Sketchfab introduces Age-restricted Content Filtering

Sketchfab introduces Age-restricted content filtering. This article explains how it may affect you, how the new features work and explains the changes to our Terms of Use.

Thanks to you, the Sketchfab community continues to grow every day. And the diversity of our community has grown, too! To make sure we continue to be a welcoming destination for all visitors, we’ve introduced an Age-restricted content filter to ensure visitors of all ages and interests will continue to have a positive experience with Sketchfab.

Moving forward, any scenes that contain nudity, eroticism, extreme violence, or similar content will be filtered. The content will still be allowed and available, but will require a simple opt in to view.

As a result, we’ve updated our Terms of Use effective immediately. You will find a detailed explanation of these changes at the bottom of this post. Please read the terms carefully. By continuing to use Sketchfab you agree to be bound by them.

Featured model: Cervine Centaur by Kampfisken.

What is Age-restricted content?

Age-restricted content includes but is not limited to models that contain full or partial nudity, that are erotic in nature (having sexual implications, even when there is no nudity), that depict drug usage, extreme violence, or are otherwise shocking or disturbing.

Nudity depicted in statuary, antiquities, or a similar form that has been deemed appropriate for historic value and is or has been on public display in a gallery or museum is exempt.

Labelling your work properly is mandatory: the responsibility for labelling both new and existing work as ‘Age-restricted ’ lies with you, the creator. The Sketchfab team will also actively moderate any such material and in cases where content categorisation is debatable, reserves the right to make the final decision.

Unacceptable Content

Certain types of material is never allowed and deemed Unacceptable: content that is pornographic, threatening, harassing, libelous, hate-oriented, harmful, defamatory, racist, xenophobic, or illegal. This includes explicit descriptions and/or links to explicit content, even if the related content has been marked as Age-restricted.

We have a zero toleration policy for Unacceptable content, and posting it can get your account irrevocably banned.

Sometimes these boundaries may not be so clear, and Sketchfab reserves the right to make the final decision in such cases.

What has changed on the website?

By default, Age-restricted content is now filtered from all our galleries, search results, recommended models and even emails.

You can enable Age-restricted content in the gallery filters – this will remove the filter from all mentioned galleries and emails. This setting will be remembered for your next visit. If you are logged in, we will store your choice as a preference in your account.

What has changed for embeds?

Age-restricted models that are embedded on external websites follow the same rules: by default they will be hidden by a ‘cover’, which allows you to enable Age-restricted content:

How to label your work as Age-restricted

Both the upload and the model properties dialog now contain an option that lets you label work as Age-restricted:

Once again: it is your own responsibility to properly label your work as Age-restricted where needed – both existing scenes and new uploads.

Help us moderate and keep Sketchfab age-appropriate

When you come across any work that you feel is Age-restricted or even unacceptable, you can use the content reporting feature that you will find under the ‘gear’ icon on every model page:

Please add your motivation to the description.

Questions?

We can imagine this new policy raises many questions, so feel free to post them here – we’ll be keeping a close eye on the comments on this page.

Changes to our Terms of Use

Now that you understand the changes to our site and policy, we’d like you to review the changes we’ve made to our Terms of Use. These changes are effective immediately – please read them carefully. By continuing to use Sketchfab you agree to be bound by them.

User Restrictions and Obligations

The following article replaces point iv:

iv. [You agree that you will not use the Services to] Transmit any material or content that is pornographic, threatening, harassing, libelous, hate-oriented, harmful, defamatory, racist, xenophobic, or illegal;

We don’t allow any pornographic, extreme or illegal content. This includes private models.

The following articles is added:

v. [You agree that you will not use the Services to] Transmit any material or content that is inappropriate for families or otherwise suitable only for adults, except where such content is appropriately labeled as “Age-restricted content” and conforms to the Sketchfab Age-restricted Content Policy;

You are allowed to post artistic nude, erotica or other content that could be perceived as shocking, but you are required to label such work as Age-restricted.

The following article is not related to our new content policy:

The User is not permitted to modify the design or alter the appearance of the Sketchfab viewer (e.g., in embeds or screen captures) other than by using the available embed customization options and the “Viewer API” methods provided by Sketchfab, and according to the User’s plan (free, pro or business). Removing, hiding, or altering the Sketchfab logo watermark is prohibited to all users, under all plans.

The Sketchfab logo in our viewer is important to us; please don’t remove or hide it!