AI Dungeon Community Guidelines: A Comprehensive Guide to Content Ratings and Safety

At the heart of AI Dungeon's safety framework are its Content Ratings. These ratings serve as a crucial tool for creators to communicate the nature of their content to potential players. It's important to understand that these ratings do not inherently limit what the AI can generate; for that, users should refer to the AI Safety Settings. Instead, content ratings act as a classification system, guiding users towards experiences that align with their comfort levels and age appropriateness. The system categorizes content into distinct levels: Everyone (E), Teen (T), Mature (M), and Unrated (U). Each rating comes with specific criteria regarding violence, romance, language, and themes, ensuring transparency and informed choices for the community. By adhering to these ratings, creators contribute to a more predictable and safer user experience.

Content rated 'Teen' (T) is suitable for readers aged 13 and above, comparable to ESRB T, MPAA PG-13, or PEGI 12+. This rating allows for more complex narratives that may include descriptions of violence where death is possible and injuries are depicted, but without excessive gore or graphic detail. Intense peril and thriller elements are present, but with a continued sense of hope or positive resolution. Romance themes can include first relationships, dating, and mild flirting, without explicit sexual content. Language may feature occasional strong language, but not to an extreme degree. Themes delve into more complex social dynamics, mild conflict, and characters with nuanced motivations, while still maintaining accessible moral frameworks. This rating opens the door for engaging stories that resonate with the experiences and understanding of early teens.

The 'Unrated' (U) category is reserved for content that has not been officially rated or is deemed suitable only for readers aged 18 and above. This classification signifies content that pushes boundaries, often featuring intense combat with graphic violence and gore, or romance and relationships that are primarily sexual in focus, including fetishes and BDSM. Language can be extremely graphic and sexually provocative. Themes may involve extreme psychological elements designed to disturb, systematic removal of character agency, or intense body horror. Crucially, Unrated content must not contain any 'Unpublishable' content, which refers to illegal or harmful material. This category allows for the exploration of more extreme or niche themes, provided they remain within legal and ethical boundaries and are clearly marked for adult audiences.

AI Dungeon's Community Guidelines strictly apply to all content that is publicly posted on the platform. This encompasses Scenarios, Adventures, cover images, comments, usernames, and bios. Usernames and bios must adhere to a 'Teen' rating at a maximum and cannot allude to higher ratings. Comments are restricted to the rating of the Scenario or Adventure they are associated with. Any direct or indirect mention of higher-rated content within a Scenario or Adventure will automatically elevate its rating. In Multiple Choice Scenarios, the highest-rated choice dictates the overall rating. These rules are in place to maintain a consistent and safe environment for all users interacting with public content on the platform.

The AI Dungeon Guidebook and its accompanying Community Guidelines are essential pillars for maintaining a vibrant and responsible AI storytelling platform. By understanding and adhering to content ratings, creators can effectively communicate the nature of their adventures, while players can make informed choices about their gameplay. The distinction between content ratings and AI safety settings empowers both creators and users. Whether engaging with public content or personal creations, the commitment to safety, particularly concerning the exploitation of children, remains paramount. Through these guidelines, AI Dungeon aims to cultivate a community where creativity, exploration, and safety coexist harmoniously.