CRITICAL ISSUES
ON SL CHILDREN AVATARS NEW POLICY

May 5th, 2024

We wish to drive your attention to the technical challenges encountered in the understanding of the new regulations. Specifically, the identical phrasing of certain sentences across both sections concerning child avatar users and child avatar content creators, without differentiation, has resulted in significant confusion and presents interpretation challenges. To provide ample time for thorough assessment and preparation ahead of the upcoming roundtable on May 20th, we are presenting this document in advance. This will give you the opportunity to promptly address any concern raised by users and creators, allowing us to implement any required modifications within the designated timeframe (June 30), in consideration of everyone's personal commitments.

The products in question are the most commonly used mesh bodies for infants, toddlers, or tweens, and they currently include the following specifications:


The sections that are difficult to understand and leave room for various interpretations are:

From the Wiki Clarification of policy disallowing ageplay

"Child avatar content creators are required to add a modesty layer which is baked into child avatar skins or bodies, is not transparent, does not match the skin tone, and may not be removed."

Note: the same exact wording is used in both paragraphs: "Residents presenting as Child Avatars shall be prohibited from.." and "Content for Child Avatars [...] must [...] adhere to..."

And consequently from the Child Avatar FAQ

Q: I already have a child avatar that does not have a built in modesty layer.  Can I still use that since I purchased it already?

A:  No. Going forward, child avatars will be prohibited from being fully nude. 

A) Definition of "baked into child avatar skins or bodies"

Technically:

Second Life Mesh Bodies usually have 2 texture systems: applier system (onion layering) and Bakes On Mesh (which allows us to use only one mesh and reduce the agent complexity)

Question:

Please confirm if you are referring to BOM with "baked into (...) skin" and you are referring to onion layers with "baked into (...) body". 

In the event that a mesh body (though this is not referring to the mesh bodies in question!!) is distributed without either of the two aforementioned systems, and is thus effectively 'naked', then it is necessary to use a skin that has a modest layer (underwear?) "printed" directly on the lower texture. 


B) Definition of "may not be removed"

Technically:

When the Mesh body uses BOM technology, the user manages the system layers independently by the viewer inventory, starting from the skin and then adding all the layers that will be baked into it. It is not possible for the content creator to prevent the user from adding or removing system clothes or switching to an "non-modest" system skin.

It is possible for the content creator to create an additional layer, similar to an onion layer (see above), which cannot be removed or changed via script, but that must be able to be made transparent (alpha mask), entirely or in part, along with the underlying body to be worn flawlessly with some rigged mesh clothing. 

However, in this case, the layer in question will always be rendered ABOVE the BOM body, resulting in what we have jokingly renamed the "superman effect": if the resulting baked texture includes shorts, leggings, or pants, the 'modest layer' (underpants on the special onion layer) will be displayed above.

Additionally, since the appearance of the avatar is made up of heads and bodies sold separately (even possibly by different brands), the skins creator design the system skin layer for one and the tattoo or universal layer for the other, but usually the body skin is created on a tattoo (or universal) so you can have a "neck gradient" in the neck area of the head texture

Note:
It's unclear whether this responsibility belongs to the content designer or to the user.

None of the technical solutions described above appear to work consistently with the new regulations. 


C) Definition of "Child avatar content creators"

Technically:
As is common with most avatar types, the appearance of child avatars is typically defined by various products that are generally compatible with each other but may sometimes be purchased separately even from different brands. These products include body, head, skin, hair, clothing, animations, and any other accessories.

Questions:

 Body, Skin, Mesh Clothes?

System Layer (Tattoo, Universal or Underwear)? Mesh Panties?

Note:

The identical phrasing of the sentence across both sections, pertaining to both child avatar users and child avatar content creators, is causing notable confusion and presents challenges in interpretation.

D) Definition of "modest layer"

Technically:

The waistline, the leg cut, the straps or the neckline may not match with some mesh beachwear or summer vests, being visible underneath clothes which are however totally appropriate themself. The modest layer is also required not to match the skin tone, in the case of pale/snow skins, it is necessary for it to be rather dark or vivid.

Questions:

Note:

Encouraging the use of excessively covering underwear and in high contrast can inadvertently lead to a subsequent and excessive exposure of undergarments, drawing attention to the private areas of children and/or in some cases, it may resemble attire more suitable for adults rather than children, achieving the opposite effect of our intended goal, which is to maintain decency in the representation of child figures that would otherwise be dressed appropriately.


E) Definition of "Child avatar"

Technically:

By 'child' we generally mean a young person between the ages of 0 and 16, which we can extend to 18.

We also find it challenging to discern when 'avatar' is used to refer to the appearance of the Resident user or when it pertains to a stand-alone product, such as a rigged mesh body.

Note:

Although we can consider "Children Avatar" all representations of characters between the ages of 0 and 16 (or preferably extending to 18 years), we cannot help but notice a fundamental difference between a newborn and a teenager with, regardless of gender identity,  a developing (bumps) or developed (breasts) chest. Specifically, a baby wearing a bra-like top and panties is unquestionably a sexualization and adultification of an innocent figure, but at the same time a teenager without a top is certainly to be considered inappropriate

With humility yet a sense of responsibility, we suggest the following improvements and additions, with the aim of assisting with our experience in making the new regulations clearer and leaving no room for doubts, misunderstandings or 'workarounds'


"Residents presenting as Child Avatars shall be prohibited from the following: [...]
 .  Being fully nude. Child avatars are required to add a modesty layer which completely covers private areas, is not transparent, does not match the skin tone, and may not be removed."
"Content for Child Avatars being sold inworld and/or on Marketplace must comply with the General Content Rating and adhere to the following: [...]
. Child avatar content creators are required to add a clothes layer which is baked into child avatar skins or bodies (applier or BOM), and refrain from add emphasis on private details"

Furthermore, in the FAQ section:

Q: I already have a child avatar (or mesh body) that does not have a built-in clothes layer. Can I still use it since I purchased it already?

A: No. Moving forward, child avatars will be prohibited from being fully nude. If you can't use appliers or BOM on your avatar, you must use a skin with a pre-printed modest layer on the skin texture.

We also suggest adding the following:

Q: I have a skin "gender-less" that does not have a pre-printed modest layer built-in. Can I still use it on my child avatar?

A: Yes, provided that a modest layer is always worn over it, as applier or BOM. Moving forward, child avatars will be prohibited from being fully nude.


"Residents presenting as Child Avatars shall be prohibited from the following: [...]
 .  Wearing inappropriate attire considering the age of the child, suggestive clothing, accessories or tools of an explicit or erotic nature, such as lingerie, fetish wear or BDSM"

and in the Child Avatar FAQ:

Q: Do we have to wear a bra-like top to cover the chest area?

A: It is crucial to clearly distinguish between the represented age groups as follows: Infant (0-1), Toddler (1-4), Schooler (5-8), Tweener (8-12) e Teen (13-18). Specifically: Infants should wear underpants alternatively to diapers, Toddlers and Schoolers must wear underpants, while Tweens and Teens are also required to cover the chest area.

Thank you for the opportunity given to us and for listening, and we hope that our technical knowledge and experience have been helpful in defining a more clear and representative regulation.


Building a Better Second Life Together

ToddleeDoo (TweeneeDoo) and Bebe (Youth and Lullabeeb) group