On the Block and Allow List tab: Select the checkbox next to a site, then click Edit. Since Tumblr announced the ban on December 3, bloggers with NSFW content have been scrambling to move to other sites, build new sites, and/or archive blogs till … Welcome aboard!". Recently, she's noticed a sharp increase in the amount of outdoorsy content people are posting -- cozy cottages, camping, that kind of thing. What's more, that life consists of vibrant micro-communities -- fonts of creativity and places for people to explore their passions. Mastodon is a decentralized social platform, meaning that its thousands individual communities exist on separate servers, but they all exist under one network. "Sometimes the internet is bad but in this moment it is truly good," Swift said in just such a post back in July. since, “No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention”. Stop reading me and click through to Tumblr, a free blogging site that makes it effortless not only to type in text, but to share photos, links, music and videos. As Wordpress is also a blogging platform, Kohnen said she believes Mullenweg is more likely to "get" Tumblr and not just treat it like another Twitter or Instagram. ", Pillowfort.io is a user-friendly space that emerged from people "complaining about the limitations and flaws of these (other) sites, yet lamenting that there was nowhere better to go.". This is to its credit, but also hasn't helped when it comes to being taken seriously. According to TechCrunch, analytics firm SimilarWeb found that 20.53 percent of clicks on the Tumblr desktop site are for adult content.However, Tumblr… Unfortunately, Pillowfort is in beta and costs a small fee to join, but you can try out the platform as a demo user on Pillowfort's website. On certain evenings every month, the Taylor Swift fandom of Tumblr hits the pause button on its usual business of sharing quotes, memes, artistically edited photos and analyses of the songwriter's lyrics. A new era for Tumblr. Click OK. Search the Block and Allow List. It allows her to be more playful, funny and open than she is when posting cross-platform content or in formal interviews. Over email, McCracken described Tumblr as an "opaque" platform, which is partly by design: Users can be as pseudonymous as they choose, or have multiple blogs that aren't visibly tied to one identity. Sammii, 24, from Australia, has been on Tumblr for 10 years -- almost since its inception -- and uses it mainly for posting personal photos, poetry and thoughts. © 2021 CNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. There are reasons people are still drawn to Tumblr, and those reasons are worth acknowledging. Do you work at TikTok? Tumblr said last year it was banning "adult content" from its platform in order to make "a better, more positive" place. Tumblr Users Urge New Owner Yahoo To Keep The Site Weird When news of Yahoo's purchase of Tumblr first hit, Tumblr users took their reactions online. A blogging site called Tumblr will be strutting some new-found clout at Fashion Week, with designers making room for dozens of its writers at their shows. Since the debut of the TV show Good Omens in May of this year, it has consistently been the top fandom on Tumblr in every weekly Fandometrics report, according to Brennan. But being able to open the app up anywhere knowing that there was no risk of adult content popping up on her screen actually led her to stick with Tumblr, she added. Some hoped that, I frequently got messages from folks who saw my work and said it helped them understand part of themselves better," an anonymous Tumblr user, complaining about the limitations and flaws of these (other) sites, yet lamenting that there was nowhere better to go. Tumblr's opacity even protects publicly identifiable users, giving them a modicum of privacy that other platforms fail to replicate. Dozens of new Twitter accounts popped up from former Tumblr users who said they were switching social media sites as a result of the new policy. Get it now on Libro.fm using the button below. Other blogging platforms reported seeing an influx of new users since Tumblr announced its policy change. For Elizabeth, 25, from Austin, Texas, who identifies as sexually fluid but isn't out to her family and friends, Tumblr -- and the LGBTQ selfie night in particular -- has been a safe space for her to express her sexuality. But while Twitter is mainly a platform for short text blurbs and sharing links, Tumblr emphasizes blogging with a mix of images, videos, GIFs, and creative writing. Tumblr, the onetime darling of social media, sold for a whopping $1.1 billion in 2013. Change information (URL, site pattern, or comment) for a site. Tumblr this morning is rolling out a significant update to its content filtering system with the launch of a new “Safe Mode” for browsing content on its site… Tumblr's NSFW ban comes at great cost to the community and little gain to the company's long-term prospects. Fortunately for Sammii, Tumblr's new owner, Automattic, which also owns Wordpress, appears to see and appreciate the value in the platform. "It's tremendously important as a space of self-expression especially for marginalized/devalued groups who feel community, support and validation there.". For many users, a significant part of Tumblr's appeal is the ability to disguise your true identity. Take Taylor Swift, whose use of Tumblr is fully public and yet feels to her fanbase -- and possibly to her -- like a private forum. In her paper Tumblr Youth Subcultures and Media Engagement, Allison McCracken, associate professor of American studies at DePaul University, noted that Tumblr's design facilitates a participatory culture that provides a "counterpublic space for marginalized millennial communities and progressives" to explore "fannish passions and creative production.". Jon Brodkin - May 3, 2019 3:57 pm UTC The site will start processing your blog information (which will take forever, btw). This "makes it much harder for families, employers, friends, and other institutional authorities to police them; as a result, many youth feel a greater sense of security and privacy on Tumblr than on other platforms," she wrote in her paper. In response to Tumblr, Mastodon created a post with reasons to choose its platform as your new social media site. In an interview, Melanie Kohnen, assistant professor of rhetoric and media studies at Lewis & Clark University, noted the importance of Tumblr in popularizing what are today internetwide modes of creativity, such gifsets and meme culture. The emphasis on growth within the tech world leaves little room for spaces to endure that aren't all things to all people at all times. Apple today launched a new Tumblr page highlighting the touchstones of pop culture across 2014. Back when Yahoo bought Tumblr, then-CEO Marissa Mayer had seen blogging site, founded by David Karp in 2007, as a potential major source of new revenue growth and a way into the social-media space. To her, it "signifies a shift in our culture to get away from the internet a little bit -- it's kind of like reconnecting to nature." "Tumblr has a completely open discourse about sex unlike any other social media site," feminist porn director, producer and screenwriter Erika Lust told HuffPost. Why fake new sites matter For news consumers, the biggest threat is what's referred to as "typosquatting," according to DomainTools (registering Forbs.it, for … And yet niche spaces like Tumblr, as well as fan fiction site Archive of Our Own (AO3) or even services such as Pinterest and Reddit, are crucial to keeping the ecosystem of the web diverse. But the policy change caused some users to abandon the site. When Yumna, a 21-year-old Londoner, attended one of Swift's prerelease album-listening parties, known as Secret Sessions, last month, the artist told her that she'd been chosen after taking part in a selfie night. But to really understand Tumblr's value, it's important to look beyond growth statistics. a post with reasons to choose its platform, 13 things that are worth more than Tumblr's $3 million price tag, from an empty lot in San Francisco to a two-bedroom luxury apartment in New York. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Here are some alternatives to Tumblr emerging in light of the ban on adult content: While the design of Newgrounds may be old-school (it's been around since 1999), the site prides itself on being wholly independent where it allows "everything for everyone. Greetings, old-timer. Modify the site pattern or comment as needed. By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Tumblr users are looking for a new home following upcoming changes to 18+ and adult content. Tumblr is full of NSFW and adult content. The government of the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation blocked Tumblr on Monday, saying the New … Yumna with Taylor Swift at the Lover Secret Sessions in London. Sign up to 10 Things in Tech You Need to Know Today. Tumblr is far more liberal when it comes to explicit imagery than a platform like Instagram, where a nipple can get your account suspended. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Kenan Thompson will be racking up the air miles as he travels between his new NBC sitcom Kenan and Saturday Night Live. (Note: there is an actual Tumblr for Dummies book already.I did not write it.) “That’s what I had to do!” Minaj said. Brennan believes there's something for everyone on Tumblr. More than 665,000 people have signed a Change.org petition to "make Tumblr rescind their adult content ban.". Verizon took over Tumblr back in 2017 as part of its acquisition of Yahoo. "To the newcomers: we're happy to have you join us. "I really feel the love.". Communities spring up around learning calculus or languages, but a common theme among different fandoms is educating one another about topics including homophobia, transphobia, racism, ableism and body positivity. "I understand why they made the decision, but that took away a lot of users I knew, and I almost left myself, but I have such a nostalgic feeling for this social media site that still feels different from the rest to me," said Sammii. Subscriber "I frequently got messages from folks who saw my work and said it helped them understand part of themselves better," an anonymous Tumblr user told The Washington Post. (Tumblr did not respond to a request for comment.) Welcome aboard!". (Yumna participates in selfie nights for religious Swifties and Swifties of Color.). "There's something about Tumblr -- once you find your community, you get this feeling of being understood and seen, no matter what that is, whether it's a fandom or something sports related, or even social justice movements," said Brennan. You could find an audience for your art or writing, inspired perhaps by your favorite sci-fi franchise. "You don't have to hide who you truly are. Got a tip about it? she said. Starting Dec. 17, "adult content will not allowed on Tumblr… Pillowfort. Allison McCracken, associate professor, DePaul University. Tumblr is still a safe space for many internet users. Tumblr said last year it was banning "adult content" from its platform in order to make "a better, more positive" place.But the policy change caused some users to abandon the site.. Best for: Building a site from the ground up, turning a blogging hobby into an eCommerce site, and those looking for robust customization via widgets and plugins. On the Block and Allow List tab, select the checkbox next to a site, then click Delete. Swift controls her Tumblr experience by following fans (on other social platforms she maintains "following" counts of zero) and readily engaging with content that appears on her dash (the Tumblr equivalent of a home or news feed). While Swift's public support of the LGBTQ community appears to be new, the star has been embracing LGBTQ fans privately on Tumblr for years. "Tumblr gets dismissed -- and always has been -- because its users are devalued in the culture generally (youth -- girls especially, queer and non-binary/transgender persons, disabled persons, 'social justice warriors')," McCracken told me. And yet however much users want to get away from the internet, they come back to share what makes them happy on Tumblr. A big part of why Sammii (and others) wanted to leave was Tumblr's policy of banning "female-presenting nipples" (the phrase used by Tumblr) but still allow so-called male-presenting nipples. We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. You can also contact Business Insider securely via SecureDrop. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. The story was originally published at 5 a.m. PT. Click on it … Fortunately for Sammii, Tumblr's new owner, Automattic, which also owns Wordpress, appears to see and appreciate the value in the platform. ", "Some of you might be dismayed at the thought of more lewd content on NG while others are super excited," a post welcoming Tumblr users says. The blogging site, owned by Yahoo parent Verizon, announced earlier this month it would flag and remove "adult content." The new … As social justice and allyship have become increasingly important on Tumblr, she said that she "felt a responsibility to educate myself and learn as much as I could to keep being a part of the community." Formerly of KnowYourMeme and sometimes referred to as the Meme Librarian, Brennan spends her time looking at the trends among fandoms, compiling lists of the top fandoms on Tumblr's Fandometrics page. "It still brings me joy to use for so many different reasons.". Many former Tumblr users are looking for a new site to host their content and discussions. Some surnames have been excluded to protect the privacy of contributors. Pillowfort, which is kind of like LiveJournal meets Dreamwidth, wants to be that new … Verizon Looks to Unload Tumblr Blogging Site ... a free service with more than 400 million blogs. (PR pitches by email only please.) "[It] takes a second to find but once you find it, you're there forever.". (Just look at 8chan and parts of Reddit.). On Monday, in perhaps the latest mark of its decline, the site was reportedly bought for … Brennan noted the amount of learning that takes place on the platform. "I think he seemed to understand Tumblr, a little more than maybe previous owners, which I think really bought it just because it was a hot item," said Kohnen, who is interested in the idea of providing different access tiers, some of which are paid. “One time I was thinking like, you know, what if one of my best friends said the things that I say to myself. The announcement, which arrived in early August after months of speculation, also came with the news that Tumblr's sale price was less than $3 million -- significantly less than the $1.1 billion that Yahoo (now a Verizon property) purchased it for in 2013. The biggest change she's seen in that time was the ban on adult content, which began in December and reportedly caused a 17% drop in views. Pornhub wants to buy Tumblr and restore site to former porn-filled glory Tumblr owner Verizon seeks buyer months after banning adult content. "The good news for everyone is that we're seeing a lot of REALLY TALENTED artists joining up and not everything they post is NSFW. If you follow Swift on Tumblr you'll be familiar with the sense of intimacy between her and her thriving fan community. "It is an essential venue to share new ideas, cultures and experiences, helping millions create and build communities around their shared interests," Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg said of Tumblr in a statement after purchasing the company earlier this month. Dreamwidth is a free platform for "creative folk" who want to share artwork and creative writing. Tumblr, one of the oldest and largest blogging platforms on the web, has announced it will ban adult content. It allows people to find their tribes, to share, to laugh, to educate themselves, to experiment creatively, collaboratively and sometimes furtively. It's far from the only once-hot commodity to end up in the bargain bin -- you need only look as far as AOL, Yahoo or MySpace to see how the biggest names on the internet can become obsolete without a rigorous plan in place for long-term monetization. "We'd like to take a moment to reassure all y'all that we have your backs," a post welcoming Tumblr users says. Discuss: Tumblr's a rare safe haven amid all of the internet's ugliness, Neil Gaiman, who wrote the Good Omens series, Tumblr Youth Subcultures and Media Engagement, readily engaging with content that appears on her dash. The site was a library of fanfiction, a home to more memes and GIFs than any one person could ever look at, ... CEO of Tumblr's new owner Automattic, seems well aware of this. Just as it's long been a place for subcultures to flourish, Tumblr is home to people who want to explore their identities or feel like they don't necessarily fit in elsewhere. TV fandoms still dominate, with 29% growth in related content over the past six months, according to Tumblr. Lady Cheeky: This Tumblr favorite has over 175,000 followers for good reason. Tumblr is a unique blogging site that specializes in striking visual design. "You don't have to be the one version that you want to project," Brennan said. "It's important to highlight minorities and the LGBTQ community because it makes those feel loved and accepted when they might always not be," she said. … It's a reversal of the idea that anonymity on the internet is automatically a bad thing, having opened the door to trolls and the darkest aspects of the internet. The new policy went into effect December of 2018, and resulted in the deletion of any content portraying "real-life human genitals or female-presenting nipples." There’s even an instant-post button to include quotes from other blogs. "That's primarily what I saw on Tumblr, in my curated bubble: women and LGBT creators exploring sexual concepts that they didn't feel comfortable sharing anywhere else.". However, traffic to the blogging platform fell after it enacted a ban on adult content. That dramatic drop in value underscores how Tumblr's parents failed to make the most of the site's potential and its still sizable user base. The decision was met with lots of backlash from users who view the site as a safe space to explore their identity and sexuality through "not safe for work" (NSFW) content. The original Tumblr fandoms (circa 2010-13) tended to revolve around the band One Direction and the TV show Glee. Creating a safe, inclusive place for people to connect is part of the platform's DNA -- a rarity at a time when most social networks offer more than their fair share of toxic comments and misinformation. And I think that when it comes to [Swift], she gets that.". Tumblr Alternatives. "It still, to me feels like this magical place, unlike anywhere else on the internet," said Tumblr's Amanda Brennan. Most people have written off Tumblr, but there's still value that's harder quantify. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. For many, Tumblr was seen as a safe space used for exploration and self-expression. Many Tumblr users said they planned to abandon the platform for alternative blogging websites that allow explicit content, some which can be found below. We need places for people to go other than Facebook, which ties everything you do to a single identity; other than Twitter, with its neat little 280-character boxes and sense that you're yelling into the void; other than the Instagram show window, where resharing and opportunities for multiperson discourse aren't built into the platform's core mechanism. It features NSFW GIFs, videos, sexy black-and-white photos, and more tailored for women. Tumblr’s web traffic has plummeted by a third since it banned titillating images and videos–creating a niche for naughty new sites to fill. But on Tumblr, you might find friends who are the first you've had who understand your hidden disability and are willing to listen to how it affects your life. Reaction to Tumblr's announcement was swift and critical across social media. Some hoped that the sale of Tumblr to a new company in August would result in the ban's reversal, but the new owners have said they're keeping the ban on NSFW (not safe for work) content in place. Account active "I've been here six years, and prior to that I was studying Tumblr in grad school and at my previous job, and every day I'm still surprised to find something where I'm just like, 'Whoa, someone thought of this, this is awesome.'" When previous owners realized it wouldn't follow the same business model and start generating money straight away, they "lost interest," she said. Despite the decline, there's life in it yet, what with a current tally of 475 active million blogs, according to the platform's own stats. Instead, users make room on their dashboards for "selfie nights," when fans from minority groups post pictures of themselves -- serving the dual purpose of increasing visibility and celebrating diversity. These days, the fandoms are many and varied, based on diverse interests, including F1 and WWE. Free. "It's a completely decentralised social network which combines the best bits of Twitter and Tumblr, but the technology is structured in a way whereby it can never be shut down," a post advocating the switch to Mastodon says. If you’re a regular reader here at TIME Tech, you can skip this post entirely, as you already know what Tumblr … Within Swift's Tumblr fandom, it was the discourse around inclusion and visibility for minority fans that resulted in the creation of the LGBTQ, disability and Swifties of Color selfie nights. In part, this could possibly be attributed to the fact that Neil Gaiman, who wrote the Good Omens series, is active on the platform, engaging with fans and sharing their creative work. as well as other partner offers and accept our, real-life human genitals or female-presenting nipples." Your morning cheat sheet to get you caught up on what you need to know in tech. In light of the recent Yahoo-buys-Tumblr news, my overlords at TIME have asked me to put together a guide of sorts explaining what Tumblr is.A Tumblr for Dummies, if you will. "There's also a really developed culture of commentary and tags," she said, explaining the unique way in which Tumblr users can write full sentences in tags to augment posts or reblogs. SAN FRANCISCO — Both Marissa Mayer, Yahoo’s chief executive, and David Karp, Tumblr’s 26-year-old founder, reassured worried users on Monday that Yahoo’s deal to acquire Tumblr for $1.1 billion would allow the social networking site to operate as it is. But now Verizon, which acquired Tumblr in 2017, has sold the social network-cum-blog platform. This sense that Tumblr is a safe space for minorities isn't unique to Swift. Or your favorite pop star Taylor Swift might reblog a funny video you made, adding her own caption in the process. But creativity requires safe spaces to flourish, and it's entirely possible that these spaces lie beyond the homogenous, mass-market platforms we're all shepherded toward using. "The Swiftie fandom can be seen as a mini society in itself, and so it is important to celebrate those within this fandom who are ethnic minorities or part of the LGBTQ+ community, just as it is important to do so in society itself," Yumna told me over email. Contact this reporter via Signal at +1 (201) 312-4526 using a non-work phone, email at pleskin@businessinsider.com, or Twitter DM at @paigeleskin. Once Tumblr is done processing your blog, a Download backup button will appear. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. You may have issues accessing it though — I got an error message when I tried to set up my trial because of the unusually "high amount of traffic" the site is getting. ", e'd like to take a moment to reassure all y'all that we have your backs, To the newcomers: we're happy to have you join us. The web turned 30 this year, and its creator, Tim Berners-Lee, has encouraged people to use the web as a force for creativity.