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Tumblr Porn Vanishes Today
Earlier this month, Tumblr announced that it would be permanently banning adult content from its platform on December 17th. Well, that day has arrived and the social media site is now hiding all posts that are currently flagged as explicit, as well as posts that users are in the process of appealing. This includes media showing sex acts, exposed genitals, and "female-presenting" nipples. The Verge reports: In addition to what's already gone, more adult content is going to be flagged in coming weeks, Tumblr says, and it hopes that the automated tools will be more accurate at picking out what counts as explicit. In a blog post that went up today, Tumblr apologized to users: "We are sorry that this has not been an easy transition and we know we can do a better job of explaining what we're doing." It said the change would be a slow process that involves "flagging tens of billions of GIFs, videos, and photos."
Many users also criticized Tumblr's decision to consider "female-presenting nipples" as explicit, while male-presenting nipples were still okay. Some pointed out that in the case of non-binary, genderfluid, or trans individuals, it would be confusing where the line would be drawn on whose nipples would be considered explicit. In its blog post today, Tumblr has added the caveat, "yeah, we know you hate this term," but maintained the language and distinction. "We understand and agree that there have been too many wrongfully flagged posts since we announced the policy change," says Tumblr. But if users don't appeal their posts, then they're out of luck. That could also be a problem for popular older accounts, which may not have anyone monitoring them to appeal the overly aggressive moderation. Flagged content will be hidden, but not deleted, Tumblr emphasized. That will allow posts to be appealed even after they're removed from public view. On a more positive note, Tumblr says that "all appeals will be sent to a real, live human who can make the appropriate call."
Many users also criticized Tumblr's decision to consider "female-presenting nipples" as explicit, while male-presenting nipples were still okay. Some pointed out that in the case of non-binary, genderfluid, or trans individuals, it would be confusing where the line would be drawn on whose nipples would be considered explicit. In its blog post today, Tumblr has added the caveat, "yeah, we know you hate this term," but maintained the language and distinction. "We understand and agree that there have been too many wrongfully flagged posts since we announced the policy change," says Tumblr. But if users don't appeal their posts, then they're out of luck. That could also be a problem for popular older accounts, which may not have anyone monitoring them to appeal the overly aggressive moderation. Flagged content will be hidden, but not deleted, Tumblr emphasized. That will allow posts to be appealed even after they're removed from public view. On a more positive note, Tumblr says that "all appeals will be sent to a real, live human who can make the appropriate call."
But I like "female-presenting" nipples
There are many reasons I am embarrassed to be a citizen of the US, but prevalent attitudes toward stuff like sex in the US are near the top of the list.
If only the idiots who have such Puritanical attitudes would abstain from all sex, so their genes would disappear from the gene pool.
Did it have any other uses than porn?
It's a great point. What's acceptable to show and what isn't is entirely a cultural construct, and cultures vary widely. They're basically declaring, "US cultural norms about nudity are the only valid ones" to an international audience of users.
Ignoring the obvious double standard issue....
That last paragraph contained spoilers, so if you don't want spoilers go back and don't have read it.
This decision by Tumblr is lazy, cowardly, and short-sighted. All attempts to place a blanket prohibition on sexual material, whether in books, magazines, films, or digital media have always been doomed to eventually bite the hands that place the prohibition.
Problems include:
- Defining sexual content, like "obscenity", risks a descent into ridiculous nitpickery. "I know it when I see it" is not an objective measure.
- Considering exaggerated violence more acceptable than sexuality is a peculiarly American disease. Both here and in the many places where I see it elsewhere in the world, it seems descended from religious dogma. I am sick to death of people forcing their beliefs on others. I believe it's far more healthy to "make love, not war" and I don't believe in suppressing this belief to just go along with the cultural norms of the week
- "Kids shouldn't have access to this" is not an unreasonable position, especially if the kids being referred to are one's own. So I'm not against the use of parental filters, but of course they will be circumvented easily enough when the kids get interested enough in seeing the alluringly forbidden material, whatever it is.
Enough. I'm just preaching out of frustration born of decades of sliding down the slippery slope toward institutionally promulgated "morailty", and the steadily increasing tyranny of the majority.