Niantic Social - Enable COMM lockout until L8?

KonnTowerKonnTower ✭✭✭✭✭

If/Once Niantic Social launches fully, would it be possible to not allow COMM messages to be sent by low level agents say.... Under level 8? Force them to use Niantic social, then unlock COMM at 8. This would cut down on some of the fake accounts people create just to send inappropriate things to agents.

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Comments

  • Otrera35Otrera35 ✭✭✭✭

    @KonnTower, alt/mule accounts are not limited to low-level agents only. There are higher-level accounts out there that serve as alt/backpack accounts. Yet, those accounts persist despite being reported by agents. How do we even prevent them from sending inappropriate things to other agents out there? While there are legitimate agents out there who prefer to opt-out of the Niantic Social feature or another social platform because they prefer to avoid drama and play the game peacefully. I believe, it is best to let the agents decide what they want to do with the Niantic Social feature and not force them to use it.

  • MoogModularMoogModular ✭✭✭✭✭

    Didn't Niantic try this before and even they reverted it realizing the issues?

  • Given that the most useful feature of Niantic Social is connecting new agents with the local community so that they can be found and helped through the initial stages, that would be a counter productive limitation.

  • MoogModularMoogModular ✭✭✭✭✭

    They said lock out from COMM not Niantic Social.

  • Don't **** down a 90% solution just because it isn't 100%.

    If 90% of inappropriate Comms are from trash accounts L1-L7, why not block them from Comms?

    Of course, I don't know if it's 90% or what, but Niantic should.

  • Otrera35Otrera35 ✭✭✭✭
    edited January 2022

    One can only block a number of agents from sending inappropriate messages to an unsuspecting agent through the COMMs. After a few days, one or two mule accounts appear and send inappropriate messages to that particular agent. If members of good communities report those malicious agents with mule accounts to Niantic where appropriate actions can be done; it can solve part of the dilemma we have about mule accounts sending inappropriate messages. I am sure there are pros and cons of registering into Niantic Social, but until there is a 100% guarantee that there is no bullying or harassment that can occur on that server; I as a CORE subscriber prefer to opt-out of it. I believe not everyone wants to be forced into accepting a draconian rule that we have to register in an unsafe avenue of interaction.

  • I don’t think the account level is the problem with COMS and Niantic Social. The real issue is the person who the account is attached to. A low level account doesn’t translate to a malicious user, an agent who is not skillful at communicating maturely, or an agent who is not knowledgeable with the game. A lot of factors come into play, such as, mental health stability, personality disorder, bullying and harassment, racism, gang activity where some players are coached to play a certain way (especially those that are low functioning), etc. Like @Otrera35 said, a great way of dealing with this is by having the community report those malicious players. The onus is with the Ingress community to take a stand and do what is right. Remember, if there is no gaming integrity, then most likely those members can turn against you and victimize you also, and it’s just a matter of time before that happens. Niantic also has a responsibility to take action and ban accounts when proven malicious activity happens or is reported. Everyone has a part to play.

  • Otrera35Otrera35 ✭✭✭✭

    Like what an agent mentioned in another thread, Ingress Prime itself creates Paranoia among different players such as agents being followed around by strangers and they do not know if those are the good or bad agents. In a different scenario, new agents show up, and commit some innocent mistakes, then veteran agents get paranoid and resort to bullying and harassing those new agents through the COMMs and Telegram. However, other community members do nothing and just let this situation fly also reflects what kind of culture the local community embraces. While Niantic, just wash its hands off that situation because it is not their job to police the communities out there, but isn't it ironic to think that without the communities and especially its players, this game will collapse?

    What would you think new agents have to do in order to survive in that environment just to play? Fight or flight? If that is the type of community members you have out there? Who needs enemies, right? Rather play in peaceful solitude than be involved in a world of bullying and harassment out there. In the same token, Niantic Social just like the COMMs can be exploited by malicious agents out there; the only difference is that in the COMMs, everyone can see it. It gives the good agents out there the chance to act upon and do the right thing, and stand up against bullying and harassment.

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