Gumroad, an e-commerce company for creators, has recently updated its rules to enforce stricter limitations on NSFW content due to pressure from payment processors like Stripe and PayPal.
These policy changes can have a negative impact on creators who specialize in adult art, such as explicit comic books or lewd cosplay photos, leading to an unexpected loss of income.
Creators, like kink educator and writer Sleepingirl, are concerned about the implications of these changes on their livelihoods and the broader community. They are not surprised by such deplatforming actions, which have previously affected platforms like Patreon and Almost affected OnlyFans.
Gumroad founder Sahil Lavingia explained that they have been asked to enforce stricter rules in compliance with their Terms of Service. This decision may not only affect creators but also harm Gumroad’s business, as adult content is popular on the platform.
Competitors like Just For Fans are already reaching out to attract creators affected by Gumroad’s policy changes.
The challenges of monetizing sexual content online have become increasingly difficult, with platforms like OnlyFans facing backlash for their restrictions on adult content. Artists are also impacted by these strict policies, despite not engaging in pornographic content.
Creators like Sleepingirl express concerns about the limitations imposed by platforms like Gumroad and Patreon, which have updated their guidelines on adult content.
As for Gumroad’s next steps, Lavingia wonders if the company should consider hiring a lobbyist to address these challenges.
