Did you know that as of yesterday, massive upscale garage sale site eBay removed their “Adult Only” category? Under new policy, sellers aren’t allowed to list “items containing nudity and displays of sexual activitys” on eBay. Exceptions here include more mainstream titles, like Playboy, Mayfair, and Penthouse, and BUTT, just as long as what’s listed contains no nude image (I’m guessing that means no nude image in the eBay advert). This new policy could effectively wipe porn and erotica (and for now, let’s not debate which is which, ok?) from one of the world’s most profitable virtual storefronts.
Profitable for both eBay and porn/erotica sellers and creators.
eBay is simply following similar changes made on Tumblr three years ago (it was a sad day indeed when Tumblr restricted its adult content), Patreon, and plenty of other websites. If you read my interview with David Epstein of Hastag Open and listen to our episode #24 where Chris and I speak to his partner Amanda Wilson you will learn how Facebook imparts its specific, and hard to define, restrictions on adult material. And #open is NOT even a creator of porn. And from direct personal experience, I know that PayPal has no problem shutting down accounts over a user traipsing across what they call their ”sexually oriented goods” policy.
As we can all easily postulate, restrictions on eBay or any other place primarily come from money concerns…as most everything we encounter in the modern world. Although eBay is staying mute, so far, to the reason behind the recent change, most likely, they are responding to some concern from advertisers, payment processors, and credit card companies…in other words, their revenue sources. But as well also well know, lots of these groups are influenced by organizations like Exodus Cry and other anti-porn, certainly anti-alternate lifestyle crusaders.
Whatever the reason, this new eBay ban hits collectors of vintage erotica, creators of new straight and queer naughty stuff, and just the casual fan who might be looking for a Hustler from the mid ’70s.
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