Tumblr Bans Porn And The Internet Reacts

The microblogging platform has announced that the website will remove all adult content on December 17.

News . Written by Sarah McKenna Barry.

A topless man is shocked

Social media platform Tumblr announced this week that the site would ban all adult content. The site’s Help Centre’s page clarifies that pornographic content would be prohibited starting December 17.

“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 depict sex acts.”

Tumblr then clarified the context in which depictions of “female-presenting nipples” would still be permitted:

“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.”

The statement continues:

“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.”

The microblogging and social network site was founded by David Karp in 2007. It currently hosts over 449.4 million blogs and receives over 555 million visitors per month.

TechCrunch analysed Tumblr and found that over 22% of traffic in and out of the site is classified as pornography. Additionally, many Tumblr bloggers make money by redirecting users to adult sites.

https://twitter.com/AshitaNoOmar/status/1069664576936034306

Needless to say, the Twittersphere did not take the porn-ban lightly, with many users pointing out how hate speech still prevails on the blogging platform, with the hashtags #Tumblrban, #Tumblrpurge and #Tumblrisdead going viral.

Twitter user Edurne Haeon shared a picture, mimicking the site’s format:

“Tumblr: sorry guys, no more sex here

Also Tumblr: oh yeah but no worries literal nazis still get a platform tho. It’s their freedom of speech haha”

A post from Tumblr addressing the ban on adult content.

Hannah Rose Woods shared an image from classical art of two nudes leaving a place, looking distressed with the caption: “Everyone leaving Tumblr”.

Robbie Daymond asked “Why doesn’t Tumblr just create a companion site for NSFW content? Call it Cumblr.”

Drag queen Jinkx Monsoon took to Twitter to share their thoughts:

The ban will take effect on December 17. All adult content already on the site will be made private and only the original poster will be able to view it.

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