Changes to Second Life Search

Since the release of the version 1.23 of the SL viewer, Second Life's search functions no longer return all results. We expect at some point in the not too distant future this version will be made mandatory. This thread is to document how it works, so that people will know. It is not my intent to discuss why it works this way, or whether it's a good idea, just how it actually works.

Note that Linden Lab uses the word "Adult" in several ways, which can be confusing. It refers to map regions (also known as sims) which have the new maturity rating of "Adult". It also refers to "Adult Content", which are items or activities which would fall under the new definitions.

Why Does This Matter?

If you create a land description or classified ad, it may not be seen by the people you want to see it, depending on your parcel location and settings, and their search settings.

If you are looking for something, you may have trouble finding it if you dont have the right settings activated.

When Do These Changes Apply?

If you use the Second Life search web page, right now. If you use Viewer version 1.22 or earlier, it does not yet apply, but it is expected to soon. If you use version 1.23, or an alternate viewer based on that code, right now.


Whats Different?

In the past, search returned results based on the words you entered. This is no longer true. Now search returns results based on the maturity rating of the entries, and filters some words from your input query.

More specifically:

(1) SL website search page only returns PG results. That means from land parcels on PG regions, or Mature regions when the About land/options for "mature content" is not active. It also means the "adult" words are ignored from your input.

(2) SL Viewer search button defaults to "mature" level of search. That means results from PG or Mature regions. Adult regions and adult words are ignored. If your account is "verified", you have the option to set Preferences > General > Rating to adult, and then set the check box under search tabs to adult, and then use adult words and have adult regions show up in your search results. Each tab can be set individually, changing one does change them all.

What Words are Ignored?

The list of words is not published by Linden Lab, and 35 changes to the list have been noted already. The latest change was with the release of version 1.27 of the server software on 16 July 2009. It may change again in the future, without warning from Linden Lab.

Nonetheless, it is easy to check if a given word is ignored or not, simply by entering it in a search when your settings are below adult. There is an independent website which has the full list as best we know it now:

http://www.slapt.me/wiki/index.php/Adult_Content_Keywords
http://www.slapt.me/wiki/index.php/Adult_Content_Keywords

If you notice a word we did not discover is ignored, please update that page, or let me know and I will update it.

There are 7 words that are always ignored, no matter what your settings are:
* Ageplay
* Casino
* Gambling
* Loli
* Lottery
* Pedophile
* Pedophilia
(These words relate to banned activities in SL)

There are an additional 64 words which are ignored when you do not have the adult settings active.

We list another 258 words which are NOT ignored, but that relate to sexual or violent themes covered by the new maturity ratings definitions. That's to save you the trouble of checking them again.

In general only the exact spelling of the English words on the list are the ones ignored. As far as we know, no words in other languages are caught. Also, using leading or trailing symbols; number 1 or 0, $ instead of L, letter O, or S; international characters, plurals, or merged words (ie sexbed) lets a word through.

Note the ignoring of words is only on the *input* to search that you type. These "adult" words can still show up in the results.

Are There Filter Workarounds?

Yes. If you do not have a verified account, you can search using Google. Enter "site:world.secondlife.com" plus your search words. You will get some adult results. This even works in the internal media browser built into the viewer.

Note though: without a verified account, you cannot *visit* adult regions.

Do the seven always-banned search terms include the British-English spellings of 'pedophile' and 'pedophilia'? Just curious, because apart from the whole issue about non-English translations of these words, in British-English those are spelled with an extra 'a', as in 'paedophile' and 'paedophilia' (technically, the dipthong æ is used: pædophile and pædophilia). So if LL are not blocking that spelling, they should be.

I hate to ask a dumb question... but what does "Loli" mean that it is a banned word?

Short for "Lolita".

Pep ( For literate ageplayers.)

Contraction of Lolita.

I just tried it, and paedophile is not filtered, paedophilia is. Thanks for that catch.

Thanks Daniel and posted your post to Xstreet also and will put it on the slapt.me forums as well

Also read how you may or may not see classifieds at all and LL does not appear to care even though they are not delivering paid services.

http://annotoole.wordpress.com/2009/07/24/sl-classifieds-not-showing-in-all-search/

As in, the famous literary classic, and also a movie by Kubrick.

But frequently used to refer to Japanese child pornography (cartoon or otherwise).

I'm surprised they didn't filter "lolicon" too, though.

...as well as a fashion trend.

This is the first I've seen the keywords, but... cannibal?

I'm surprised that prim animal shops can no longer advertise pussy cats, without being classified as adult.

Oh, you live entertainment folk better be careful with typos, too. Misspelling the "dulcet tones" of a singer, may end up getting into a bit of bother.