*WARNING: this post uses quotes with direct language about pornography and graphic content.
While most social media sites that allow user generated content have been working to protect their users from unwanted adult images and videos, Tumblr has been happy to be known as “porn GIF central.” Last month, however, their app was pulled from the iOS app store for child pornography and that seems to have caused the developers to reconsider their policies. Earlier this week, Tumblr announced that they are changing their sensitive content guidelines and will be blocking such posts in the future.
Tumblr defines sensitive content as:
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. – Tumblr help center.
Their guidelines also mentions what type of posts will not cross their line to be considered “sensitive:”
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. – Tumblr help center.
Their terms now state that content that is considered sensitive will not be allowed and that any sensitive posts that have been posted previously and not marked as explicit will be flagged and removed. Accounts that have been treated as explicit in the past (you can tag your own account as explicit) will maintain their explicit status and be allowed to continue posting, however, posts, both past and future, that are considered explicit under the new guidelines will be treated as such and removed.
What Parents Should Know
Very simply put, Tumblr is still going to allow some forms of sexual content and nudity in their app, as long as it can be labeled as political, newsworthy, or health and social justice related. Many other social media outlets already have these guidelines so Tumblr, while not allowing “hardcore” sexual content, there are still going to be images, videos, and GIFS, that you don’t want your children to see. My advice is, as always to keep an eye on what your children are using social media for, if they are sending messages to friends, you want to be sure they are wholesome and healthy communication and that they are only talking to people they know. If they are using it for artistic inspiration then you should know they could come across content you may consider sensitive, even if Tumblr does not.
Bark is a good way to keep an eye on what your children are sending in social media messages. It uses an artificial intelligence to watch out for dangerous conversation for you and send you an alert if something about suicide, self harm, sexting, or bullying is sent or received. As I always say, the most important thing you can do is speak to your child about what they do online and what they use their social media for. You may hear from them that Tumblr is all safe now and that they should be allowed to download it, but let this article be your warning that what Tumblr considers safe may not be the same as what you consider safe.
