Words: Will Stroude
It’s time to start stockpiling your favourites GIFs and vids, because Tumblr is set to ban all pornographic material in less than two weeks.
New community guidelines banning all adult content from the platform are set to come into force on Monday 17 December.
The move comes just weeks after Tumblr was pulled from Apple’s App Store after child abuse images made it through the site’s automatic filters.
Under the new usage terms, Tumblr users will not be allowed to upload “images, videos, or GIFs that show real-life human genitals or female-presenting nipples”.
The ban also includes “content that is so photorealistic that it could be mistaken for featuring real-life humans”, but tumblr clarified that certain nude content that is of “artistic, educational, newsworthy, or political” value would still be allowed on the site.
Since being founded in 2007, Tumblr has become renowned for providing an inclusive, user-generated space for pornographic content that often celebrates marginalised sexualities, body types and fetishes.
In a message to users, the company’s CEO Jeff D’Onofrio said that Tumblr was “a place to speak freely about topics like art, sex positivity, your relationships, your sexuality, and your personal journey,” but the “bottom line” was that there was “no shortage” of other adult sites on the internet.
“We will leave it to them and focus our efforts on creating the most welcoming environment possible for our community,” he wrote.
The announcement on Monday (3 December) was widely criticised by existing users as hashtags including ‘#TumblrIsDead’ began trending on Twitter.
It was fun while it lasted #tumblr pic.twitter.com/93xRR80RAb
— Brandon Hall (@brandon4hall) December 3, 2018
I love how #Tumblr is destroying their own platform. #tumblrisdead pic.twitter.com/UqViCEwNSO
— Nishi Novoa (@NishiNovoa) December 4, 2018
When you log on to #tumblr December 17th pic.twitter.com/zorUthsNmQ
— Katie (@katiemigneault) December 3, 2018
Many were also quick to highlight the hypocrisy of banning “female-presenting” nipples but allowing male nipples to remain.
perish #tumblr pic.twitter.com/JXQIMDilUP
— исмаилов (@SPNdinosaur) December 3, 2018
female. presenting. nipples.#Tumblr pic.twitter.com/7iSQhzeImB
— Nagini (@_Naginii) December 3, 2018
hey quick question @tumblr #tumblr why are you sexualizing female breasts/nipples by calling it “adult content” when they’re just fat sacks we carry on our chests? men have nipples but you’re not deeming that as “adult content”. I demand answers.
— 🐰ℬunny🐰 (@crypttid) December 3, 2018
Tumblr users will stil be able to enjoy their favourite blue content for 13 days until the new guidelines come into force on 17 December.