Posted on 12/09/2018 4:24:36 PM PST by vannrox
Tumblr announced this week it will ban content featuring nudity from its platform, starting December 17. The decision was met with lots of backlash from users who view the site as a safe space to explore their identity and sexuality through not safe for work (NSFW) content. Many Tumblr users have said they plan to abandon the platform for alternative blogging websites that allow explicit content, some which can be found below.
Tumblr says it's banning "adult content" from its platform in order to make "a better, more positive" place, but the policy change has some users abandoning the site.
The new policy goes into effect December 17, and will result in the deletion of any content portraying "real-life human genitals or female-presenting nipples," Tumblr, a Verizon-owned company, said in its announcement. Reaction to Tumblr's announcement has been swift and critical across social media. More than 423,000 people have already signed a Change.org petition to "make Tumblr rescind their adult content ban."
For many, Tumblr was seen as a safe space used for exploration and self-expression.
"I frequently got messages from folks who saw my work and said it helped them understand part of themselves better," an anonymous Tumblr user told The Washington Post. "That's primarily what I saw on Tumblr, in my curated bubble: women and LGBT creators exploring sexual concepts that they didn't feel comfortable sharing anywhere else."
Dozens of new Twitter accounts are starting to pop up from former Tumblr users who say they're switching social media sites as a result of the new policy. But while Twitter is mainly a platform for short text blurbs and sharing links, Tumblr emphasizes blogging with a mix of images, videos, GIFs, and creative writing.
Other blogging platforms have already reported seeing an influx of new users since Tumblr announced its policy change.
Here are some alternatives to Tumblr emerging in light of the ban on adult content: Exclusive FREE Slide Deck: Stories by Business Insider Intelligence
Us all leaving @tumblr and on our way to @Twitter pic.twitter.com/51qBbR0MNN - M. Intzièyanni (@intzieyanni) December 7, 2018
So even though I never liked twitter, I forced myself to get an account because everyone's leaving tumblr to twitter. Here we are, I guess. #ThanksTumblr - Lie (@livinglittlelie) December 4, 2018
Newgrounds
While the design of Newgrounds may be old-school (it's been around since 1999), the site prides itself on being wholly independent where it allows "everything for everyone."
"Some of you might be dismayed at the thought of more lewd content on NG while others are super excited," a post welcoming Tumblr users says. "The good news for everyone is that we're seeing a lot of REALLY TALENTED artists joining up and not everything they post is NSFW."
Pillowfort
Pillowfort.io is a user-friendly space that emerged from people "complaining about the limitations and flaws of these (other) sites, yet lamenting that there was nowhere better to go."
Unfortunately, Pillowfort is in beta and costs a small free to join, but you can try out the platform as a demo user on Pillowfort's website. You may have issues accessing it though — I got an error message when I tried to set up my trial because of the unusually "high amount of traffic" the site is getting.
Dreamwidth
Dreamwidth is a free platform for "creative folk" who want to share artwork and creative writing.
"We'd like to take a moment to reassure all y'all that we have your backs," a post welcoming Tumblr users says. "To the newcomers: we're happy to have you join us. Welcome aboard!"
Mastodon
Mastodon is a decentralized social platform, meaning that its thousands individual communities exist on separate servers, but they all exist under one network. In response to Tumblr, Mastodon created a post with reasons to choose its platform as your new social media site.
"It's a completely decentralised social network which combines the best bits of Twitter and Tumblr, but the technology is structured in a way whereby it can never be shut down," a post advocating the switch to Mastodon says.
For more alternatives, a Tumblr user has created a master list of websites that could be potential options.
Gee, I'd hate to think they were overcharging.
I barely use Tumblr as it is and all my stuff is beyond boring anyway.
Thank you for the post.
Not Safe For Wife ?
I like that one.
People don’t want to be censored by social media giants.
They want to say what they want not what NPC robots tell them to say.
I thought racy or ‘adult’ content was the main purpose of Tumblr. Oh well. I don’t depend on it for anything anyway.
I almost never hear of any industry deciding to step away from such content. Maybe ownership has changed.
How about they buy Twitter next and clean that up of triggered snowflakes?
It’s not Tumblr who is making the decision. They’re complying with the new law regarding Sex trafficking. “Sex workers” posting imagery is regulated under the new law.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Enabling_Sex_Traffickers_Act
Whomever came up with the term “female presenting nipples” needs to die a hideous death.
Tumblr refused to do anything about the malware pages, child porn pages and other BS.
And then someone said, “yeah, you can get litigation cooties for that.”
They looked into this rumor and found the rumors were true.
Verizon got Tumblr in 2017 when it bought Yahoo
When I think of Tumblr (which I am not on) I think of the time I became obsessed with the strange case of Elisha Lam.
It’s the only time I have ever seen Tumblr, which I did because she had a blog on there.
But I was drawn to her blog after her bizarre death and strange surroundings to it, which was explained as her being bipolar and having an episode that made her commit suicide.
It did not however explain how she got into that tank and closed the lid behind her and no ladder was there when they finally found her.
On her blog, last day of her life, Jan 31, 2013 are were pics of a very high up building with a person on the top of it, and they to me were very spooky, making me think ok, suicide. http://nouvelle-nouveau.tumblr.com/post/42001369468/rcruzniemiec-eugene-soloviev
But then she did mention the ‘creepers’ in the hotel. Well, I suppose you could imagine that was the bipolar thing. But then how did she get IN the tank with top closed over her? No ladder up? How?
https://the-line-up.com/elisa-lam-bizarre-death
http://nouvelle-nouveau.tumblr.com/archive
I read that Tumblr was bought out c. 2013.
I would not be surprised if this was a case of convenient virtue signalling, while actually being corporate deliberately running a limited asset into the ground for a tax write-off.
I have seen it done many times in other industries.
BUSINESS Insider is telling its readers where to go for NOT SAFE FOR WORK content.
They aren’t a business or investment advice site but they sell a lot of click bait.
A lot of them are going to follow gun owners to PornHub.
#9. I thought that “female presenting nipples” was all the rage at the Oscars (which I haven’t watched in 20 years).
Going the way of the original Playboy magazine, I guess (which I haven’t seen in over 20 years).
What next, Gallery and Hustler will change their policies???
Thanks vannrox.
Tumblr is only censoring adult content as a cover for their planned censorship of conservative content.
I am neither pro or con on Tumblr’s decision, but you are wrong as to its cause.
The Tumblr decision goes far beyond anything needed to comply the sex-trafficking law.
“Adult content” is not necessarily in and of itself part of “sex trafficking” or contributing to it.
The legal answer has to find a sex trafficking context in either who puts the material up, the persons depicted in the material, or any suggestion of sex trafficking the material makes. That is not to say much adult material is not offensive to a good many people, but only a reminder that not all such adult material bears a sex trafficking relationship. Tumblr’s decsion goes far beyond the legal requirements of the sex trafficking law.
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