While it was predicted that the NSFW community would migrate to a platform which was specifically created to replace Tumblr, most users have dispersed to corners of the internet that already existed. all Twitter is good for is the occasional image or video. this app does not foster creativity at all. It’s growth over the following months, however, was far from impressive.Įven though I get why so many people abandoned tumblr after the porn ban, it’s still a way better platform for art, writing, and fandom in general that twitter is ever gonna be. newTumbl’s offer of asylum to NSFW bloggers was welcomed by many with open arms, gaining 200,000 users within just a few months.
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Within just a few weeks, Dean Abramson, chief architect at online gaming startup, Statabase, launched his side-project newTumbl, which humorously declared they would be filling “a void recently created in the marketplace.” The site’s FAQ section even went on to say that there’s a good chance that users will “instinctively know how to use this site” and may also find it “hauntingly familiar from the get-go”. As Tumblr dealt with their disastrous fall from grace, users were forced into a state of digital nomadism, seeking safe alternatives which provided the same sense of belonging.Īll over the world, tech companies began creating what they hoped would be the most desirable retreat for this group of digital refugees. However, with Tumblr’s fast-paced demise came an ecological niche for new NSFW friendly sites to manifest. While in 2013, Tumblr was sold for $US1.1 billion, 2019 (and not long after the ban) the company was sold for a less than $US3 million, reflecting that the NSFW community had driven the platform’s value.Īs Tumblr dealt with their disastrous fall from grace, users were forced into a state of digital nomadism, seeking safe alternatives which provided the same sense of belonging. The porn ban saw these users quickly bleed from the platform to the company’s detriment.
Conversely to mainstream internet sectors, Tumblr provided a safe space for sex workers, erotica writers and artists, LGBTIQ+ people searching for a sense of solidarity and people who wanted to explore sexuality, kinks, and fetish without judgement. However, Tumblr’s celebration of diversity was the key to the platform’s success. Many mainstream social media platforms seem to push an unattainable cookie-cutter lifestyle upon its users, measuring the worth of an individual based on the wealth and appearance that they digitally convey. But at what cost? Almost immediately after the ban, Tumblr was criticised for censorship, instating digital homelessness in the colossal community of vulnerable people who once found solace in the platform.Ĭoming from someone who was on tumblr before the porn ban hit and the mass exodus happened, if you thought engagement on twitter sucked tumblr was downright abysmal Rather than paying for the expensive task of patrolling the age of people in porn, Tumblr made the decision to overcorrect and ban NSFW content altogether. It made sense to tackle a large scale problem such as the presence of child porn with a large scale solution that was as cheap as possible. While it was clear that the presence of child pornography was an unacceptable issue that required urgent change, there was also undoubtedly a flip side to the coin. This included all images and videos depicting sex acts, and real-life photos and videos depicting human genitalia or “female-presenting” nipples being banned from the service. However, following the discovery that child pornography was prominent on the site in December 2018, Tumblr announced that they would be banning adult content in almost every form. Tumblr porn was once a key part of the site’s footprint, so what happened?įor the American micro-blogging and social networking platform, erotica, sexual subcultures, and not-safe-for-work (NSFW) artwork and storytelling have thrived and flourished, celebrated for providing a sense of online intimacy and connection, especially to the queer community and other marginalised groups. For many who feel isolated, the digital world can provide a sense of fellowship, offering miniature universes for every interest and passion. So what exactly happened to all that Tumblr porn?ĭigital platforms are so deeply interwoven into every aspect of our lives, functioning as roads for social connection and belonging.
Tumblr’s celebration of diversity was the key to its success, providing a safe space for people who wanted to explore sexuality without judgement.