Discussion: Episode Went Down Hill After The New Guidelines

No, you don’t.
They can just wear censor bars as long as the characters aren’t, um, romantically interacting with each other while wearing censor bars. Censor bars are okay if a character is just showering by themself.

That came out weird :joy:

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I don’t say it bothers me. I get the reason that’s why I changed it. I still don’t get why the actual gun can be used in game when it brings more violence than just a cover (imo)

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Yeah, but it could be used to make good stories, like let’s say instead of bullets, they can use the laser guns for sci- fi stories, I know it’s weird unless they maybe add a sci-fi weapon to it. But yeah, still violence I guess. I think guns can be used for police stories, etc.

Now, you can also use guns for action stories, it doesn’t always have to be about mafia, it could be different, like agent/spy stories, still violence, but that’s just Episode. I’m not really good at giving reasons on why they add it, if they add it, they should have a reason for it.

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Now, Episode is a PG-13 app, always have and always will be. No stories can include sex, and other inappropriate content, that’s just how it is, from day 1.


Now, I can’t remember if this is app is released or removed, but If they released Ivy, and Ivy is a whole different app than Episode that includes mature and inappropriate content, where you can write stories whatever you want to include in, that’s the app to go to, But, as I said, I’m not sure if they released it or will be shutting down, not sure if this is true, but yeah, :woman_shrugging:t4:

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I mean it is good for those who don’t want to read full on erotica. :woman_shrugging: If people had complete freedom on that then people will write more of that. I mean leave it for wattpad and find some way around it. I mean a reader might like romance but doesn’t want to see/read that “extra stuff”. I mean for me guidelines aren’t that bad because if you actually read them you will be able to find ways around what you want or what not to include at all. :slightly_smiling_face: I mean some complain about getting their covers rejected, although that must be annoying I agree, if you read the guidelines then you would have known. It may seem unfair to you but that is because you have gotten older, you no longer want the restrictions that episode provide but you are on their app there is going to be rules and rules you don’t like. But they are an PG 13 app, if they slacked them then the app could be taken from the app stores. Or they would up their rating but that means many people would have to leave if they actually had to give proof of their age, like youtube does.

Also on the point @/schittwriter was trying to make is that although yes it is a parents responsibility to know what their kid is watching it is not always possible to do so. Like if your kid is watching something they are not supposed to then a parent will see that and turn it off. But apps are more discrete to hide plus episode know themselves that they have that audience. They know they come on the app.

I think we just have to “roll with the punches” and take it in our stride. And abide by the rules. Unfortunately Ivy failed or it would have been good for those who feel “restricted” by the guidelines. :woman_shrugging:

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I personally have no qualms with the guidelines. However, the episode community has gotten a lot less vivid than I remember. Most of my old friends are either inactive or on diff forums doing their own thing. Sadness. :sob:

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PG = Parental Guidance.
Obviously not all parents are going to have control over what their kids watch or do, but the guidelines are a general set of rules for suitability and safety – they are there for a reason, especially with the internationality of the app.

Also, not trying to come off as mean, but that is my point of view as a parent and ‘older’ writer.

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Nope see that’s the problem I’m not reasonable for nobody kid. If you don’t know how to teach kids from right to wrong then that’s YOUR fault

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I agree. I’m not a parent, but I do babysit a lot of kids (mostly family members), and people tend to underestimate how hard it is to monitor every little thing a kid does, especially when it comes to the internet lol. I know people want to write whatever they want, but this app was made with children in mind, and we shouldn’t forget that or complain about it imo.

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but uhhhh… what else would you want like, genetalia??? sex animations??? that’s just straight up porn :neutral_face:

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I know you’re not responsible for other people’s children, but you are responsible for the content you publish on an app that has specific guidelines, just like everyone is. We are all also obligated to report things that infringe those guidelines in order to keep the community as safe as possible in accordance to its respective rating.


You don’t have to reply to this. You have your view, that’s fine. I have nothing else to say on here.

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I legit don’t get you people.

Episode is rated 12+/13+ as an app. Which means they HAVE TO make their guidelines appropriate for kids as young as that. If they don’t, they’re in violation of what 12+/13+ stands for.

Now, if they created Episode to be 16+ or even 18+ in the first place, we wouldn’t have this issue still going on. But no, Episode was created and always will be a 12+/13+ app. If you want to consume/create more mature content, you’re free to go to another app, you know. They won’t change the rating, because changing it would mean losing a big chunk of users, therefore money. And who in their right mind would do this honestly.

Honestly, stop whining nonsense if you’re uneducated on the topic.

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It seems to me that you want episode to become more mature when they are a pg-13 app, meaning they target 13+ audience. Yes there are younger kids who go on the app and we can’t control them but we are in control of our actions on a platform with rules and regulations. It’s a business. Episode has to abide by the rating or else they will get in trouble.

The app isn’t going downhill. You think it is because they aren’t allowing what you want them to allow. I get it, there are others who agree with you but they won’t change their rules because you don’t like it. If you feel restricted from writing or reading certain stories, there are other apps you can enjoy.

Complaining about the lack of mature content episode has, takes away from the serious issues episode needs to deal with.

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I see the point and I had guns cause I have story for agency and police is invoked so I’m glad it is in the game. Action stories for sure need it

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Agreed! I was on and off Episode but before, they were really easy going and they weren’t so harsh with the rules unless they needed to be but now? They are just way too harsh, like do we really need to flag someone if it’s off topic?

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Yep!

What’s so bad about it? Honestly if they removed those guidelines the whole featured section would just be p*rn since sex stories sell well on Episode and that’s honestly gross. I honestly don’t get why this bothers people so much. And it’s pretty hard to monitor children’s activity on electronics than you think.

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Also, I mean, thinking about “monitoring” children’s activity… part of that is… letting them use age-appropriate apps. Y’know, like Episode. Honestly, I don’t feel like you should be constantly watching over a 13-year-old’s shoulder to see what they’re up to. They’re learning to be independent still. I mean, if I were regularly using Episode at 13, I would think it was really weird and intrusive if my parents wanted to check every single story I read. The app having a PG-13 rating means that parents can TRUST their kids on the app, because they know that the content is required to be appropriate for them.

I know that’s not 100% related to your point, but I figured I’d mention it. :slight_smile:

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I’ve been in the Episode community since 2015. It hasn’t gone downhill, it has simply evolved. The guidelines really didn’t change very much. Episode has always been a PG13 App and sex has NEVER been allowed in stories. Even before the new guidelines, you could not have 2 characters kissing without clothes, even with censor bars. Some cover guidelines changed, but that’s because covers were becoming more and more erotic and oversexualized. I think the gun removal from the cover has something to do with the rate of gun violence in America (given that Episode is based in San Francisco) but ultimately, they have to follow the established guidelines by both Google and Apple app stores. If they don’t comply by their guidelines, Google and Apple can and will remove the app. I think that is one reason why the mature app was sheltered… they couldn’t make it marketable and distinguishable enough from other mature apps and still be within Google and Apple app store guidelines due to animations.
I tend to write more mature content. Always have, and probably always will. Yes, there are times I struggle to stay within guidelines. However, as a mother of a teenage daughter that was 11 when I first started writing on Episode, I try to keep in mind what I would or would not allow her to read. Of course, that has changed now that she’s almost 16, but regardless.
As far as the comment about its parents’ responsibility to police what their children read? That is why the app stores have ratings. It lets parents know what apps are suitable for different age groups. It’s impossible to police every story on Episode to see if it’s suitable for a 13 or 14-year-old. That is what the guidelines and the review team are for.
Others have already said it, but if you want the smut, there are plenty of apps out there (rated Mature, or 17/18+) that have it.

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I’m not saying there shouldn’t be rules around the sex scenes but I want a mature section or sum :sob:

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