From the notification sent out today;
Dear Blogger User,
We’re writing to tell you about an upcoming change to the Blogger Content
Policy that may affect your account.In the coming weeks, we’ll no longer allow blogs that contain sexually
explicit or graphic nude images or video. We’ll still allow nudity
presented in artistic, educational, documentary or scientific contexts, or
where there are other substantial benefits to the public from not taking
action on the content.The new policy will take effect on 23 March 2015. After this policy comes
into force, Google will restrict access to any blog identified as being in
violation of our revised policy. No content will be deleted, but only blog
authors and those with whom they have expressly shared the blog will be
able to see the content that we’ve made private.Our records indicate that your account may be affected by this policy
change. Please refrain from creating new content that would violate this
policy. We would also ask you to make any necessary changes to your
existing blog to comply as soon as possible so that you won’t experience
any interruptions in service. You may also choose to create an archive of
your content via Google Takeout
(https://www.google.com/settings/takeout/custom/blogger).For more information, please look here
(https://support.google.com/blogger?p=policy_update).Love and Kisses the Google Guys.
(can you tell the bit I amended?)
I’m not event going to go into the handbag-clutching-think-of-the-children-panic-iness of this, but rather focus on what you might want to do if you do still have a sex blog hosted on Blogger and which contains nude images.
Of course you may decide that any images containing nudity may be “artistic” and leave your blog up, but Google may disagree. This is always the problem with vague content definitions, what is a completely acceptable picture to one person is a horror inducing offence to another. Let’s all take a moment to reflect on Facebook’s long standing confusion over images of breastfeeding.
Hosted blogging platforms such as Blogger and WordPress are an easy and free way for new bloggers to get online, find their voice and have their say, however these latest set of reforms make Blogger a far less welcoming place for sex bloggers than it used to be and my conclusion is either don’t post images or don’t use Blogger.
WordPress.com do have clearer guidelines on the use of “mature content“, however the only real solution to creating a blog or at Molly’s Daily Kiss as a great guide on moving your sex blog from Blogger to self-hosting.
But before you go, a reminder that self-hosting providers are also private companies that have terms and conditions which may or may not ban “obscene content”, please, please, please always read the Ts and Cs before you sign up to a blog or hosting platform, because I know you spend a lot of time, energy and care on creating an awesome blog and I want you to home it in a safe place.
