Bambu Lab is cleaning up MakerWorld.
An announcement on the system section of MakerWorld explains that they have begun cleaning up “sexually inappropriate content” on the site. They explain:
“MakerWorld is for everyone — creators, families, and yes, kids too. That means what shows up in browse, search, and recommendations should feel welcoming and safe for all of them. Lately, some of you have flagged that inappropriate content is still slipping through.
Let’s be clear: MakerWorld doesn’t want or need this content to drive traffic. The issue isn’t that we’re turning a blind eye, it’s that too many of these items are slipping past our current detection systems. We hear you, and we’re already acting on it.”
While the site already has policies and processes in place to deal with this stuff, evidently some has been sneaking through. In fact, MakerWorld specifically notes that some models have been visually arranged to appear benign, but actually have inappropriate content.
They know about this practice because of repeated reports from MakerWorld users, who can flag models when encountered.
Specifically, MakerWorld has allocated more resources to handling the feedback from users, and in the process has taken action on more than one thousand uploaded models. They have also ”started cracking down on repeat-offender accounts that push this content through bulk uploads.”
What is that action? MakerWorld lists several possibilities, ranging from removing content to marking it. They are also permanently banning certain accounts because of this problem.
They’ve increased resources permanently for managing content and will be continuously monitoring going forward.
Finally, Bambu Lab is apparently working on a “Minor Protection Mode”, which they describe as:
“A dedicated experience designed to keep browsing safe for younger users.”
It sounds like they have just started working on this concept, so it may be a while before it appears.
This is an inevitable issue encountered by any site that permits public uploads. It seems that there are always people that want to push the envelope, and sometimes that to the detriment of the majority. Bambu Lab is not alone; many sites have the same issue.
That said, there are plenty of other model sites that either accept this type of content or have poor enforcement, so one wonders why MakerWorld is being used in this way.
Via MakerWorld
