Upload Ratings Guidelines
Why do we have ratings?
We understand that Side 7 serves a very wide audience from all over the globe. We know that that audience comes from many different backgrounds and cultures with very different ideals surrounding appropriate and non-appropriate content. In an effort to serve that audience as fairly as possible, we offer these guidelines as a way to normalize our considerations, and give everyone a common point of reference from which to operate.
In all cases, content that we deem not suitable for all audiences is required to have a Rating Qualifier that explains what content exists in the piece. This is so that discerning audiences can decide for themselves if they want to be exposed to that content.
Similarly, users who have accounts on Side 7 can create content filters that block content from specific categories or with specific ratings.
Rating Qualifiers
These are the qualifiers that are required for every content post that isn't appropriate for all audiences.
Drugs (D)
The posted content contains depictions or descriptions of controlled substances. These could be just the presence of such paraphernalia, or its use.
Language (L)
The posted content contains harsh or profane language. This may include depictions or descriptions of harsh langage, profanity, verbal abuse, or threats.
Nudity (N)
The posted content contains depictions or descriptions of nude figures. We consider this qualifier necessary for any depiction or description of a character that has exposed genitals, or is wearing clothing that makes visible the details of their genitals.
Suggestive (S)
The posted content contains depictions or descriptions of erotic acts or situations. We consider "erotic" and "sexual" to be different; erotic acts are designed to titillate the viewer without depiction of sexual acts. Such content may include a character undressing, characters engaging in intimate behavior such as kissing or "making out", or situations that tease at arousal without being explicit.
Violence (V)
The posted content contains depictions or descriptions of violent acts. This could be battle situations, characters engaged in a physical altercation, or characters suffering from injury from a malice-based fight. Depictions of weapons being used to commit acts of violence, regardless of if the result of that violence is shown, also garners this qualifier. This does not include depictions of sporting acts such as pugilism, martial arts, combat sports, or competitions.
Other (O)
The posted content contains depictions or descriptions of situations or acts that are not covered above, but may not be appropriate for all audiences.
Image Ratings
Everyone (E)
Appropriate for all ages. Signifies that the image rated contains nothing most parents will consider offensive for even their youngest children to see.
Teen (T)
Some material may not be suitable for younger children. Signifies that the image may contain some material parents might not like to expose to their young children. Such material may include: moderate depiction of tobacco or alcohol use, and by characters of obvious legal age; light use of profanity or harsh language; characters may be obviously nude, yet genitals are not visible; characters may appear in seductive situations, positions, or be wearing seductive or form-fitting clothing that does not reveal anatomical details; small amounts of blood or gore with no visible acts of violence; any other mild reason the artist feels garners a T rating.
This rating requires at least one qualifier.
Mature (M)
The image contains some adult material or material intended for a more mature audience. Parents are urged to learn more about the image before allowing their children to see it. Content found in the image may include: moderate to excessive use or visible depiction of controlled substances, by characters of obvious legal age; strong use of profanity, harsh language, or abusive language within the context of the image; detailed, non-sexual depiction of nude characters, or characters with genitals visible; characters in seductive poses, wearing seductive or form-fitting clothing that reveals anatomical details, or engaging in non-sexual, intimate activities; excessive blood and gore, or explicitly depicted acts of violence, or the depicted use of any weapon to commit violence whether the result of that violence is visible or not; any other strong reason the artist feels garners an M rating.
This rating requires at least one qualifier.
Adult Only (AO)
The material in this image is intended for adult audiences only. Images with this rating are ONLY visible by persons who are 18 or older, and who have opted into viewing this kind of material through their account settings. This material may contain: use of controlled substances by characters or persons of obvious legal age; harsh, abusive, or profane language; detailed nudity of characters, including content that makes genitals the focal point of the image; characters or persons who are of obvious legal age depicted as being engaged in consensual sexual acts or wearing sexually-focused outfits; depiction of extreme violence that doesn't glorify or encourage harm to minors, or the depicted use of any weapon to commit violence whether the result of that violence is visible or not; any other reason the artist or Side 7 feels deserves the AO rating.
This rating requires at least one qualifier.
Audio Ratings
Everyone (E)
Appropriate for all ages. Signifies that the audio rated contains nothing most parents will consider offensive for even their youngest children to listen to.
Teen (T)
Some material in the audio may not be appropriate for all audiences. Content within this audio recording may include, either through spoken descriptions or through sound effects: descriptions or depictions of moderate tobacco or alcohol by characters of obvious legal age; moderate use of profanity or harsh language; descriptions of the general details of a character's naked form, without specific focus on the details of the character's genitals; descriptions of a character's form or clothing that accentuate the sexuality of that character; descriptions or discussions of violence without the use of explicit details or sound effects of bodily injury and trauma; any other reason the artist or Side 7 determines requires the T rating.
This rating requires at least one qualifier.
Mature (M)
Material in this audio work contains subject matter intended for mature or adult audience. Such material may include: references or depictions of heavy controlled substance use or abuse by characters or persons of obvious legal age; heavy use of harsh or abusive language, or profanity, within the context of the work; detailed descriptions of a character's or person's physical, naked form, including specific focus on genitalia; descriptions or depictions of extreme violence, bodily trauma, or injury and death, or the depiction of the use of weapons to commit violence whether the result of that violence is described nor not, either through details or sound effects; any other reason the artist or Side 7 sees as appropriate for an M rating.
This rating requires at least one qualifier.
Adult Only (AO)
The material in this audio work is intended for adult audiences only. Works with this rating are ONLY visible to persons who are 18 or older, and who have opted into viewing this kind of material through their account settings. This material may contain descriptions, depictions, or audio sound effects of: use of controlled substances, even to an excessive level, by characters or persons of obvious legal age; heavy use of harsh, abusive, or profane language; detailed nudity of characters, including content that makes genitals the focal point; characters or persons who are of obvious legal age depicted as being engaged in consensual sexual acts or wearing sexually-focused outfits; depiction of extreme violence, physical trauma, bodily injury, or body horror that doesn't glorify or encourage harm to minors, or the depiction of the use of any weapon to commit acts of violence whether the results of that violence is described or not; any other reason the artist or Side 7 feels deserves the AO rating.
This rating requires at least one qualifier.
Literature Ratings
Everyone (E)
Appropriate for all ages. Signifies that the literature contains nothing most parents will consider offensive for even their youngest children to listen to.
Teen (T)
Some material in the literature may not be appropriate for all audiences. Content within this literature may include: descriptions or depictions of moderate tobacco or alcohol by characters of obvious legal age; moderate use of profanity or harsh language; descriptions of the general details of a character's naked form, without specific focus on the details of the character's genitals; descriptions of a character's form or clothing that accentuate the sexuality of that character; descriptions or discussions of violence without the use of explicit details of bodily injury and trauma; any other reason the artist or Side 7 determines requires the T rating.
This rating requires at least one qualifier.
Mature (M)
Material in this literature contains subject matter intended for mature or adult audience. Such material may include: references or depictions of controlled substance use or abuse by characters or persons of obvious legal age; use of harsh or abusive language, or profanity, within the context of the work; detailed descriptions of a character's or person's physical, naked form in a non-sexual fashion; descriptions or depictions of extreme violence, bodily trauma, or injury and death, or of the use of a weapon to commit acts of violence whether the results of that violence is described or not; any other reason the artist or Side 7 sees as appropriate for an M rating.
This rating requires at least one qualifier.
Adult Only (AO)
The material in this literature is intended for adult audiences only. Works with this rating are ONLY visible to persons who are 18 or older, and who have opted into viewing this kind of material through their account settings. This material may contain descriptions or depictions: use of controlled substances, even to an excessive level, by characters or persons of obvious legal age; heavy use of harsh, abusive, or profane language; detailed nudity of characters, including content that makes genitals the focal point; characters or persons who are of obvious legal age depicted as being engaged in consensual sexual acts or wearing sexually-focused outfits; depiction of extreme violence, physical trauma, bodily injury, or body horror that doesn't glorify or encourage harm to minors, or of the use of any weapon to commit acts of violence whether or not the results of that violence is described; any other reason the artist or Side 7 feels deserves the AO rating.
This rating requires at least one qualifier.