Using this function, you can easily determine if players can see external links, like Discord invites, Twitch channels, and Facebook profiles in-game. Gone are the days of praying you didn’t just tell an <13 user a server invite. Now, you can easily add a script to your game to show users social media links without fear of violating TOS.
As an added benefit, because only 13+ players can see external links, you can also utilize this function to determine whether a player has safe chat, or hide more mature content from <13 users.
Also, please note that I can’t guarantee using this function to determine whether you can show or restrict certain content is allowed under the TOS. I am only inferring that it is due to its Service’s description:
PolicyService helps you build gameplay components that can be made compliant… [t]his service is used to query information regarding policy compliance for players around the world based on age range, location, and platform type.
That would still violates ToS since you can’t include any links or anything similar in your game that could potentially lead players off-site. This doesn’t matter if they are above 13 or not, it’s still against ToS.
I haven’t been able to find any information in the Terms of Use that specifically mention off-site or third-party content, except this:
Certain portions of the Service may include, display, or make available content, data, information, applications or materials from third parties (“Third-Party Materials”). You understand that by using the Service, you may encounter Third-Party Materials, such as third-party advertisements and promotional content that may be deemed offensive, indecent, or objectionable, which content may or may not be identified as having explicit language, and that may contain links or references to objectionable material. Nevertheless, you agree to use the Service at your sole risk and that we shall not have any liability to you for content that may be found to be offensive, indecent, objectionable, inaccurate, incomplete, untimely, invalid, illegal, of poor quality or otherwise.
While I certainly understand playing it safe, I don’t see why Roblox would punish developers for utilizing a service that:
Is intended to be used to build compliant gameplay components
Has a function that specifically tells you if a user can see certain external links
Why would they allow us to gain this information if they don’t intend for us to use this information?
I’m pretty sure the service exists for a reason, but the main problem with this is Roblox’s problematic moderation. I personally haven’t read much about other developers’ experience using it, so there’s no guarantees.
I interpret that as them saying that if you want to build, “compliant gameplay components” via this function, you are required to check whether users can see external links before displaying them in-game.
Based on their wording, I am confident enough to use this function to display external links in-game to my 13+ players, but I definitely understand if others aren’t willing to take that risk.
While I’m not allowed to go into detail, you are allowed to include a link to other social media platforms provided you use PolicyService. It’s better to use usernames or codes over links because they’re easier to read than links, additionally if you’re concerned about false positive moderations.
If you get moderated for a false positive, make sure to appeal it and cite the policy in the Community Rules that allows links to be shown with appropriate measures.
The Terms of Service doesn’t have any provisions regarding player policies, ToS is for other legal concerns regarding the platform. The Community Rules are where its located which is an additional valid source of policy which outlines expectations for you when on Roblox.
