Actually, it’s not a question. Tumblr — once a sex friendly site — isn’t letting anyone post their nudes anymore. That includes you.
Editor’s note: Screen grabs (taken by the author) in the header image show some of the things you currently cannot find on Tumblr.
Tumblr announced last week that they will purge all “adult content” from the platform by December 17. They wrote:
Starting Dec 17, adult content will not be allowed on Tumblr, regardless of how old you are…
Adult content primarily includes photos, videos, or GIFs that show real-life human genitals or female-presenting nipples, and any content — including photos, videos, GIFs and illustrations—that depicts sex acts…
Examples of exceptions that are still permitted are exposed female-presenting nipples in connection with breastfeeding, birth or after-birth moments, and health-related situations, such as post-mastectomy or gender confirmation surgery. Written content such as erotica, nudity related to political or newsworthy speech, and nudity found in art, such as sculptures and illustrations, are also stuff that can be freely posted on Tumblr.
We will go ahead and ask the same question that’s been posed already many other times: Among other things, what are “female-presenting nipples”?
According to Polygon.com, this move is, in part, a response to being kicked out of the iOS App Store for the presence of illegal content containing sexual images of underage persons.
Although the eradication of media that exploits underage people is a step in the right direction, bundling legal erotica made by adults with such an abhorrent crime can be damaging to sex workers. You’d think this doesn’t need to be said, but just in case anyone is confused: child pornography IS NOT the same as adult content. Adult content = legal, fun, amazing, sexy. Sexual images of underage people = illegal, gross, abusive. Also, not pornography.
Glad we got that out of the way.
In announcing the change, Tumblr wrote: “There are no shortage of sites on the internet that feature adult content. We will leave it to them and focus our efforts on creating the most welcoming environment possible for our community.”
In other words — You do you, boo, and over here at Tumblr we’ll just do us — which no longer includes you.
This sounds like a super fake excuse, but okay… It just seems a little ironic to foster a “welcoming environment” when you’re excluding sex workers. Sex workers literally don’t harm anyone and are just trying to do their thing. One could also argue that sex workers and sex-related content helped build Tumblr up to the platform it is today, which makes this move even more enraging and disrespectful.
As we read in their statement above, the content in the line of fire includes images that “show real-life human genitals” and/or “female-presenting nipples” and/or content that “depicts sex acts.” So much for freeing the nipple, amiright?
Before this announcement, Tumblr was an adult content haven. It provided an accessible-to-users platform for cam models to promote their content without having to worry about being reported. Now, in what seems to be an increasingly sex-negative internet with fewer and fewer spaces for adult content, there’s one less.
With the #thotaudit and now this Tumblr purge, it’s easy to think the world is against sex workers. May we remind you, once again, that you are valid. A dusty, outdated blog site shouldn’t discourage anyone from being a cam model or pursuing the labor and forms of expression you choose.
On a more positive note, the Tumblr ban will most definitely remove pornbots and NSFW users who steal from cam models and other content creators. Tumblr has been notorious for housing stolen or unpaid content. Many users download content from paid sites and redistribute them without consent. Get rid of this stolen porn free-for-all is literally the only benefit of this purge.
In light of these recent happenings, though I’m not saying there’s going to be an all-out internet war against sex workers, from how things are going, I wouldn’t be surprised. Stay safe, stay sexy and have your dildos ready to strike if necessary.
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Ariane Torres is a writer who says funny things on occasion. Email her at ariane@ynotcam.com and find her on Twitter at @tofulumpia.
