How to Hide Inappropriate Content on Steam: A Comprehensive Guide

Hiding inappropriate content on Steam is a multifaceted process, encompassing both content filtering for the Steam Store and privacy settings for your account and library. Essentially, you can restrict the types of games you see available for purchase and hide games you already own from prying eyes. This involves adjusting mature content filters in your account preferences, utilizing the “hide game” feature within your library, and modifying your profile’s privacy settings. This guide will walk you through each step to ensure a safer and more personalized Steam experience.

Mature Content Filtering in the Steam Store

Steam offers built-in features to filter mature content, allowing you to control the types of games you see in the store. Here’s how to adjust those settings:

1. Accessing Store Preferences: Start by logging into your Steam account either through the desktop application or a web browser. Click on your profile name in the top right corner. From the dropdown menu, select “Account Details.”

2. Navigating to Preferences: On the Account Details page, find and click on the “Preferences” option. This section houses various settings related to your Steam experience, including mature content filtering.

3. Mature Content Filtering Options: You will now be presented with your Mature Content Filtering options. Here, you can toggle various settings to restrict the content you see.

   • General Mature Content: This is a broad filter that switches off content deemed too violent or explicit. Enable this to hide games with graphic violence, sexual content, or other mature themes.
   • Adult Only Sexual Content: Check this box to allow viewing games with adult-only sexual content (unchecking it hides them).
   • Specify Content by Tags: Steam uses tags to categorize games. You can specifically block games with certain tags (e.g., “Nudity,” “Sexual Content,” “Gore”). You can also specify tags that you want to allow. This provides a granular level of control over the types of games you see.

4. Saving Your Changes: Once you’ve made your selections, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the “Save” button. Your preferences will be immediately applied to the Steam Store.

Hiding Games from Your Steam Library

Even with content filtering in place, you might have games in your library that you prefer to keep private. Steam provides a feature to hide individual games from your library view.

1. Locating the Game: Launch the Steam application and navigate to your library. Find the game you want to hide.
2. Accessing Manage Options: Right-click on the game in your library, or click on the gear icon on the game’s store page on the right. This opens a context menu.
3. Hiding the Game: From the context menu, select “Manage” and then “Hide this game“. The game will now be hidden from your primary library view.

Unhiding Games: To unhide a game, navigate to the “View” menu at the top of the Steam client. Select “Hidden Games“. This will display all the games you’ve hidden. You can then right-click on a game and select “Manage” then “Remove from Hidden” to make it visible again.

Adjusting Privacy Settings for Your Steam Profile

While hiding games from your library prevents them from appearing in your main list, your friends might still be able to see what you’re playing through your profile or activity feed. To prevent this, you need to adjust your Steam profile’s privacy settings.

1. Accessing Privacy Settings: Hover over your profile name in the Steam client and select “View my profile.”

2. Editing Your Profile: Click the “Edit Profile” button located on the right-hand side of your profile page.

3. Navigating to Privacy Settings: Select the “Privacy Settings” tab.

4. Configuring Privacy Options: Here, you’ll find several options to control who can see different aspects of your Steam activity:

   • Game Details: This setting controls who can see the games you own, your playtime, and your wishlist. Set this to “Private” to prevent anyone from seeing your game library. You can also set it to “Friends Only” to allow only your friends to view this information.
   • Activity Feed: This setting controls who can see your recent activity, such as achievements earned and games played. Set this to “Private” or “Friends Only” as desired.
   • Profile: Setting your profile to “Private” will hide everything except your username and profile picture.

5. Saving Your Changes: Steam automatically saves your privacy settings, so there’s no need to click a “Save” button.

Leveraging Family View

Steam’s Family View is another tool useful for restricting access to specific content, particularly for younger users. It lets you create a PIN-protected environment where only approved games and features are accessible.

1. Enabling Family View: In the Steam client, navigate to “Steam” in the top left corner, then select “Settings”. Go to the “Family” tab and click “Manage Family View”.
2. Setting Restrictions: Follow the on-screen prompts to select the games and features you want to restrict. This includes the Steam Store, Library, Community features, and more. You’ll be prompted to create a PIN.
3. Exiting Family View: To exit Family View, you’ll need to enter the PIN you created.

Additional Tips and Considerations

• Using Steam’s Tag System: Pay attention to the tags assigned to games on Steam. This can give you a good indication of the content included in the game.
• Reading Reviews and Descriptions: Before purchasing a game, read user reviews and the game description carefully. These often provide insights into the game’s content and themes.
• Parental Controls: If you are a parent, consider using Windows or macOS parental control features in addition to Steam’s built-in settings for comprehensive protection.
• Community Guidelines: Familiarize yourself with Steam’s Community Guidelines. These guidelines outline acceptable behavior and content on the platform.
• Reporting Inappropriate Content: If you encounter content that violates Steam’s Community Guidelines, report it to Steam support.

By implementing these measures, you can effectively manage the content you see and share on Steam, creating a safer and more enjoyable experience for yourself and your family. Remember, actively managing these settings is crucial for a personalized and protected gaming environment. You can also find valuable resources and discussions on Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org, which focuses on the educational and social aspects of gaming.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I turn off inappropriate content on Steam?

To turn off inappropriate content on Steam, navigate to your Account Details, then Preferences, and adjust the Mature Content Filtering options. You can turn off General Mature Content, which will hide content deemed too violent or explicit. You can also hide specific games in your library by right-clicking and selecting Manage > Hide this game.

2. How do I hide embarrassing games on Steam?

To hide embarrassing games on Steam, go to your library, select the game, click the Settings icon (gear icon), and select Manage > Hide this game. This will remove the game from your main library view.

3. How do you hide available content on Steam?

You can hide available content on Steam by adjusting your Mature Content Filtering options in your account preferences. Additionally, you can hide specific games in your library using the “Hide this game” option.

4. How do I show sensitive content on Steam?

To show sensitive content on Steam, click your name at the top right corner of the Steam client and select “Store Preferences.” Under Mature Content, uncheck the boxes to allow viewing games with mature themes or select “Adult Only Sexual Content” to view these types of games.

5. How do I manage content on Steam?

You can manage content on Steam through your account preferences by adjusting mature content filters and by hiding individual games from your library. You can also manage add-ons by right-clicking on a game, going to Properties > DLC, and adding/removing the tick in the Install column.

6. Can Steam friends see hidden games?

No, your friends cannot see games you have explicitly hidden from your library. However, unless your profile privacy settings are set to private, they may still see that you own the game, just not your playtime or activity related to it.

7. How do I hide 18+ games from friends on Steam?

To hide 18+ games from friends on Steam, you need to hide the game from your library and adjust your profile’s privacy settings. Set your Game Details privacy setting to “Private” or “Friends Only” to control who can see the games you own and play.

8. Can I block a friend on Steam?

Yes, you can block a friend on Steam. Navigate to the user’s community profile, click the ellipsis icon, and then click Block All Communication.

9. Why is swearing censored on Steam?

Swearing is censored on Steam to help users post in a civilized manner and maintain a respectful community environment.

10. What do blocked Steam users see?

When you are blocked on Steam, blocked users cannot access your profile or UGC. You will appear as unavailable in their friends’ list, preventing them from communicating with you.

11. What happens if someone removes you as a friend on Steam?

If someone removes you as a friend on Steam, you will no longer be able to contact them via Steam, and you will not be able to view any content they have set to private or friends-only.

12. How do you know if someone is invisible on Steam?

If someone has set their visibility to invisible, away, or offline, you can go to their account and see if they are online. If they are invisible, their status will not be displayed.

13. How do I change my Steam preferences?

To change your Steam preferences, log into your Steam account, click on your profile name, select Account Details, and then Preferences. Here you can adjust various settings, including mature content filtering, language preferences, and more.

14. How do I make my Steam games private?

To make your Steam games private, hover the cursor over your username and select View my profile. Click the Edit Profile button, select Privacy settings, and next to Game details, click Public and set it to Friends Only or Private.

15. Is Steam appropriate for kids?

Whether Steam is appropriate for kids depends on the specific games and content accessed. Many games on Steam are not suitable for children, and it is up to parents to monitor their child’s use of the app and restrict access to these games if necessary. Steam’s Family View can also provide additional controls.