Key Principles of Chat Moderation
Muting Is Based on Repeated or Inappropriate Behavior
We use moderation tools to keep the game friendly and welcoming. Accounts may be muted if repeated toxic, inappropriate, or disruptive behavior is detected, even if individual messages do not break an explicit rule.
How chat moderation works
Colonist uses an automated system to keep games welcoming for everyone. The system reviews patterns of behavior across many games, not individual messages in isolation. This means you may be muted even if no single message seems rule-breaking to you — what feels harmless on your side may read very differently to the players you're matched with.
We don't share the specific signals the system uses, as this helps keep moderation effective.
Examples
A player who frequently makes sarcastic or negative comments may be muted after multiple reports, even if their words are not directly abusive. Another user may be muted for encouraging disruptive gameplay, such as inciting arguments or targeting players unfairly.
Mutes are temporary and lift automatically
Every mute has a set duration. Once it expires, your chat access is restored automatically — you don't need to do anything, and you don't need to contact us.
If you're muted again after that, the next duration will typically be longer. Continued patterns of flagged behavior can eventually lead to a permanent chat restriction.
I think my mute is unfair — what can I do?
Our support team cannot review, shorten, or lift mutes directly. Mutes are issued by an automated system based on aggregated signals from many players across many games, and our team has no visibility into individual chat decisions.
If you genuinely believe your mute was issued in error, you can reach out via our chat and briefly describe the context - what happened in the game and why you believe the mute was unfair. Reports like these are periodically reviewed by our system, and if it agrees the mute was likely incorrect, it will be lifted automatically.
A few things to keep in mind before reaching out:
Only a small portion of submitted cases result in a mute being lifted. The system is conservative by design, and most mutes - even ones that feel unfair - reflect real patterns picked up across multiple games.
You will not receive a personal response about the outcome. If your mute is lifted, you'll simply regain chat access. If it isn't, it will expire on its normal schedule.
Submitting the same mute multiple times will not improve your chances and may slow down review for everyone.
For most players, the fastest path back to chat is simply waiting for the mute to expire and focusing on positive communication in future games.
How to avoid future mutes
Keep communication respectful, even when a game isn't going your way
Avoid sarcasm, passive-aggressive remarks, or "just joking" digs at other players
Don't engage with players who are trying to provoke you — just play your turn
Remember that tone doesn't travel well in text chat; what reads as banter to you may read as hostility to someone else
Chat is a privilege that helps make Colonist fun. Playing without it is still fully possible, and most mutes resolve on their own within a short time.