Connected Play in Virtual Worlds: Communication and Control Mechanisms in Virtual Worlds for Children and Adolescents

Figure 2. 
Degree of freedom for communication and moderation and parental control across 10 plat-
forms (ordered by the degree of freedom for “communication and moderation” from high to low). 
Figure 2.
Degree of freedom for communication and moderation and parental control across 10
platforms (ordered by the degree of freedom for “communication and moderation” from high to low).

---

Multimodal Technol. Interact.
2021
,
5
, 27
9 of 22
We also found differences in the types of game mechanics and communication chan-
nels used by the players to socialize across the platforms. Ed-tech platforms that primarily
target younger players (e.g.,
Whyville
,
Poptropica
) were generally found to provide envi-
ronments consisting of many individually focused “mini-games” (e.g., puzzles, quizzes),
where players engage in independent and solo play by themselves with limited interaction
with other players. As a result, these ed-tech platforms primarily have relatively restricted
communication (e.g., pre-scripted text) which are easier to moderate and monitor than
unrestricted text chat and/or voice chat features found in many of the more entertainment-
based VWs. Ed-tech platforms
Secret Builder
,
JumpStart 3D
, and
Animal Jam
all granted
parents customization of controls to enable and disable different chat options. These three
platforms also named the text chat option with pre-scripted and/or staff-picked phrases as
“Safe Chat,” implying that “Free Chat” may not be as safe as the restricted text chat. This
contrasts with commercial games developed by entertainment companies, which typically
utilize free chat and even voice chat via third-party platforms.
There is a range of chat moderation approaches across these platforms to ensure the
safety and privacy of communication. Not all platforms explicitly listed what specific
types of content are being filtered, and typically, platform developers make individual
decisions about moderation and controls. Platforms such as
Habbo Hotel
use a combination
of system filters and a team of human moderators to monitor players who do not comply
with platform rules and regulations set out in the Habbo Way (Figure
3
) [
74
].
Multimodal Technol. Interact. 
2021
, 
5
, x FOR PEER REVIEW 
9 of 22 
We also found differences in the types of game mechanics and communication chan-
nels used by the players to socialize across the platforms. Ed-tech platforms that primarily 
target younger players (e.g., 
Whyville
, 
Poptropica
) were generally found to provide envi-
ronments consisting of many individually focused “mini-games” (e.g., puzzles, quizzes), 
where players engage in independent and solo play by themselves with limited interac-
tion with other players. As a result, these ed-tech platforms primarily have relatively re-
stricted communication (e.g., pre-scripted text) which are easier to moderate and monitor 
than unrestricted text chat and/or voice chat features found in many of the more enter-
tainment-based VWs. Ed-tech platforms 
Secret Builder
, 
JumpStart 3D
, and 
Animal Jam 
all 
granted parents customization of controls to enable and disable different chat options. 
These three platforms also named the text chat option with pre-scripted and/or staff-
picked phrases as “Safe Chat,” implying that “Free Chat” may not be as safe as the re-
stricted text chat. This contrasts with commercial games developed by entertainment com-
panies, which typically utilize free chat and even voice chat via third-party platforms. 
There is a range of chat moderation approaches across these platforms to ensure the 
safety and privacy of communication. Not all platforms explicitly listed what specific 
types of content are being filtered, and typically, platform developers make individual 
decisions about moderation and controls. Platforms such as 
Habbo Hotel
use a combination 
of system filters and a team of human moderators to monitor players who do not comply 
with platform rules and regulations set out in the Habbo Way (Figure 3) [74].