Vizcops can appear on screen to help children that are having problems and resolve issues. If users cause persistent problems with other users or the moderators we can ban them for varying amounts of time:

 

Banning Times

If a user repeatedly commits minor offences or one serious offence then they will be issued with a ban. The general guidelines for banning users are:-

• Non-suspension warnings

  Here a user is sent a message but not issued with a ban. This is for minor misdemeanours that do not cause threat or major menace to users. It is used where the assessment is that a light touch intervention will remedy the problem.

• 15 Minutes

  Failure to respond to non-suspension warning.
  Disruption of the moderation process. Flooding the screen, saying silly things.

  
• 30 minutes

  Casual swearing that has not been stopped by non-suspension warnings. This swearing will likely not be seen by other users as the filter will have stopped it, but the Vizcops will still see on their screens the attempt to say something inappropriate.

• 1 hour

  Repeat offences from above in short space of time. Persistent bullying of other users.

• 2 hours

  Racist, sexist homophobic abuse. Repeated attempts to share personal information.

• 12 hours

  Cyberbullying. Drug discussion

• 24 hours and for further investigation

  Inappropriate chat or behavior that could threaten the safety of users. Repeated failure to respond to previous bans.

• Permanent Bans

  A user whose behavior is repeatedly anti-social, dangerous or threatening will have their account closed.

  We also monitor user chat over time and monitor how users form relationships and the type of questions they ask others. Where user activity is seen to be suspicious an account will be closed.

  If any user presents a danger to other users in their behavior they are banned immediately and their account is passed on for investigation and possible permanent closure.

• The time will count down until the user is allowed back onto the site.

Moderators can also send users messages into their message box and these reinforce the ban when the users returns to the site. This is in an effort to educate users on the right way to enjoy VizWoz and ensure they are inclusive and behave safely online.

 

If a user has been suspected of bullying another user by calling them names for instance:

If a user has attempted to pass a web address to another user - which could be inappropriate:

If a user tries to exchange personal information like their address, telephone number etc

If a user uses homophobic slurs to another user

If a user persistently follows another user around the site and won't stop

If a users uses a racial slur to another user - this results in an automatic 24 hour ban

If a user makes inappropriate sexual references