OpinionFebruary 17, 20256 min readUnderstanding Your Introverted Kids Needs Will Help Them SucceedThere is nothing wrong with quieter, introverted kids. Recognizing what makes them tick can help them confidently navigate an extroverted worldBy Megha Satyanarayana edited by Dan Vergano Malte Mueller/Getty ImagesMy kids live on different planets.My daughter is bold and loud, talkative and active. She is happiest climbing and swinging, and if she had six playdates in a weekend, it still wouldnt be enough. My son, on the other hand, is more thoughtful and quiet. He spends a lot of time understanding a problem before trying to solve it. He is content to play with the same two kids every day at school. But hes just as happy to play alone, or play next to me while I do dishes or hammer away on my computer.These kids are far too young for popular personality tests, but already, I see that my daughter is more extroverted and my son, more introverted. Last summer, we took my daughter to overnight camp and stayed in a vacation rental nearby. Almost every morning, my son and I got up early and went to the beach, just us, to watch birds and look for shells. As he rooted around in the sand, as we meandered the early morning coastline, I could see how happy he was, how these low-key, contemplative outings completely filled his bucket in a way they never would his sister. I started to wonder: Am I meeting his need for slow moments? Am I meeting his need for quiet?On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.I am more extroverted, a social butterfly with many groups of friends and a penchant for throwing a good party. But opposites attract, and my life is full of people who are more introverted, including my partner and one of my best friends. I get that these personality traits are a spectrum, and that most of us are ambiverts, but the structure of societyand often childhoodis geared toward rewarding those of us who are louder, flashier, chattier, social, even as some estimates place 57 percent of people as introverts. Years ago, in an effort to be a better friend, co-worker and human, I decided to learn more. I picked up Susan Cains book Quiet, an eye-opening treatise into the power and wisdom of the more introspective people around us. Her work clearly lays out why the professional world needs to pay attention to, and create workplace environments that also benefit, quieter people. Quiet gives people like me a playbook for how to make space for, support and champion introverts.But the book is mostly about adults. With my son in mind, I reached out to Susan. I wanted to know: Are the rules different for kids? How do I best serve my little introvert?[An edited transcript of the interview follows.]I think the big overarching question is what does an introverted kid need thats different from an extroverted one. How do we, as parents, give them what they need to be successful? There are so many questions in there! Number one, for children who are quieter and shy, theres a difference between those two things. An introverted child is one who just kind of prefers less overwhelmingly stimulating environments, and often wants to socialize, but in quieter ways, like with one other kid at a time. A shy child might actually be very extroverted and enjoy the company of lots of kids in a kind of big, boisterous environment. But with shyness, its more about social anxiety and the fear of being judged, so the first thing is really to identify where the childs quiet behavior comes from.Okay. I think with my kid, its definitely that he likes less stimulating environments. He takes a long time to warm up to new places just as much as new people. Yes, these kids have a longer runway. Ill give you the example of a child learning to swim. Very often these kids will be tentative around the water for the first time. You dont just want to throw them in the pool, which is sort of one school of parenting. But neither do you want to overprotect them. So maybe you go to the pool on a day where you know its going to be empty, and maybe the drill for that day is you encourage your child to dip one toe in the water, and then you celebrate and go for ice cream. And then you go back a few days later, and this time theyre in up to their knees, and you do it little by little from there. Eventually the child learns to swim, and you cannot tell the difference between that child and the one who leapt in right away.Youre letting them know that what they are feeling is normal, and that they can learn to manage these feelings and work through them.That makes sense. A big transition is the first day of school, or a new school. How do we help? One of my kids schools hosts playdates at the school playground to get the kids accustomed to the school itself. Yeah, so thats getting together at a playground with a big noisy group of kids. If your kid wants to play, thats fine, but if not, I would say identify other parents and kids that you think your child might get along with and arrange a solo playdate over the summer, there or somewhere else.Often for quieter kids the route to social life is through these bridge friends. Its getting to know one person at a time. Kenneth Rubin and Andrea Thompson wrote a book called The Friendship Factor, and it looks at this concern that kids who arent as social might have problems in their future lives. Based on their research, as long as that child has one or two friends, thats their social connection, and thats all they need to live a happy, successful rewarding life.So maybe on the first day of school try to get there earlier, so that they are one of the first kids in the classroom, and its still quiet and not overwhelming. Basically, the rule of thumb is: try to introduce the child to a new situation on their own terms.Do you think then that we should advocate for our introverted kid at school? Talk to their teacher about ways to involve them that honor their skills? Im always worried about being a helicopter parent.Definitely reach out to the teacher. Just let them know, Hey, I wanted to let you know something about my child and get your advice or My child is slower to warm up, so how would you feel about pairing him with Johnny to do something one-on-one? Or, for an older kid, maybe you say, I know she does really well if she knows in advance you are going to call on her but shes really nervous about being called on just cold. Most teachers are pretty receptive if you approach them as partners. And theres a way teachers can frame their feedback to show they understand a quieter child. Instead of Sophie must learn to speak up in class, which, I will tell you, from all the years of hearing from Sophies, makes them feel terrible and stays with them for years, try Sophie is a deep thinker, and we always love to hear what she comes up with.Weve been talking about younger kids, but what about older kids and teenagers? How do we best meet their needs? One of the most important routes for an older child to flourish, a quieter one, is developing mastery in areas they are passionate about. It might be tennis, or chess, it could be anything, but I would lean into cultivating that mastery because the research shows that self-esteem comes from mastery rather than the other way around. And those passion areas are a great road to friendship for introverted kids because often they arent interested in just socializing for its own sake, but they might love talking to their friend on the fencing team. Theres a common bond in that activity.Thank you. Is there anything else you think is important here? Anything my extroverted brain isnt thinking of? This sounds hokey, but it really isnt. A child needs to understand that their parents love and honor them for who they are. Ive gotten thousands of letters over the years from parents, but also children who feel they didnt get that signal, who felt that it was inadvertently communicated to them that there was something wrong with this way of being. That creates a shame that that child then carries around with them. So parents need to do the inner work on that, because when introverts have parents who truly get them, that goes a very long way.This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily those of Scientific American.

Japanese gacha boss defended as Puzzle & Dragons studio refutes his salary is too highGungHo opposes proposals from shareholders.Image credit: Gung Ho News by Ed Nightingale Deputy News Editor Published on Feb. 17, 2025 GungHo, the Japanese studio behind mobile gacha hit Puzzle & Dragons, has refuted claims its president receives too high a salary - on par with that of Nintendo's boss.At the start of the month, GungHo came under fire from its shareholders when a proposal was submitted requesting it "up its game". It highlighted a number of issues, not least of all the salary of its president Kazuki Morishita, who receives a similar remuneration to Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa, despite the studio failing to produce a hit game beyond Puzzle & Dragons.Now, the GungHo board of directors has opposed all of the proposals made by its shareholders (thanks Automaton), claiming they misunderstand the "highly competitive" mobile game marketplace.Puzzle & Dragons Official TrailerWatch on YouTubeGungHo has responded to each of the proposals in a lengthy legal document, even questioning its clarity and legality.The response states the argument from shareholders against Morishita "is based on misunderstanding and fails to recognise the role that President Morishita has played in achieving the Company's growth, while leading the Company's business as its de facto founder for over 20 years."Continuing to defend Morishita, the statement reads: "President Morishita has always taken the lead as representative director and president of the Company and has worked with the Company's staff to create exciting games without compromise and with passion to release the Company's corporate philosophy of delivering 'joy and wonder', which has resulted in the Company achieving continuous and stable revenues for over 10 years."Morishita was also responsible for bringing Ragnarok Online to Japan and has continued to direct development of Puzzle & Dragons, the company's biggest hit.Moreover, while Puzzle & Dragons has seen a decrease in its revenue, GungHo's response states the argument from shareholders "does not take into account the circumstances and reality of smartphone games", which it says is "highly competitive, with countless titles being released constantly". Even hit games only last for a few months at a time."Considering the above," the response reads, "as President Morishita is currently an irreplaceable figure in the Company as a game development company, the Board of Directors believes that the level of his base remuneration is sufficiently reasonable."Shareholders accused GungHo of having a single but gradually fading hit game, of struggling to release another success, and of overpaying its president as a result. Clearly friction between company leaders and shareholders is set to continue.

Elden Ring Nightreign has confirmed DLC, but what could be included?Running Wylder.Image credit: FromSoftware News by Ed Nightingale Deputy News Editor Published on Feb. 17, 2025 FromSoftware has confirmed Elden Ring Nightreign will receive post-release DLC, leading to speculation over what could be included.Over on the game's Steam page, the description originally included the line "Additional DLC - Additional playable characters and bosses" (thanks PC Gamer), though this has since been removed.The DLC will be available by Q4 2025, though no further details are known.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Elden Ring Nightreign PreviewWatch on YouTubeThe Steam page went up alongside news of the game's release date and pre-orders beginning, all ahead of the network test that took place over the weekend.The network test initially failed, with players unable to access the first session. FromSoftware was forced to reboot the servers due to congestion.The rest of the test appears to have been a success, giving players a look at what to expect in the final game.The test features four playable Nightfarers, but FromSoftware has confirmed the final game will include eight. However, it looks like more will be included in the forthcoming DLC.It's hard to speculate on who these will be, considering we still don't know who the remaining four will be. The existing four from the network test - Wylder, Guardian, Recluse, Duchess - fit the typical all-rounder, tank, mage, rogue classes, but perhaps others will parallel the likes of the Wretch or Samurai classes from the base game.As for additional bosses, there's plenty of potential for FromSoftware to add to the game, be that through additional Nightlords or special randomised events. We know already it's cherry-picking from across the Souls games - the network test included the Centipede Demon from Dark Souls 1, for instance, while the game's trailer shows The Nameless King from Dark Souls 3.What we've seen so far, though, has been only the bosses leading to one of the eight Nightlords, so there's still potential for the likes of Malenia or Maliketh to show up in the base game. We've seen nothing of Shadow of the Erdtree though, so perhaps the DLC could add Messmer or other bosses from the expansion, alongside more enemies from past games?As I mentioned in my Elden Ring Nightreign hands-on preview, there's plenty of potential for FromSoftware to expand the game into a full live-service offering with constant updates and challenges. However, the existence of (presumably paid) DLC suggests this will be a fixed release instead.We'll know more by the time Nightreign releases on 30th May this year. Did you get into the network test? What did you think?

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Contents hide Arrowhead hasnt revealed their plans for the future of Helldivers 2, but they have teased more is set to come from the Illuminate as well as bugs and bots. While not shedding light on any more details, leaks have shared information about the gloom. This is a terrifying prospect for Super Earth soldiers, and a new gameplay leak shows terrifying new bugs created by the gloom in Helldivers 2.Helldivers 2 gameplay shows new bugs in the gloomHelldivers 2 dataminer, Iron_S1ghts, has provided a first look at new bugs via gameplay. The gameplay is on Omicron, and it features new bugs that, Upon death, explode into a cloud of spores. This explosion stuns everything around them and can deal a small amount of damage.Referred to as Spore Burst terminids, they are said to appear on planets in the gloom. We previously reported about these new bugs, but this is our first look thanks to gameplay. You can check out the gameplay on Iron_S1ghts X account, but there is the possibility it gets removed. Save Up to $1,200 on the Samsung Galaxy S25! Pre-order now and save big with trade-in and Samsung credit. Limited time only! *Includes trade-in value + $300 Samsung credit. In another post, Iron_S1ghts clarified that the API got updated, and the Spore Burst terminids are no longer part of the predator strain. The leaker claims that, instead, They have their own dedicated strain that is currently being worked on.This is all we know and have seen of the new bugs so far. As for what the gloom is all about, it is a golden mist that will cover planets and massively lower visibility for players. This should create a terrifying atmosphere that makes fighting bugs horror-esque. Must-Listen: Publishing Manor Lords w/ Joe Robinson VideoGamer Podcast Listen Now Theres no ETA on when the leaked content will materialize for players, but its stuff to anticipate for the future.For more Helldivers 2, a leak has uncovered amelee weapon seemingly from Warhammer 40K. Make sure to check out our guide to thebest warbonds ranked, along with thebest stratagemsandbest throwables. We also have a guide to thebest weapons, and, if youre coming back to HD2 for the first time in a long while, we have a bunch oftips and tricksto help you get reaccustomed to the battlefield.Helldivers 2Platform(s):PC, PlayStation 5Genre(s):Action, Shooter, Third Person8VideoGamerRelated TopicsHelldivers 2 Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Contents hide Have you ever played Baldurs Gate 3 and tried to romance Shadowheart but accidentally found yourself sleeping with Gale? Lots of players have, including ourselves, and one modder has made it so that accidentally boning down with the beautiful mage.Of course, Gale is not a bad romantic choice. In fact, some players have been so enamoured by the party member that their virtual relationship have ended toxic, abusive, real-life ones. However, the mages high emotions and sense of attachment to anyone who looks at him kindly does make him incredibly easy to romance.Stop boning Gale in Baldurs Gate 3Created by modder HyperspaceTowel, the Stop Accidentally Dating Gale mod does exactly what it says on the tin. The mod tweaks some potentially confusing dialogue options that seem very platonic, but tug at Gales heartstrings. Save Up to $1,200 on the Samsung Galaxy S25! Pre-order now and save big with trade-in and Samsung credit. Limited time only! *Includes trade-in value + $300 Samsung credit. The mod makes sure that every line that makes Gale fall for Tav so rapidly is specifically altered to make sure that you know exactly whats happening. While your Tav definitely wasnt leading on the puppy-dog-magician before, theres now more caution between yourself and the wizard.Of course, the mod itself isnt 100% necessary for avoiding any accidental feelings being created. Alongside finding a guide elsewhere, the modder has listed every dialogue choice that will make Gale drool emotionally. Must-Listen: Publishing Manor Lords w/ Joe Robinson VideoGamer Podcast Listen Now Instead of downloading the mod, you can also just use the description below as a guide for what not to do, the modder said. But wheres the fun in that?Alongside dialogue choices that make him almost instantly fall in love with you, early versions of Baldurs Gate 3 did have some accidental triggers that make Gale easier to romance than other characters. However, even with those issues fixed and Patch 8 now here, Gale is still the easiest character to romance by accident.For more Baldurs Gate 3 mods, read about the mod bringing six to eight new companions to the game as well as an entirely custom campaign. Additionally, read about the new custom campaign recreating areas from World of Warcraftits just neat.Baldurs Gate 3Platform(s):macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Adventure, RPG, Strategy10VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

Clad in Travertine, the prayer halls undulating qibla wall frames the mihrab and minbar; the carpeting is based on an enlarged scan of an individual Prayer rug.Photo: Iwan Baan/Courtesy of DS+RThe solution came in the form of an undulating roof, which swoops up above the prayer hall and down over the education center. The roof allows there to be grandeur and intimacy in one gesture, Diller says of the adjoining spaces, whose shared volume shifts 17 degrees off axis from the canopy in the direction of Mecca. The prayer halls orienting qibla wall, clad in travertine, bears its own curves. One niche frames the mihrab, cupping natural light from the aperture above to create a luminous focal point. (Historically the mihrab, indicating the direction of Mecca, would have been the most richly ornamented element, often bearing mosaic tilework.) The other, inverted, contains the minbar, a steel cantilevered platform lit from below, where the imam delivers sermons.A diffuse glow permeates the entire space as a result of 5,488 conical light wells, each one just 7.8 inches in diameter along the rooflineminimizing solar gainbut flared out at ceiling height to appear much wider. All cast a radiant aura upon the carpeting, its pixelated pattern based on a blown-up scan of a single prayer rug. Our intent was to create something familiar but not quite, Diller says of the plush pile, woven in China out of wool from New Zealand, with depressions to indicate rows for prayer. No individual mats necessary.At every turn, meanwhile, the design fosters a deeper connection to naturefrom the gardens that surround the building to the circular interior courtyard that separates the prayer hall and education spaces, planted with two olive trees (symbols of knowledge). Materials reinforce that bond, especially the complementary use of travertine and black limba wood, whose palette echoes the tones of sand. The ablution area, by contrast, features washing stations of dark basalt.The interior courtyard that separates the prayer hall from the education spaces is planted with two olive trees, symbols of knowledge.Photo: Iwan Baan/Courtesy of DS+R

The Seattle Center and all its attractions can be found in the citys Lower Queen Anne neighborhood. Its on old tribal lands of the Duwamish and theres some history there that is still to be unearthed, explains Steinbrueck. Now, its a mixed-use residential area at the foot of a hillside. Its not in central Downtown and in some ways thats a saving grace because had it been Downtown somewhere, the Space Needle would not have the prominence that it does to this day. It would be lost in the jungle of high-rise towers.Why was the Space Needle built?The Space Needle was built for the 1962 Worlds Fair, also known as the Century 21 Exhibition, whose theme was the Age of Space. Unlike structures erected for other Worlds Fairs, like the Eiffel Tower, the Space Needle and the rest of the Seattle Center were always intended to be lasting fixtures. They were designed to be permanent, Chesmore confirms. They became part of the urban fabric of the city.Who designed the Space Needle?Three men made important contributions to the design of the Space Needle: Edward E. Carlson, John Graham Jr., and Victor Steinbrueck. Edward Carlson was a Seattle hotel executive and the chief organizer of the 1962 Worlds Fair, Chesmore says. In 1952, he traveled to Europe, specifically to Stuttgart, Germany, where he was inspired by a broadcast tower that also featured a restaurant. He came back with a crude, little sketch of a circle on top of a pole. That was the impetus of the Space Needle.An excerpt from Victor Steinbruecks journalPhoto: Courtesy of Peter SteinbrueckFrom this napkin noodle, architect John Graham Jr. of John Graham & Company dreamed up the Space Needles flying-saucer-like revolving restaurant and observation deck. At the time, John Graham Jr. was a leading modernist, explains Chesmore. He had just recently designed a revolving restaurant in Hawaii [La Ronde at the Ala Moana Shopping Center], so his thought was the restaurant should be revolving so you could see Puget Sound, Elliott Bay, and pretty much all of Seattle.Graham then hired architect Victor Steinbrueck to refine the Space Needles design. Steinbrueck came up with the towers hourglass-shaped support structure, which was informed by a David Lemon sculpture that he owned. The little wood maquette, titled The Feminine One, depicts a female dancer in motion. When you look at the shape and the detail of the Space Needle, I think it was Victor Steinbrueck who had more influence than even John Graham Jr., but he gets the credit because it was his firm, considers Chesmore.What are the main architectural elements of the Space Needle?The Space Needle is defined by its disc-shaped top and its tripod base that tapers in the middle, giving it a wasp-waist form. The strong, iconic profile of the three-legged, pod-like structure comes to a high, narrow waist and then branches out again, describes Steinbrueck. It was a simple, elegant solution that provided a podium for the restaurant and the observation deck on the top. There is also the dance influence, a figure that is embodied there. Theres an anthropomorphic suggestionarms outstretched, legs spread. It presents a very graceful silhouette thats always changing with the light and atmospheric conditions throughout the year.A replica of The Feminine One by David Lemon.Photo: Courtesy of Peter SteinbrueckThe space needle draws inspiration from the sculpture.Photo: Bill Ross/Getty ImagesAccording to Chesmore, this sleek, dynamic architecture reflected the countrys desire toward more technological innovation and progress. It was really all about the Age of Space and advancements. And though it was built in 1962, it still looks futuristic today. It really has a sense of forward thinking.What is the Space Needle made of?Built on a foundation of rebar-reinforced poured concrete that is 30 feet deep and 120 feet wide, the Space Needle is primarily made of steel and glass. It is held together with over 74,000 bolts. My fathers notebook shows some of the other ideas that were being floated and different types of structural materials, from tension strand to concrete to steel, shares Steinbrueck. Ultimately, they decided on steel because it was quick to fabricate and they were running up against the deadline. They were able to do it at a remarkable speedin less than a years time.How tall is the Space Needle?The Space Needle is 605 feet tall. At the time of its completion, it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. It had surpassed the Smith Tower as the tallest structure on the West Coast, a distinction held since 1914. After the stock market crash of 1929, there was about a 25-year lull in building, explains Chesmore. So it was quite a span [of pause], 1914 to 1962, when you think about advances in height and verticality.The Space Needle is 605 feet tall.Photo: Raimund Koch/Getty ImagesAt 500 feet, the Space Needles revolving restaurant was designed to offer 360-degree views of Seattle. You would get the whole panorama of the spectacular mountain ranges of the Olympics and the Cascades, the glistening water of Elliott Bay, the forest green, and the city skyline, Steinbrueck details. There was nothing like it at that time. Absolutely nothing, certainly, at that height. The height was set at just above the tallest hills in Seattle so that the viewers could see without any obstructions. The visual experience is still superlative today.When was the Space Needle renovated? What changed?In the summer of 2017, local architecture firm Olson Kundig began a $100 million update of the Space Needle called the Century Project. For the recent big renovation, they were looking at the future, Woo says. They were asking, How do we attract new generations of people to the Space Needle and have it enjoyed the way previous generations had? Its always been really well-maintained and well-cared for.

By AJ Dellinger Published February 16, 2025 | Comments (6) | Jared Kushner, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Joel Kaplan, and President Donald Trump meet in the Oval Office. Joyce N. Boghosian/Flickr Daaaaaaaaad, the Europeans are picking on me again! Alright, so thats not a direct quote from Metas chief of global affairs Joel Kaplan, who spoke at the Munich Security Conference on Sunday, but its not far off. According to Bloomberg, Kaplan popped over to Europe to let political leaders there know Meta wont shy away from getting President Donald Trump involved if it continues to face crackdowns at the hands of the European Union. Kaplan reportedly told the audience that its up to the Trump administration to decide if EU penalties against American tech companies are unfair, but it wont be afraid to squeal if needed. When companies are treated differently and in a way that is discriminatory against them, then that should be highlighted to that companys home government, Kaplan said during a panel at the conference, per Bloomberg. While we want to work within the confines of the laws that Europe has passed, and we always will, we will point out when we think weve been treated unfairly. Meta has certainly been in the EUs sights, racking up more than $3 million in fines for violations of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) alone, and faces an ongoing investigation that alleges it failed to protect minors on its platform. Earlier this month, Meta announced it would open up its Facebook Marketplace platform to third-party competitors in the EU following an antitrust fine. Then again, Meta could simply stop maintaining monopolistic control over platforms and breaking laws if it doesnt want to deal with the consequences. Just a free idea for Zuckerberg and the gang.Most noteworthy is Kaplan signaling a new posture when it comes to international regulators. The company has certainly expressed its displeasure with the penalties it has faced in the past and has gone so far as to dispute some. But now its trying a new strategy: threatening to cry to Trump. Its not the most surprising move. Zuckerberg has been cozying up to Trump since he started polling well prior to the 2024 election. Following Trumps victory, Zuck made a point to go down and visit him at Mar-a-Lago, started changing platform moderation policies to be more favorable to the Trumpian agenda, and promoted Kaplan, a longtime Republican political operative.<Trump has also given some early signs that he might push back on attempts to punish American firms like Meta. While speaking at the World Economic Forum last month, the President said the EU shouldnt be fining American companies, calling it a form of taxation and saying We have some very big complaints with the EU. It seems Meta picked up on that message and is carrying it forward, wielding it as a warning against regulators who might be considering doing their job. Certainly cant have that, especially not at Metas expense.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Lucas Ropek Published February 14, 2025 By Thomas Maxwell Published February 14, 2025 By Matt Novak Published February 14, 2025 By AJ Dellinger Published February 14, 2025 By Matthew Gault Published February 14, 2025 By Matt Novak Published February 13, 2025

Generating headaches Reddit mods are fighting to keep AI slop off subreddits. They could use help. Mods ask Reddit for tools as generative AI gets more popular and inconspicuous. Scharon Harding Feb 17, 2025 6:00 am | 47 Credit: Aurich Lawson (based on a still from Getty Images) Credit: Aurich Lawson (based on a still from Getty Images) Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreLike it or not, generative AI is carving out its place in the world. And some Reddit users are definitely in the don't like it" category. While some subreddits openly welcome AI-generated images, videos, and text, others have responded to the growing trend by banning most or all posts made with the technology.To better understand the reasoning and obstacles associated with these bans, Ars Technica spoke with moderators of subreddits that totally or partially ban generative AI. Almost all these volunteers described moderating against generative AI as a time-consuming challenge they expect to get more difficult as time goes on. And most are hoping that Reddit will release a tool to help their efforts.It's hard to know how much AI-generated content is actually on Reddit, and getting an estimate would be a large undertaking. Image library Freepik has analyzed the use of AI-generated content on social media but leaves Reddit out of its research because it would take loads of time to manually comb through thousands of threads within the platform, spokesperson Bella Valentini told me. For its part, Reddit doesn't publicly disclose how many Reddit posts involve generative AI use.To be clear, we're not suggesting that Reddit has a large problem with generative AI use. By now, many subreddits seem to have agreed on their approach to AI-generated posts, and generative AI has not superseded the real, human voices that have made Reddit popular.Still, mods largely agree that generative AI will likely get more popular on Reddit over the next few years, making generative AI modding increasingly important to both moderators and general users. Generative AI's rising popularity has also had implications for Reddit the company, which in 2024 started licensing Reddit posts to train the large language models (LLMs) powering generative AI.(Note: All the moderators I spoke with for this story requested that I use their Reddit usernames instead of their real names due to privacy concerns.)No generative AI allowedWhen it comes to anti-generative AI rules, numerous subreddits have zero-tolerance policies, while others permit posts that use generative AI if it's combined with human elements or is executed very well. These rules task mods with identifying posts using generative AI and determining if they fit the criteria to be permitted on the subreddit.Many subreddits have rules against posts made with generative AI because their mod teams or members consider such posts low effort or believe AI is counterintuitive to the subreddits mission of providing real human expertise and creations."At a basic level, generative AI removes the human element from the Internet; if we allowed it, then it would undermine the very point of r/AskHistorians, which is engagement with experts," the mods of r/AskHistorians told me in a collective statement.The subreddit's goal is to provide historical information, and its mods think generative AI could make information shared on the subreddit less accurate. "[Generative AI] is likely to hallucinate facts, generate non-existent references, or otherwise provide misleading content," the mods said. "Someone getting answers from an LLM cant respond to follow-ups because they arent an expert. We have built a reputation as a reliable source of historical information, and the use of [generative AI], especially without oversight, puts that at risk."Similarly, Halaku, a mod of r/wheeloftime, told me that the subreddit's mods banned generative AI because we focus on genuine discussion. Halaku believes AI content cant facilitate organic, genuine discussion and can drown out actual artwork being done by actual artists.The r/lego subreddit banned AI-generated art because it caused confusion in online fan communities and retail stores selling Lego products, r/lego mod Mescad said. People would see AI-generated art that looked like Lego on [I]nstagram or [F]acebook and then go into the store to ask to buy it, they explained. We decided that our community's dedication to authentic Lego products doesn't include AI-generated art.Not all of Reddit is against generative AI, of course. Subreddits dedicated to the technology exist, and some general subreddits permit the use of generative AI in some or all forms."When it comes to bans, I would rather focus on hate speech, Nazi salutes, and things that actually harm the subreddits," said 3rdusernameiveused, who moderates r/consoom and r/TeamBuilder25, which don't ban generative AI. "AI art does not do that... If I was going to ban [something] for 'moral' reasons, it probably wont be AI art."Overwhelmingly low-effort slopSome generative AI bans are reflective of concerns that people are not being properly compensated for the content they create, which is then fed into LLM training.Mod Mathgeek007 told me that r/DeadlockTheGame bans generative AI because its members consider it a form of uncredited theft," adding:You aren't allowed to sell/advertise the workers of others, and AI in a sense is using patterns derived from the work of others to create mockeries. I'd personally have less of an issue with it if the artists involved were credited and compensatedand there are some niche AI tools that do this.Other moderators simply think generative AI reduces the quality of a subreddit's content."It often just doesn't look good... the art can often look subpar," Mathgeek007 said.Similarly, r/videos bans most AI-generated content because, according to its announcement, the videos are annoying and just bad video 99 percent of the time. In an online interview, r/videos mod Abrownn told me:It's overwhelmingly low-effort slop thrown together simply for views/ad revenue. The creators rarely care enough to put real effort into post-generation [or] editing of the content [and] rarely have coherent narratives [in] the videos, etc. It seems like they just throw the generated content into a video, export it, and call it a day.An r/fakemon mod told me, I cant think of anything more low-effort in terms of art creation than just typing words and having it generated for you."Some moderators say generative AI helps people spam unwanted content on a subreddit, including posts that are irrelevant to the subreddit and posts that attack users."[Generative AI] content is almost entirely posted for purely self promotional/monetary reasons, and we as mods on Reddit are constantly dealing with abusive users just spamming their content without regard for the rules," Abrownn said.A moderator of the r/wallpaper subreddit, which permits generative AI, disagrees. The mod told me that generative AI "provides new routes for novel content" in the subreddit and questioned concerns about generative AI stealing from human artists or offering lower-quality work, saying those problems aren't unique to generative AI:Even in our community, we observe human-generated content that is subjectively low quality (poor camera/[P]hotoshopping skills, low-resolution source material, intentional "shitposting"). It can be argued that AI-generated content amplifies this behavior, but our experience (which we haven't quantified) is that the rate of such behavior (whether human-generated or AI-generated content) has not changed much within our own community.But we're not a very active community[about] 13 posts per day ... so it very well could be a "frog in boiling water" situation.Generative AI wastes our timeMany mods are confident in their ability to effectively identify posts that use generative AI. A bigger problem is how much time it takes to identify these posts and remove them.The r/AskHistorians mods, for example, noted that all bans on the subreddit (including bans unrelated to AI) have an appeals process, and making these assessments and reviewing AI appeals means were spending a considerable amount of time on something we didnt have to worry about a few years ago.They added:Frankly, the biggest challenge with [generative AI] usage is that it wastes our time. The time spent evaluating responses for AI use, responding to AI evangelists who try to flood our subreddit with inaccurate slop and then argue with us in modmail, [direct messages that message a subreddits mod team], and discussing edge cases could better be spent on other subreddit projects, like our podcast, newsletter, and AMAs, providing feedback to users, or moderating input from users who intend to positively contribute to the community.Several other mods I spoke with agree. Mathgeek007, for example, named "fighting AI bros" as a common obstacle. And for r/wheeloftime moderator Halaku, the biggest challenge in moderating against generative AI is a generational one.Some of the current generation don't have a problem with it being AI because content is content, and [they think] we're being elitist by arguing otherwise, and they want to argue about it, they said.A couple of mods noted that its less time-consuming to moderate subreddits that ban generative AI than it is to moderate those that allow posts using generative AI, depending on the context.On subreddits where we allowed AI, I often take a bit longer time to actually go into each post where I feel like... its been AI-generated to actually look at it and make a decision, explained N3DSdude, a mod of several subreddits with rules against generative AI, including r/DeadlockTheGame.MyarinTime, a moderator for r/lewdgames, which allows generative AI images, highlighted the challenges of identifying human-prompted generative AI content versus AI-generated content prompted by a bot:When the AI bomb started, most of those bots started using AI content to work around our filters. Most of those bots started showing some random AI render, so it looks like you're actually talking about a game when you're not. There's no way to know when those posts are legit games unless [you check] them one by one. I honestly believe it would be easier if we kick any post with [AI-]generated image... instead of checking if a button was pressed by a human or not.Mods expect things to get worseMost mods told me its pretty easy for them to detect posts made with generative AI, pointing to the distinct tone and favored phrases of AI-generated text. A few said that AI-generated video is harder to spot but still detectable. But as generative AI gets more advanced, moderators are expecting their work to get harder.In a joint statement, r/dune mods Blue_Three and Herbalhippie said, AI used to have a problem making handsi.e., too many fingers, etc.but as time goes on, this is less and less of an issue.R/videos' Abrownn also wonders how easy it will be to detect AI-generated Reddit content as AI tools advance and content becomes more lifelike.Mathgeek007 added:AI is becoming tougher to spot and is being propagated at a larger rate. When AI style becomes normalized, it becomes tougher to fight. I expect generative AI to get significantly worseuntil it becomes indistinguishable from ordinary art.Moderators currently use various methods to fight generative AI, but they're not perfect. r/AskHistorians mods, for example, use AI detectors, which are unreliable, problematic, and sometimes require paid subscriptions, as well as our own ability to detect AI through experience and expertise, while N3DSdude pointed to tools like Quid and GPTZero.To manage current and future work around blocking generative AI, most of the mods I spoke with said theyd like Reddit to release a proprietary tool to help them.I've yet to see a reliable tool that can detect AI-generated video content, Aabrown said. Even if we did have such a tool, we'd be putting hundreds of hours of content through the tool daily, which would get rather expensive rather quickly. And we're unpaid volunteer moderators, so we will be outgunned shortly when it comes to detecting this type of content at scale. We can only hope that Reddit will offer us a tool at some point in the near future that can help deal with this issue.A Reddit spokesperson told me that the company is evaluating what such a tool could look like. But Reddit doesnt have a rule banning generative AI overall, and the spokesperson said the company doesn't want to release a tool that would hinder expression or creativity.For now, Reddit seems content to rely on moderators to remove AI-generated content when appropriate. Reddit's spokesperson added:Our moderation approach helps ensure that content on Reddit is curated by real humans. Moderators are quick to remove content that doesn't follow community rules, including harmful or irrelevant AI-generated contentwe don't see this changing in the near future.Making a generative AI Reddit tool wouldnt be easyReddit is handling the evolving concerns around generative AI as it has handled other content issues, including by leveraging AI and machine learning tools. Reddit's spokesperson said that this includes testing tools that can identify AI-generated media, such as images of politicians.But making a proprietary tool that allows moderators to detect AI-generated posts won't be easy, if it happens at all. The current tools for detecting generative AI are limited in their capabilities, and as generative AI advances, Reddit would need to provide tools that are more advanced than the AI-detecting tools that are currently available.That would require a good deal of technical resources and would also likely present notable economic challenges for the social media platform, which only became profitable last year. And as noted by r/videos moderator Abrownn, tools for detecting AI-generated video still have a long way to go, making a Reddit-specific system especially challenging to create.But even with a hypothetical Reddit tool, moderators would still have their work cut out for them. And because Reddit's popularity is largely due to its content from real humans, that work is important.Since Reddit's inception, that has meant relying on moderators, which Reddit has said it intends to keep doing. As r/dune mods Blue_Three and herbalhippie put it, its in Reddits best interest that much/most content remains organic in nature." After all, Reddit's profitability has a lot to do with how much AI companies are willing to pay to access Reddit data. That value would likely decline if Reddit posts became largely AI-generated themselves.But providing the technology to ensure that generative AI isn't abused on Reddit would be a large challege. For now, volunteer laborers will continue to bear the brunt of generative AI moderation.Advance Publications, which owns Ars Technica parent Cond Nast, is the largest shareholder of Reddit.Scharon HardingSenior Technology ReporterScharon HardingSenior Technology Reporter Scharon is a Senior Technology Reporter at Ars Technica writing news, reviews, and analysis on consumer gadgets and services. She's been reporting on technology for over 10 years, with bylines at Toms Hardware, Channelnomics, and CRN UK. 47 Comments

Fixer UpperStalker 2's latest patch brings in over 1700 changes, so you can finally say goodbye to teleporting NPCs and hello to improvements for almost literally everything elseMore tweaks and fixes than you can shake a stick at! News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Feb. 17, 2025 The second major update for Stalker 2 is here, and GSC Game World has brought in more than 1700 fixes, tweaks, changes, and improvements to the game.When Stalker 2 arrived last year, despite being a great game, it did so in a less-than-perfect state, but developer GSC Game World has been working hard to bring improvements to every aspect of the game. Only a month after it was released, it received a patch fixing more than 1800 issues with the game, and now a couple of months on from that patch 1.2 is here, bringing in a similarly long list of changes and improvements. Specifically, there's more than 1700 fixes in this patch, slightly less than the last major one, but a ridiculous number all of the same.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. In an update post on Steam, GSC Game World explains that the patch covers things like "balance, locations, quests, blockers, crashes, performance, more A-Life 2.0 fixes, you name it. This work wouldnt have been possible without your feedback and comments on your personal experience with the Zone, thanks for sharing it here on Steam, Reddit, Discord, and other socials." I'll be real, the full list is way too long to include here, and there's almost a guarantee that some of the fixes will be a spoiler for some of you too, so tread carefully.There are a couple of amusing fixes that specifically targeted an issue where NPCs could randomly be teleported, including to an area outside of the playable map, so it's nice to know you won't be hindered by some random character disappearing on you in the middle of something important.Audio, cutscenes, and voice over have also been "improved with almost 100 fixes", and a further, much, much smaller patch was even released shortly after the main one to sweep up a few other bugs too. All in all, great news for those still playing, or those yet to play at all.