Speak Out: Is There An Internet War on Sex?
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Is the internet, as Chris Crocker put it, becoming anti-sex?
As you may already know, Tumblr recently announced its “adult content” ban effective on December 17, 2018—and reportedly, Facebook has made a similar move. The announcements have caused social media frenzy and the netizens are saying, and we quote, the “internet war on sex is here.”
But why did Tumblr and Facebook revised their community standards? Tumblr said it is to, among many others: provide safe content for the entire community in general, to keep harmful posts away from minors, and to ban contents that promote child pornography. Facebook, on the other hand, said the policy was put in place to prevent sexual solicitations.
The details of the guidelines however, say it’s so much more than these reasons and that’s what had put the netizens in a tizzy. For example, Tumblr‘s adult content ban “primarily includes 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.” Facebook on the other hand, has a longer list. To summarize, users can’t post photos and videos that are sexual in nature but what got a rise out of its users the most is their censorship on use of sexually explicit language because it may “lead to solicitation.” For example, you’ll get banned by simply mentioning sexual roles, sex positions, or sexual preference/sexual partner preference among many others.
(This technically also makes saying “I’m straight” worthy of a ban, too)
— Laurie Voss (@seldo) December 5, 2018
I *think* that means: mentioning a specific sexual act together with any of the bullets, not the bullets alone
though I would sure love more clarity on this
— Sophie Alpert (@sophiebits) December 6, 2018
This kind of policy has and will continue to hurt marginalized people. In this case, primarily sex workers but tumblrs new content policy has massively affected the lgbt community and the chronic pain community as well.
This kind of policy is dangerous and downright malicious.
— Corvida͆ͯͫ͟͏̵̛̹͍̠̺̻̞͎̹̠̥̼̳̬͟ͅe (@Ms_Corvidae) December 6, 2018
I think it has more to do with the fact the US just passed some anti sex trafficking laws that make the platforms responsible for things like prostitution and such. So now they’re trying to close all that down because they don’t want to be fined or charged with anything.
— Cody (a WHOLE bitch) (@ARTPOPisaGIFT) December 6, 2018
If you really want that to happen, first focus on getting congress to repeal FOSTA-SESTA, which is the reason these rule changes were implemented in the first place. https://t.co/Q3ypzsfDpP
— KiriyaAoi (@Kiriya_Aoi9) December 7, 2018
Having said all that, of course netizens agree that online communities should not exist to promote anything illegal like child pornography nor is it a place to promote hate speech, violence, terrorism, self-harm etc. Users, however, turn divisive when it comes to posting adult contents and anything sexually provocative including the use of sexually explicit language. The result they say is the “death of unique blogs that explore sexuality” on Tumblr while Facebook’s updated community standards seem to ban sex and sexuality in general. Many have also expressed concerns about the possibility that the other social media platforms will follow suit.
But what about you, what is your take on this issue? Does it or does it not matter to you and why? How does it affect your social media use? More importantly, what is FOSTA-SESTA and for Adam4Adam users who live outside the United States, what does the law in your country say about online adult content? Sound off below!
This is all a part of the same war the liberals(i.e. Democrats) are waging on free speech. They want to put it down. Who decides what “hate” speech is? Come on folks open your eyes!!! It’s not the Republicans that are going to take away our rights. Republicans (conservatives) want smaller government and less government intrusion. Gays always think that the Conservative Right wants to shut them down. Read all the material that’s out there and put together the evidence. If they won’t let Kevin Hart get away with a fairly benign statement what makes you think they will let you advertize to meet your next boyfriend. You allowing them to decide what’s offense and what’s not? Well that leaves you being next to be offensive.
This isn’t about males…either straight or gay; it is about women and their vaginas! Suddenly, the vagina has teeth and it has been allowed to bite everywhere.
Also, it is about visitors who visit the various sex-sites whom never seen to realize that when you want what is between the legs, you have to take the entire anatomy. Some usage of common sense and caution…will usually be sufficient to take the hint and not bring the danger into the bedroom.
Now, since the average American thinks with what hangs between the legs; fills the bar cup; goes up the arse or into the mouth is fair-game, the proverbial albatross…the politician, is left to take up the slack and decide for ‘everyman/everywoman’ what should already be known, …individually and collectively.
When persons do not take their rightful responsibilities, someone else will step in and do it for them…at the cost of freedoms.
Choices are Freedoms and both have consequences…there are no free rides… .
“…netizens agree that online communities should not exist to promote anything illegal like child pornography nor is it a place to promote hate speech, violence, terrorism, self-harm etc. Users, however, turn divisive when it comes to posting adult contents and anything sexually provocative including the use of sexually explicit language.”
There are those who find in the open and common area called the Internet “adult contents and anything sexually provocative including the use of sexually explicit language” just as unacceptable as …”hate speech, violence, terrorism, self-harm etc. ..”.
On the other side there are those who claim any restriction to their right to be totally free and open sexually on the Internet common area makes them somehow the “…massively affected … lgbt community.”
Leave it to the Community that whenEVER ANYthing happens, they’re somehow “the victim”.
not sure why sex or porn has to be any part of Facebook, Craigslist, Instagram in the first place?
maybe we can keep a few things in life open and available for kids, and, for the people that don’t start every sentence with “so, ..” or “like,…” and use “fuck” as a verb for everything. When I want porn, I know how and where to get it. You don’t need to shove it in my face 24/7, snowflakes…
.
It sure seems like it unfortunately.
the hell is wrong with this society? everything offends someone…
This is the shame of the socialist-Left Democrats who want to constrict freedom of speech. There are ways to keep children from adult content. Provide a driver’s license number or a credit card in a person’t name to validate age. Freedom of speech must be 100% free and let the chips fall where they may.
We are living in the new Russia.
‘Sigh,’ war, war, everywhere a war, I guess that’s all that’s left.
I think adult content is far too easy for minors to get to on the Internet. It really concerns me.
Facebook always had this restriction, it’s nothing new.
Todays society has gone the exact opposite of what the 50’s attitude was about sex; need to pump those brakes and do a just a little bit of a reverse, just a little bit, though. Additionally, when its about the acquisition of capital, sex sells ’cause greed rules, not morals, not the ‘multiple’ levels of the ‘well being’ of our youth, shameful.
Also, there seems to be such obsession/s, again, on multiple levels within the psyche of our modern societies of: just get it online, regardless of what (it) is.
‘Shameful’ even, doesn’t hold sway when lacking the wherewithal. . .
Sex is anti-hierarchy, especially when gay. So, conservatism and conservatives, not leftists, want to control it to control the masses. The one exception is if you have the cash and status to pay for private dating sites or go resting in places like south beach, key west, rehobeth, Sandy hook, the Hampton’s, fire island, province town, the vineyard, ongonquit, palm springs, la jolla, saugatuck, the bay area. It is called classism, the flip side of agist bigotry in the gay community. No cash you’re just trash and you don’t get to meet for free but, of course, you can join human rights.
Sex is anti-hierarchy, especially when gay. So, conservatism and conservatives, not leftists, want to control it to control the masses. The one exception is if you have the cash and status to pay for private dating sites or go resting in places like south beach, key west, rehobeth, Sandy hook, the Hampton’s, fire island, province town, the vineyard, ongonquit, palm springs, la jolla, saugatuck, the bay area. It is called classism, the flip side of agist bigotry in the gay community. No cash you’re just trash and you don’t get to meet for free but, of course, you can join human rights.h