First of all, if after all this time you’re still a regular of the hellsite dumpster fire called Tumblr, kudo’s. So you might have seen the panic on Tumblr explained in posts like this one but what is really going on and who is to blame here?
So in a nutshell Tumblr made an announcement that it is implementing new changes for iOS users regarding sensative content in this announcement in order to comply with Apple’s app store guidelines.
To translate this to normal people talk: they’re basically banning more sensitive tags like the #nsfw tag for iOS users who use the app. Posts containing those tags won’t show up in dashboards anymore nor will they show up in search results. They’re doing this to not get kicked out of the Apple app store again but what they fail to realize is that this move isn’t just an inconvience for people who like to get their freak on, it can also harm users who want to avoid triggering or nsfw content in general.
Because as we all know, Tumblr’s flagging system is pathetic and worthless and fails to find actual sensitive content. To avoid this type of content users would just block certain tags like #tw blood or #nsfw for example so they could be sure it wouldn’t show up in their timeline.
However, content creators can just work around this problem by not adding tags at all or making new tags that are less known. This can result in people who don’t know about those new tags still seeing triggering content on their dashboard.
This doesn’t even cover the fact that Tumblr is actively erasing culture and censoring free speech, taking away important distribution channels for independent content creators who already have a hard time on most platforms.
The real villain here is Apple though.
Apple already played a cameo in the first Tumblr NSFW ban and now they’re back for more. As of recently they have tightened their rules for NSFW content again and Steve Jobs once wrote “Folks who want porn can buy an Android phone.”
The real problem here is that we as consumers are stuck in a duopoly of systems. It’s either Apple or Google and if you don’t want either well you’re out of luck, they own the market. Those mega corporations get to decide what you’re allowed to see and there isn’t really a way to stick it to them either. Apple here is obviously the worse offender as Google is a little more flexible in their guidelines.
Oh and remember that app for fascists called Parler? Where people spout racist, sexist, white supremacist bullshit? Well, in April Apple allowed that app back in to their store.
But why are Reddit and Twitter still allowed to show porn?
Well mainly because their staff appears to be less incompetent, if you want to see sensitive content on Twitter or Reddit using your iPhone you’ll have to toggle on that option in a browser or on a device that isn’t running on iOS. For whatever reason that seems to be alright, why Tumblr didn’t think of this option we’ll never know. Another reason might be the fact that Twitter and Reddit are far more influential apps than Tumblr. Banning those apps could really put a dent in Apple’s sales.
So what now?
It is more clear than ever that Tumblr doesn’t want certain people on its platform and maybe its time to listen to their message. Perhaps it’s time to move somewhere else like BDSMLR or any other website that allows adult content.
It might not be the most satisfying option, as many of you like me feel you’re being chased out of your own home, a space that you have cultivated over the years with your mutuals.
However, the reality is that a billion dollar corporation like Apple ultimately gets to decide what you can see and what you can’t see and well Tumblr just follows suit because their unprofitable hell site can’t really afford to be booted off the app store.