I noticed a project won't name and shame that was HEAVILY advertised (in the most annoying ways possible AND on projects that clearly stated “No advertising”, I must add) and rated FE.

I highly believe that projects that were heavily advertised in places where ads were unwanted should be marked as NFE regardless of whether or not the project itself qualifies for an FE rating.

(In the rare edge case scenario where someone heavily advertises someone else's project, the Scratch Team could compare some unique identifier–like the IPs–of both people.)

Let me elaborate: also I suck at explaining things, but I'll try to elaborate if u ask
Advertising is generally not allowed on Scratch because it is effectively spam. It's just a link to your project, and nothing else. Despite this, advertising is also highly effective in attracting views. When a project gets a good enough viewing rate, it gets put on trending (maybe even the front page!) by Scratch's algorithm.

The problem here is that you're basically gaining popularity by a method that is not only a violation of the CG, but also highly unfair to those who use honest (and more morally righteous, I say) means to get views. Thus, my suggestion is to mark projects that were heavily advertised in places where ads were unwanted as NFE regardless of whether or not the project itself qualifies for an FE rating.

PLEASE NOTE: This suggestion is NOT intended to replace the current methods of dealing with advertising and spam. Rather, it is supposed to serve as an additional measure that takes care of heavily-advertised projects gaining popularity, which is currently not covered by the current methods.

Support. I didn't realize that this was a thing going on since I don't see very many projects heavily advertising on trending, but this can be a problem when it comes to fame and popularity standards. This might fix that issue.

Support, at this point we are breathing air from these “Platformer Skibidi, #akjdfjk3 ijhrq3rj#Jkefjahdf i made everything trust me bro”

No support, it's not against CG to advertise if not banned in the studio/profile/project but even if it is, you can report it. If the projects would be rated FE it should be FE.

A_Nyan_In_Space wrote:

No support, it's not against CG to advertise if not banned in the studio/profile/project but even if it is, you can report it. If the projects would be rated FE it should be FE.

Yeah you do raise a valid point. Projects that were advertised in appropriate places are fine.

However, there have been instances of people heavily advertising their projects in places where ads are unwanted and getting away with a couple thousand views and an FE rating. (There was one instance of someone going to REDDIT POSTS to irrelevantly send links to their game lol, though I know that's out of Scratch's jurisdiction).

A_Nyan_In_Space wrote:

but even if it is, you can report it.

Yes, you can report ads. Unfortunately, the only thing the reports do is take down the ads; it doesn't stop the project from getting views, getting noticed by the algorithm, and getting on the trending (or front!) page where it will continue to get an absurd amount of views.

Will edit the OP now, thanks for the feedback

ProjectFactory wrote:

A_Nyan_In_Space wrote:

No support, it's not against CG to advertise if not banned in the studio/profile/project but even if it is, you can report it. If the projects would be rated FE it should be FE.

Yeah you do raise a valid point. Projects that were advertised in appropriate places are fine.

However, there have been instances of people heavily advertising their projects in places where ads are unwanted and getting away with a couple thousand views and an FE rating. (There was one instance of someone going to REDDIT POSTS to irrelevantly send links to their game lol).

A_Nyan_In_Space wrote:

but even if it is, you can report it.

Yes, you can report ads. The only thing the reports do is take down the ads; it doesn't stop the project from getting views, getting noticed by the algorithm, and getting on the trending (or front!) page where it will continue to get an absurd amount of views.

Will edit the OP now

(May be a bit biased because I advertise a lot) I think that advertising is one of the only ay you can get any views. If I just release a project and don't advertise it, it will stay at 1 view forever. I do agree that you shouldn't advertise in places where it's not allowed. Maybe an option where links aren't clickable on your profile/studio/project.

A_Nyan_In_Space wrote:

(May be a bit biased because I advertise a lot) I think that advertising is one of the only ay you can get any views. If I just release a project and don't advertise it, it will stay at 1 view forever.

It's unfortunate how this is the case. The one thing I have heard from multiple people regarding this issue is to simply keep making projects worth looking at. It might take some time, but as long as you make projects people might be interested in, you'll have an audience sooner or later!

A_Nyan_In_Space wrote:

Maybe an option where links aren't clickable on your profile/studio/project.

Sounds like a good idea, but I'd say that the option be reworked into one that bans links entirely (i.e. if someone tries to post a comment with a link, it won't go through)

A fist bump (also known as a bro fist, power five, or safe) is a gesture similar in meaning to a handshake or high five. A fist bump can also be a symbol of giving respect or approval, as well as companionship between two people. It can be followed by various other hand and body gestures (such as immediately opening the palm and spreading the fingers for “knucks with explosions”) and may be part of a dap greeting. It is commonly used in sports as a form of celebration with teammates and with opposition players at the beginning or end of a game. Fist bumps are often given as a form of friendly congratulation.

yes it is my forum post i can bump it in whatever way i want

Semi-support, it will be a great way to stop annoying ads, but it will be very hard to know if a project is heavily advertise.

Eason_9 wrote:

it will be very hard to know if a project is heavily advertise.

Two solutions for this:
1. ST could read comments to see if there have been instances of mass advertising (comments aren't always reliable, though looking for comments from multiple issues could partially solve that issue)
2. “This project was heavily advertised” can be added as a report option

What if someone who isn’t the owner intentionally spams the link everywhere to try to get the project NFE’d?

MythosLore wrote:

What if someone who isn’t the owner intentionally spams the link everywhere to try to get the project NFE’d?

That is a rare edge case scenario (why would anyone advertise stuff that isn't theirs?) but if someone provides which account advertised what project, maybe the ST could compare the advertiser's account and the project creator's account? Maybe the private stuff like IP

(for anyone who isn't aware, yes, the Scratch Team stores your IP; they need your ip for stuff like returning to the webpage {thanks, @GlitchedThrough})

ProjectFactory wrote:

MythosLore wrote:

What if someone who isn’t the owner intentionally spams the link everywhere to try to get the project NFE’d?

That is a rare edge case scenario (why would anyone advertise stuff that isn't theirs?) but if someone provides which account advertised what project, maybe the ST could compare the advertiser's account and the project creator's account? Maybe the private stuff like IP

(for anyone who isn't aware, yes, the Scratch Team stores your IP; the IP identifies your device, so they have to)

-To troll them
-Sites HAVE to get your IP to even return the webpage

GlitchedThrough wrote:

To troll them

Oh yeah trolls will do anything
The fact that something like this has actually happened (spambots not affiliated with @-Rocket- spamming links to @-Rocket-'s profile) is wild

Anyway, sorry for the tangent. Thanks for the info on how sites use people's IP. Also edited my OP with the solution to the edge-case scenario

Speed bumps (also called traffic thresholds, speed breakers or sleeping policemen) are a class of traffic calming devices that use vertical deflection to slow motor-vehicle traffic in order to improve safety conditions. Variations include the speed hump, speed cushion, and speed table.

'Tis my post; I shall bump it however I please

A_Nyan_In_Space wrote:

No support, it's not against CG to advertise if not banned in the studio/profile/project but even if it is, you can report it. If the projects would be rated FE it should be FE.

Yeah don't listen to this guy.

Support, I always just advertise with studios or studio comments anyway





(this post i meant)

Vetzlan wrote:

A_Nyan_In_Space wrote:

No support, it's not against CG to advertise if not banned in the studio/profile/project but even if it is, you can report it. If the projects would be rated FE it should be FE.

Yeah don't listen to this guy.

Support, I always just advertise with studios or studio comments anyway



(the post i meant)

Wdym? Advertising in studio comments is one of the things that this (if it is not allowed in the studio) ban.

A_Nyan_In_Space wrote:

Wdym? Advertising in studio comments is one of the things that this (if it is not allowed in the studio) ban.

I'm pretty sure that if the studio is related to the project it isn't bannable

Vetzlan wrote:

A_Nyan_In_Space wrote:

No support, it's not against CG to advertise if not banned in the studio/profile/project but even if it is, you can report it. If the projects would be rated FE it should be FE.

Yeah don't listen to this guy.

Support, I always just advertise with studios or studio comments anyway



(the post i meant)

YOU quoted my post about how advertising in studio comments is not against CG. Then you uh "Critisized' my post. Then you said that you use commenting in studios as advertising. What is wrong with my post. I'm saying that NFE should be reserved for projects that are.. well Not For Everyone.
Edit: Quoted the wrong thing,

(Ignore this)

As far as I know, you actually don't get any sort of warning or punishment when one of your projects gets NFE'd, which I don't think would really prevent certain people from doing this sort of tactic.

Furthermore, I'm confused as to why the project per se is the one that's getting into trouble here. In general, if you spam somewhere on the site, you either get a mute or ban with no exceptions, and I personally feel like the appropriate action to take against this would be exactly that.