrictive?

[Phaethon]

A helpful approach for an unrestricted Android Viewer would be to just make it downloadable as an apk package from the the Second Life website Viewers page. This app would be unrestricted like the Alpha app and not require the extra permissions development work/testing.

Residents could easily install the downloaded apk package with a tap in the Files app. Just have to allow sideloading in Android Settings...

Supplying it via the Play App store is not mandatory at all, unlike in Apple's iOS walled garden. There are also other stores for Android apps as @Kaylee mentioned.

Linden could still offer a G-rated version for under-18s through Play Store if they wanted to for marketing & visibility reasons.

I hope the Lindens go this route with Android - especially as new high 3D performance Snapdragon Elite chips will be coming to Android phones and tablets soon-ish and will hopefully provide a very good SL experience with a Go-Anywhere app.

[Mondy Bristol]

I don't understand why they are making the restriction to the app on the android version where the policy is not the same as Apple.

If I had a choice I would just use a different app, or use a tablet to remote play if I ever had a need to access Second Life away from home.
Ok, I'd need to leave a PC or laptop on, or one I could boot up remotely but with a 10 inch screen for a quick log in and fast internet, at least there would be no restrictions. Steam play works fine for this or a remote desktop connection.