Home » SquidooHQ

How Lens G/R/X Ratings Work

SquidooKimberly by SquidooKimberly
Last updated: 02/06/2012
Squidoo has three ratings for lenses, which allows users to freely write about adult topics, but also prevents young eyes from stuff they shouldn't be reading. The ratings don't just mark lenses G, R, or X, they also allow users to work interactively with each lens based on their viewing preferences.

Here is a brief overview of how each rating works, and how to tell which one is best for your lens.

Photo used under Creative Commons from buildscharacter.

Which lenses can be G-rated?

Most lenses on Squidoo are rated G, because they're about family-friendly topics and don't use curse words. It's challenging to make a list of what CAN be included on a G-rated lens, and it's much easier to define what is NOT G-rated. Read on for more tips about what constitutes and R or X-rated lens.

Photo used under Creative Commons from ladymaggic.

Which lenses should be R-rated?

All it takes is one curse word to turn your lens from family friendly into R-rated. If you want to keep it G-rated, just clean it up. Otherwise, it really does need to be R-rated.

Other reasons to rate a lens R include talking about, displaying, or linking to content that talks about grown-up conversations, such as sex, a kiss that's more than just an innocent peck on the cheek, lingerie shown being worn, etc. Sometimes we'll make a personal judgment about what we think should be rated higher than G, and if it comes to that, HQ has the final stand. If your lens is rated G and we receive a complaint, it could be locked if we think it should be rated R.

(For the record, lenses about those personal p-word and v-word places, regardless of their medical connotation, are not G-rated. So rate your pill, infection control, and extender lenses R, or find another place for them.)

Lenses aren't rated R because they're bad. While affiliate marketers and spammers do love to fill lenses full of that p and v-word material, that's really not what the R-rating was created for. There are plenty of really great lenses out there that sell funny t-shirts, host Plexos on pickup-lines, show off rock band concertographies, and archive car accident footage. But since they contain things we don't want our 5-year-olds repeating or seeing, they're rated R.

Photo used under Creative Commons from khvam.

Which lenses should be X-rated?

X-rated lenses are pretty easy to define. Anything in the "adult XXX" category needs to be X-rated. This includes anything having to do with adult entertainment.

As per our announcement in the Squidoo Policy Update, X-rated lenses are no longer allowed on Squidoo. Lenses found with X-rated content will be locked, probably for good. Our suggestion? Steer clear.

Photo used under Creative Commons from alyssa_snyder.

Ok, so how do I change my rating?

The default rating on a lens is G. If your lens is going to contain suggestive images or adult language, be sure to change it to R!

To change your rating:

1. log into your Squidoo account
2. edit the lens you wish to change the rating on
3. the rating menu is towards the bottom of the right column
4. click on it to change it to the proper rating
5. publish your lens to see the changes

What happens if I don't rate my lens properly?

A lens which should be rated "more adult" than it is can get flagged by any reader and locked by any SquidStaff member. This lens will be re-rated before it's allowed to be viewed again. (And changing it back, which has been tried at times, can get your lens locked and/or deleted. So play fair.)

How do ratings affect what people see?

Based on what your lens is rated at, and what settings a logged in lensmaster has, will determine what kind of lenses they can access.
  • What can users who are not members or not logged in see?
    These users will automatically see G-only lenses. If they try to access a lens rated R or X, they'll be asked to sign up or log in first. Legally, Squidoo members must be 18 to have an account (unless they're using mom or dad's), so this requires adults to verify what they would like to see.
  • What do logged in users see when they search lenses on Squidoo?
    A logged in Squidoo user who has their filter set to G and R, will see G and R rated lenses when they search. G will see G only, and ALL will see all lenses.
  • If a G-only user, or person not logged in, gets a direct link to a R or X-rated lens, will it still take them there?
    Yes, AND they will see a splash page that states the lens is R-rated or contains adult content. They'll have to click "continue" to proceed from there.
  • Say I have 99 G-rated lenses and one R-rated lens. When a G-only user views my bio page, will they see my R-rated lens?
    Nope! It will simply not show on the list. But all G/R and ALL rated users can see it.

What does an R-rated splash page look like?

What did an X-rated splash page look like?

Keep in mind ratings aren't just about you.

Just because you'd let your kids see something doesn't mean other parents would. So rate it for their discretion and you'll be safe.

Was this helpful?

Feel free to leave a note here if you have other related questions!

submit
Show All

This SquidooHQ page written by

SquidooKimberly

I'm Kimberly, your Community Organizer on Squidoo. These official lenses will help you be more successful on your favorite internet service - Squidoo!... more »

Official news and updates from the Squidoo Team

Connect with SquidooHQ

This author recommends...