Tumblr to ban all pornographic content from December 17

The ban will come in place as of December 17
LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images
Jacob Jarvis4 December 2018

Tumblr has announced plans to ban all pornographic content from its platform.

Images showing "real-life human genitals" or "female-presenting nipples" are to be deemed adult content and banned by the popular microblogging site.

Photos, videos or GIFs containing the prescribed explicit imagery or any content that depicts sex acts will be barred from December 17.

Jeff D'Onofrio, chief executive of Tumblr, said: "Over the past several months, and inspired by our storied past, we've given serious thought to who we want to be to our community moving forward and have been hard at work laying the foundation for a better Tumblr."

"We spent considerable time weighing the pros and cons of expression in the community that includes adult content.

"In doing so, it became clear that without this content we have the opportunity to create a place where more people feel comfortable expressing themselves."

The move comes after Tumblr's app was pulled from Apple's App Store mid-November because of images depicting child sex abuse.

"Starting Dec 17, adult content will not be allowed on Tumblr, regardless of how old you are," a statement from Tumblr said, marking the end of pornography on the site.

"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.

However it added that: "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."

Posts which are marked as adult following the change will be switched to a private setting, viewable only by the person whose account it is hosted on.

There will be an appeal process for instances where people feel there items have been marked as adult unjustifiably.

Similarly, anybody who sees an item they feel should be flagged will be able to report it.

However have claimed they will leave the site due to the policy, predicting an exodus could mark the "death" of the platform.

The phrase "female-presenting nipples" has sparked particular derision, with many bemused by the term and others stating it was misogynistic to differentiate nipples.

"Everyone has nipples, who cares," said one user.

Another said: "Tumblr is banning content that displays 'female-presenting nipples' but if you present as male and show your nipples, all is well."

Jinkx Monsoon, the winner of RuPaul's Drag Race season five, wrote: "Tumblr just signed its own death warrant. Adult content kept that site relevant for longer than it had any right to be. May it Rest In Peace.

"Not to mention, the criteria for what’s getting banned is anti-feminist, and gender-queer-phobic."

Tumblr was launched in 2008 and as of June it hosted some 417million blogs.

It allows users to upload images and other media to a short-form blog format.

The Standard has contacted Tumblr for further comment.

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