Sony Interactive Entertainment is piloting a new feature for PlayStation messages that it hopes will curb offensive content on its network. Starting today, the Nudge feature will be available on the PS App via a randomized deployment in the U.S. and U.K.
How PlayStation’s new Nudge feature will work with messages
The Nudge feature will give senders a chance to “review” their messages before they’re sent by highlighting potentially harmful content that they contain. Basically, Sony’s moderation system will pick up certain keywords and phrases that’ll then be flagged as potentially offensive, leading to senders receiving a “nudge” to consider editing those messages if necessary — something similar to what we’ve seen on Twitter before.
“Randomly selected messages will be assessed for potential Code of Conduct violations,” Sony explains. “If content is flagged that might violate our Code of Conduct, the player will be prompted to review it. This is an automated process, and the contents of the message will not be reviewed by employees or moderators, unless separately reported after the message is sent.”
Receiving a Nudge doesn’t mean your messages won’t be sent if you don’t edit them. Senders can still go ahead with the original content, but the idea here is to “take corrective action and avoid mistakes before they happen,” in Sony’s words.