community standards Archives

AppWizard

September 21, 2026

Ahead of GTA 6’s Release, Rockstar Updates Modding Guidelines Touching on Monetization, Multiplayer

Take-Two Interactive has not confirmed the release date for Grand Theft Auto 6 on PC, but the game is anticipated to launch in November. Rockstar Games has updated its modding guidelines for GTA 6, which include prohibitions on altering storylines, combining elements from different titles, and unauthorized monetization of mods. The guidelines emphasize respect for Rockstar's intellectual property and the creator community, and they state that monetization is only allowed through approved digital storefronts. The game is set to launch on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with the PC version's release date still unannounced. Additionally, Rockstar will release "Grand Theft Auto 6: The Album," featuring 34 original tracks from contemporary artists.

AppWizard

September 10, 2026

Tong Launches Investigation of Messaging App He Calls ‘Cesspool Of Sexual Abuse’

Attorney General William Tong has launched an investigation into MediaLab.AI Inc., the parent company of Kik, due to concerns about the app's child safety practices. Kik is described as having inadequate age verification and content screening, with about one-third of American teenagers using it, and 70% of users aged 13 to 24. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation identified Kik as a leading app for exposing children to sexual content and included it in their “Dirty Dozen” list. Between 2014 and 2020, over 2,000 federal cases involved Kik. MediaLab has attempted to improve safety by reclassifying the app to an 18+ rating and activating explicit content filters, but these efforts have been deemed insufficient. The investigation will also assess Kik's compliance with the Connecticut Data Privacy Act, focusing on the handling of sensitive data without consent.

AppWizard

July 11, 2026

Call of Duty fans surprised to discover new Black Ops 2 port preserves the emblem editor, not surprised to find swastikas being made with it

Activision has released updated ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010) and Black Ops 2 (2012), exclusively for PlayStation and priced at each. The ports feature enhanced graphics up to 1080p and include the return of the emblem editor, allowing players to create custom emblems. However, the absence of strict moderation may lead to inappropriate content. Critics noted the lack of an option to disable custom emblems and the omission of Wager matches from Black Ops. Additionally, modern enhancements like field of view sliders and high refresh rates are not included in these ports.

AppWizard

June 30, 2026

ESA Claims Private Minecraft Servers Are ‘Illegal’ and ‘Piracy’ in Stop Killing Games Hearing

The California State Senate hearing on the Protect Our Games Act raised questions about the legality of private Minecraft servers. Assemblyman Chris Ward noted that games like Minecraft and Call of Duty have successfully used community servers, while Jennifer Gibbons from the ESA argued that these servers are illegal and unapproved by Microsoft, labeling them as piracy. Gibbons stated that the ESA has two lawsuits against private servers for infringing on intellectual property rights. In contrast, Minecraft's official stance encourages the creation of third-party servers, which are vetted for compliance with community standards. The ESA maintains that private servers infringe on publishers' rights. The USTR's Notorious Market Report referenced by Gibbons does not specifically target community servers for connecting friends but focuses on those bypassing subscription services. The Protect Our Games Act did not advance but will be reconsidered. An ESA representative later clarified that private servers hosting copyrighted content without authorization infringe on publishers' rights and highlighted concerns about safety standards on these platforms.

AppWizard

March 25, 2026

Warframe’s Shadowgrapher update is out now, and Digital Extremes isn’t scared of your penis drawings

Players navigate an abandoned spaceship in the Chains of Harrow questline in Warframe, experiencing a horror-themed update called Shadowgrapher. The update features a new game mode, Follie's Hunt, where players are stalked by Follie, an ink blot-inspired Warframe, in the eerie Vesper relay. The gameplay is slower and more strategic, contrasting with Warframe's typical fast-paced action, and emphasizes coordination to avoid being caught by Follie. Follie's Shadowgraph ability allows players to summon customizable items, with safeguards in place to manage potential misuse. The Shadowgrapher update also introduces new cosmetics for Gauss and Grendel.

AppWizard

November 20, 2025

YouTube tests an in-app private messaging feature again

YouTube is reintroducing its private messaging feature, which was discontinued in 2019, to a select group of users aged 18 and older in Ireland and Poland. Users can share videos, including long-form videos, Shorts, and livestreams, within the mobile app through a full-screen chat interface accessed via the Share button. The feature supports one-on-one conversations and group chats, allowing users to respond with text, videos, or emojis. To ensure user safety, participants must send invites to chat, can unsend messages, block users, and report violations. YouTube will monitor messages for compliance with Community Guidelines.

AppWizard

November 20, 2025

YouTube Tests Direct Messaging Feature: Users Will Soon Share Videos and Chat Inside the App

YouTube is testing a new direct messaging feature that allows users aged 18 and older in Ireland and Poland to share videos and engage in conversations within the platform. The feature supports sharing long-form videos, Shorts, and live streams through the YouTube mobile app, enabling discussions without leaving the platform. Messages will adhere to YouTube’s Community Guidelines, with monitoring for compliance and safety. Users can still share videos via other platforms, and YouTube is collecting feedback to evaluate potential broader rollout.

Tech Optimizer

November 5, 2025

pgEdge Announces CloudNativePG Integration, Simplifying Postgres on Kubernetes

pgEdge has released new Container Images and an updated Helm chart to improve the deployment of pgEdge on Kubernetes, integrating with CloudNativePG, an open source Kubernetes operator for managing PostgreSQL clusters. The new pgEdge Postgres Container Images support Postgres versions 16 through 18 and are available in two flavors: Minimal and Standard. The updated Helm chart simplifies the management of distributed Postgres architectures, supporting flexible deployment options, automatic failover, and configuration for multi-cluster environments. The releases are designed to enhance operational efficiency and are available on GitHub.

AppWizard

September 25, 2025

Meta Expands Teen Protections on Instagram, Facebook and Messenger

Meta is expanding its protections for teen users on Instagram and Facebook globally, having initially launched these measures in the U.S. last year. The initiative includes automatic restrictions on interactions with certain profiles for users identified as under 18, limitations on viewable content, and alerts about time spent on the platforms. Meta has now placed hundreds of millions of teens in Teen Accounts and is enhancing its age detection systems to prevent users from misrepresenting their age. Additionally, Meta is launching a School Partnership Program for U.S. middle and high schools, allowing educators to report safety concerns directly for expedited review, and has partnered with Childhelp to create an online safety curriculum. These efforts aim to improve the safety of young users and align with growing regulatory focus on social media access for minors.

AppWizard

August 26, 2025

Spotify adds messaging feature to strengthen social experience on app

Spotify has introduced a direct messaging feature to enhance social connectivity within its platform, allowing users to share music and podcasts without using external applications. The messaging function supports one-to-one interactions with individuals who have previously exchanged content, such as collaborators on playlists or users in Family and Duo plans. To initiate a conversation, users must send a request that the recipient must approve. Users can also enter chats via links shared on social media platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp. The feature retains a history of shared content and users can organize conversations under a 'Messages' section. Users can react to messages with emojis, and Spotify ensures that messages are encrypted, though not with end-to-end encryption. The company will review messages for violations and users can report concerning content.