Habbo caught up in child sex scandal / Habbo Mute

Go to sleep kids, nothing will change.

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Originally Posted by Kardan

It is stopping the problem. The problem is that paedophiles have instant access to children. A global mute has stopped that.

Of course people can't discuss it in-game, but it seems that pretty much everyone is discussing it on other social platforms, including here.

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Would it not be better to simply close the hotel down, displaying a message as to why? A global mute should only be a short-term solution, but as an investigation is going on it would be better to deny users access to the site until it's all over.

It's odd that the mute is in effect. It does suggest a load of moderators have disappeared. It's not just stopped the paedophiles, it's stop people socialising, which is the point of Habbo :P It does hint that Habbo is insufficiently trained in these situations.

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Originally Posted by J-Raviv

I'm actually not sure what he was saying, to be honest. I don't understand what me being in a locked-council has to do with me stating something publicly about an article being discussed by the public.

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The grammar wasn't too good at all, haha. What is the council thing anyway?

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Originally Posted by GommeInc

I'm against this sort of idea. Technically the laws and regulations already exist, it's purely down to Habbo to use whatever amount of common sense they have and use it. They're looking after users who can easily be exposed to content of a sexual nature AND be abused by it easily. They have no safe-guards in place, while sites like Facebook etc. do. In fact, it's a matter for the police as far as I can tell, the Government should only look at Habbo with disgrace that these issues have not been addressed (and as been stated many times - they never will be, Habbo is working in a difficult market where you simply cannot check the age of users and do checks on them, it's far too costly and impossible).

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Interesting - how do Facebook deal with this sort of thing? Does Runescape, MapleStory, Club Penguin or any other children/teen based game have any similar problems?

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Originally Posted by Abdicators

her mission mate, it's ironic.

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Now that is just spooky! :O

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Originally Posted by GommeInc

Would it not be better to simply close the hotel down, displaying a message as to why? A global mute should only be a short-term solution, but as an investigation is going on it would be better to deny users access to the site until it's all over.

It's odd that the mute is in effect. It does suggest a load of moderators have disappeared. It's not just stopped the paedophiles, it's stop people socialising, which is the point of Habbo :P It does hint that Habbo is insufficiently trained in these situations.

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I agree, closing the hotel down would be better. It makes you wonder why they've kept the hotel open. I suppose it means that Sulake can still make money instead of wasting an unknown amount of time being closed.

They're probably stopping lots of users causing disruption while also having lots of meetings about what to-do next to address this issue while also probably strengthening and making the automated system stricter.

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Originally Posted by Mathew

Interesting - how do Facebook deal with this sort of thing?

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Facebook is a different type of site. Facebook is strictly speaking a social networking business, while Habbo is a MMORPG with a social networking twist on the side. Social networking sites work very differently and do not have a game, while MMORPG incorporate social networking features as part of the service. So Facebook has strict security features and I think for anyone under 16 they have it so you cannot be found in the search unless you add them. On Habbo, there are no security features. You can find anyone, and talk to anyone, which is natural in these sorts of sites offering these services.

Habbo is one of those sites that is under-equipped and will probably cease to exist in a few years. There's no way you can add security features like the ones in bigger sites like Facebook without spending loads of money on security checks, and even then there are ways around it. For an MMORPG, you have to be easily accessible - it's the point of the game.

I've not come across or played the others. I think Runescape have the funds to monitor what is said by their users, and in some ways is self-regulating. The game is also for more older users, so there's less chance of paedophilia and abuse cases happening. Runescape specialises in fighting dwarves... Habbo specialises in nothing, just chat and buying furniture. It's a recipe for disaster :P

Posts merged by Martin (Forum Super Moderator): Double post due to forum lag.

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Originally Posted by Kardan

I agree, closing the hotel down would be better. It makes you wonder why they've kept the hotel open. I suppose it means that Sulake can still make money instead of wasting an unknown amount of time being closed.

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Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. Always on the take even when they're in trouble.

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Originally Posted by Shorty

They're probably stopping lots of users causing disruption while also having lots of meetings about what to-do next to address this issue while also probably strengthening and making the automated system stricter.

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Do sticky notes still exist? Users could just communicate in sticky notes :P

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Originally Posted by GommeInc

Facebook is a different type of site. Facebook is strictly speaking a social networking business, while Habbo is a MMORPG with a social networking twist on the side. Social networking sites work very differently and do not have a game, while MMORPG incorporate social networking features as part of the service. So Facebook has strict security features and I think for anyone under 16 they have it so you cannot be found in the search unless you add them. On Habbo, there are no security features. You can find anyone, and talk to anyone, which is natural in these sorts of sites offering these services.

Habbo is one of those sites that is under-equipped and will probably cease to exist in a few years. There's no way you can add security features like the ones in bigger sites like Facebook without spending loads of money on security checks, and even then there are ways around it. For an MMORPG, you have to be easily accessible - it's the point of the game.

I've not come across or played the others. I think Runescape have the funds to monitor what is said by their users, and in some ways is self-regulating. The game is also for more older users, so there's less chance of paedophilia and abuse cases happening. Runescape specialises in fighting dwarves... Habbo specialises in nothing, just chat and buying furniture. It's a recipe for disaster :P

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I suppose you're right! Bobba Bar is ten times worse, but it's aimed at 18+ so I assume it would be acceptable. This whole situation has been quite surreal indeed.

It's a stupid way of doing it, but I suppose it'll spark less rumours than if it went offline?