The official Pokémon forums, launched to create a platform for enthusiastic discussion about various aspects of the franchise, including video games, anime, and the trading card game, have been marred by questionable content and spam, raising concerns among the community.
The forum, a migrated version of the previous Pokémon Trading Card Game online forums, has been flooded with inappropriate topics and spam faster than the moderators can handle. These events have prompted backlash from users, with many posting screenshots of the unmoderated content on Twitter and other social media platforms.
Forum topics with explicit themes, including “tickle tormenting” and expressing attraction to certain Pokémon characters, have garnered hundreds of views and numerous responses before being removed – indicating an apparent lag in moderation.
The official rules of the forum urge players to “contribute to the community positively,” to maintain an “inviting, fun, and safe community.” The forum guidelines explicitly prohibit “foul language or inappropriate themes,” aligning with Pokémon’s ethos of being an inclusive platform suitable for all ages. Yet, the recent flood of inappropriate content has left users questioning the efficacy of these rules and the platform’s ability to enforce them.
Despite the ongoing forum issues, Pokémon fans have some exciting news to look forward to. Pokémon recently announced the first expansion for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, set to be released later this year. The two-part expansion, titled “The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Part 1: The Teal Mask and Part 2: The Indigo Disk”, will be launched in the fall and winter of 2023, respectively.
While the exciting expansion news should provide a positive distraction from the forum issues, Pokémon’s management will need to promptly address the forum’s moderation challenges to ensure the brand’s commitment to providing a safe and inclusive platform for its dedicated and diverse user base.
So there’s an official Pokemon forum now apparently and LMAO?? pic.twitter.com/oDXyYbtDY2
— Touya! ★ POKEMON LEGENDS Z-A HYPE (@Touyarokii) July 5, 2023
