Short thesis The Internet and social media platforms have grown to become reliable sources for sexual education and exploration. Especially marginalized people have created spaces to express themselves and create a growing and evolving set of sexual values that have already changed the world. These relatively new values call for re-thinking what platforms still refer to as "adult content" and a push towards differentiated perception of sexual content. Description An old song says that „The Internet is for Porn". The question is for whom porn is made for and what messages it sends, especially to young and developing people. Some say mainstream porn is the way it is because it makes more money. Is that true? Platforms like Tumblr have become very important in the lives of everyone not interested in the narrow heterosexual mainstream idea of erotica and sex. This is where spaces developed to socially explore sexuality and establish a basic set of rules and values: 1. Consent and self-determination are key 2. Sex is a normal and welcome part of what it means to be human 3. Asexuality is valid 4. Honesty and fidelity in relationships are not always the same as monogamy 5. Queer love and sexuality is becoming increasingly normalized across the globe 6. People with disabilities have the same right to a healthy and self-determined sex-life as able-bodied people are 7. Sex work is work and is better protected by decriminalization than with restrictive laws 8. Sextech (for those who are not heterosexual men) is still in its infancy and waiting for investors to realize its massive potential Nevertheless, organizations running social platforms are banning what they call „adult content“ to protect children and make communities "safer". But is using an umbrella-term that can mean anything from mainstream porn or queer sexual education helpful? Wording and classification have to become more precise and realistic. Changing current policies or establishing new platforms will make sexual content safer. Elle Nerdinger shows what is already been done and what opportunities still lie ahead waiting to be taken. The demand for safe and accessible social sexual spaces is growing. Changing policies and how content is classified will provide safety and business opportunities especially for women and marginalized people because they know their audience best.

1. It’s About
Sexual Values,
not “Adult Content”

2. HELLO!
I am Elle Nerdinger
⊗ President of the German Cyborg
Society Cyborgs e. V.
⊗ Founder of Section 42, Art-Ops
Collective
⊗ Conceptual Designer
You can find me as @forschungstorte
on Twitter | elle@nerdinger.net
2

4. Adult Content?!
What are we exactly talking about?

5. I know it when I see it.
5
The phrase was used in 1964 by United
States Supreme Court Justice Potter
Stewart to describe his threshold test
for obscenity in Jacobellis v. Ohio.

7. Content, such as pornography
or violence, that is not thought
to be appropriate for viewing
by children.
7
Definition of adult content on Wiktionary

8. Not Safe for Work (NSFW)
Content considered unsafe or
inappropriate for the average
workplace.
8

9. The Status Quo
Content Policies

10. We know that there are times when people might want to share nude images
that are artistic or creative in nature, but for a variety of reasons, we
don’t allow nudity on Instagram. This includes photos, videos, and some
digitally-created content that show sexual intercourse, genitals, and close-ups
of fully-nude buttocks. It also includes some photos of female nipples, but
photos of post-mastectomy scarring and women actively breastfeeding are
allowed. Nudity in photos of paintings and sculptures is OK, too.
People like to share photos or videos of their children. For safety reasons, there
are times when we may remove images that show nude or partially-nude
children. Even when this content is shared with good intentions, it could be
used by others in unanticipated ways.
10
From the Instagram Community Guidelines

11. Policy Rationale
We restrict the display of nudity or sexual activity
because some people in our community may be
sensitive to this type of content. Additionally, we
default to removing sexual imagery to prevent the
sharing of non-consensual or underage content.
Restrictions on the display of sexual activity also apply
to digitally created content unless it is posted for
educational, humorous, or satirical purposes.
11
Facebook Adult Nudity and Sexual Activity Policies

12. Our nudity policies have become more nuanced over time. We
understand that nudity can be shared for a variety of reasons, including
as a form of protest, to raise awareness about a cause, or for
educational or medical reasons. Where such intent is clear, we make
allowances for the content. For example, while we restrict some images
of female breasts that include the nipple, we allow other images,
including those depicting acts of protest, women actively engaged in
breast-feeding, and photos of post-mastectomy scarring. We also allow
photographs of paintings, sculptures, and other art that depicts nude
figures.
12
Facebook Adult Nudity and Sexual Activity Policies

14. “We remove porn. We may hide nudity or erotica
Most artistic, scientific or educational nudity is okay on
Pinterest. We may hide this and other explicit content from
public places so people don’t run into it accidentally. Paintings,
statues and other real world art, and content that shows
breastfeeding or mastectomies are always okay.
We always remove images of explicit sexual activity or fetishes,
and nude or partially nude people in sexually suggestive poses.
”
14
From the Pinterest Community Guidelines

15. “Adult content primarily includes photos, videos,
or GIFs that show real-life human genitals or
female-presenting nipples, and any
content—including photos, videos, GIFs and
illustrations—that depicts sex acts.”
15
New Tumblr guidelines since Dec 2018

16. The December 2018 Adult Content ban on Tumblr
1. Tumblr app was taken off the Apple store because footage
of child abuse was found on the platform
2. SESTA/FOSTA laws passed in the US against sex trafficking
but protested by sex workers as making it worse for them
than better
16

17. I have a feeling we are
missing something.
Is it enough to point a finger at “Adult Content”
or “Porn” to promote safe communities?

18. The values implied with content policies are
known but are not specific enough, so that the
understanding of these values can strongly
differ from person to person.
18
Assumption 1

19. Main Principles for
Content Policies
19

20. Community Friendliness
● More or less enforced culture of mutual respect
● Let the user base flag, tag or block what is not
appropriate (inflammatory posts, violence, sexual
content)
● Growing awareness for differentiation:
education/art/health/erotica
20

21. ● Protection from things/media that could disrupt
their development
● Children have to develop on their own accord
before they learn more about violence, sexuality,
death,...
Child Protection
21

22. And Sexuality?
22

23. ⊗ WHAT sexuality is appropriate?
⊗ HOW is “appropriate” sexuality understood or practiced?
⊗ WHY is sexuality treated in a certain way??
23
How What and Why?

24. WHAT sexuality is appropriate?
-> Heterosexual, for offspring,
male-led and controlled by men.
Non-Monogamy mostly only for men.
24
Ultra-Conservative

25. HOW is “appropriate” sexuality
understood or practiced?
-> Sex for pleasure is a difficult topic,
sex for offspring is necessary.
-> Women are seducers so they
should always present modestly.
25
Ultra-Conservative

27. WHY is sexuality treated in a
certain way??
-> To maintain natural/god-given
order. Women, female sexuality
are seen as a potential threat.
27
Ultra-Conservative

29. WHAT sexuality is appropriate?
-> Heterosexual monogamy is the
accepted norm. Homosexuality is
gradually accepted but seen as
something other.
29
Conservative

31. HOW is “appropriate” sexuality
understood or practiced?
-> Partners know their “natural place”,
gender roles are a gift, women are
sexually passive, givers, carers
31
Conservative

32. WHY is sexuality treated in a
certain way??
-> Because what seems “natural”
must be good and right. If it worked
for parents, grandparents it must be
the way it is done.
32
Conservative

33. WHAT sexuality is appropriate?
> In long-term Hetero/Homosexual
marriage or partnerships, Flings are
acceptable when enjoyed by
unattached people.
33
TRANSITIONAL

34. HOW is “appropriate” sexuality
understood or practiced?
-> Aspirations towards finding common
grounds with “the one” and enjoying
mutual pleasure
34
TRANSITIONAL

35. WHY is sexuality treated in a
certain way??
-> Pleasure and mutual respect,
often represented by monogamy,
are the basis good sex and a good
relationship.
35
Transitional

37. WHAT sexuality is good?
-> Sex is pursued for pleasure,
empowerment and also learning new
things.
37
Progressive

38. HOW is “appropriate” sexuality
understood or practiced?
-> Good sex requires enthusiastic and
informed consent. This is why sexuality
is talked about a lot.
38
Progressive

39. WHY is sexuality treated in a
certain way??
-> Because sexuality is an essential part
of life, it is important to break taboos
that continue to hold up harmful power
structures
39
Progressive

40. The more progressive people get, the more they
seem to reflect upon sexuality and try to make
it a rewarding part of their lives.
40
Assumption 2

41. Ultra-Conservative Conservative Transitional Progressive
Patriarchal Double Standards Progressing Anti-Patriarchal

42. Ultra-Conservative Conservative Transitional Progressive
Patriarchal Double Standards Progressing Anti-Patriarchal
Sincerely dirty/sinful Partially dirty/sinful
What sexual values lie beneath this?
Ironic dirty/sinful/re-contextualized Re-phrasing, conciousness
DIRT-O-METER FOR THE PERCEPTION AND REPRESENTATION OF SEX

43. Sincerely dirty/sinful Partially dirty/sinful
The Relation Between Sex and Dirtiness
Ironic dirty/sinful/re-contextualized Re-phrasing, conciousness
DIRT-O-METER FOR THE PERCEPTION AND REPRESENTATION OF SEX

44. Reflecting on Sexuality and normalizing it
as a part of our lifestyles, makes it less of
a “dirty secret” and more something to
cultivate.
44
Assumption 3

45. How these sexual
values work in current
content policies

46. Where The Money Is: Facebook Ads

48. Double Standards for Health Products
Facebook is preventing
companies selling lubricants
for women going through
menopause to advertise
despite allowing ads for
equivalent products for men.
QR Code leads to relevant article on CNBC

50. “Facebook has long had a policy that limits ads
with adult content and adult products in part
because we take into account the wide array of
people from varying cultures and countries who
see them. We continue to review these specific
ads.”
50
Facebook to CNBC when questioned on
advertising standards
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/09/facebook-blocks-ads-for-menopause-products-b
ut-allows-ed-ads.html

51. Lora DiCarlo vs. CES
QR Code leads to relevant article on mashable

52. CES is failing to innovate … AGAIN
Innovation award for
sex toy revoked
because it is an “adult
product” and "immoral,
obscene, indecent,
[and/or] profane."
Osé by LoraDicarlo

53. Of course…
Image: GLENN CHAPMAN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

54. We remember…
Image: GLENN CHAPMAN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

56. It’s About
Sexual Values,
not “aDuLt CoNTenT”

57. I know it when I see it.
57
The phrase was used in 1964 by United
States Supreme Court Justice Potter
Stewart to describe his threshold test
for obscenity in Jacobellis v. Ohio.

58. If we apply ambiguous sexual values, the
resulting content policies will be ambiguous
and prone to double standards.
Assumption 4

59. Ultra-Conservative Conservative Transitional Progressive
Patriarchal Double Standards Progressing Anti-Patriarchal
Sincerely dirty/sinful Partially dirty/sinful Ironic dirty/sinful/re-contextualized Rephrasing, consciousness
DIRT-O-METER FOR THE PERCEPTION AND REPRESENTATION OF SEX

60. Let’s examine the
mechanisms behind
the problem

61. The meaning of “adult content” or “obscenity” is used
unspecifically along the sexual double standard and
require a specific definition.
61
Assumption 5

62. A Question of Morals
and Ethics.

63. What are Morals?
● Customs established by a group of individuals to define
right or wrong
● Morals always apply in the same way, this is why no
specific clarification is required. You KNOW when
something is morally wrong.
Or you SHOULD know.

64. Moral Values: Sexual Double Standard
⊗ Sexually active men are
accepted and tolerated
⊗ Stems from organizing
families by (paternal)
bloodlines
-> Sex products for men
are okay and normal
⊗ Female sexuality is
subject to the
Madonna/Whore
complex
⊗ -> Sex products for
female pleasure are
suspicious and possibly
immoral

65. Sincerely dirty/sinful Partially dirty/sinful
The Relation Between Sex and Dirtiness
Ironic dirty/sinful/re-contextualized Re-phrasing, conciousness
DIRT-O-METER FOR THE PERCEPTION AND REPRESENTATION OF SEX
Patriarchal Morals Progressive Ethics

66. From Morals to Ethics
The advent of social media made the early
creation of alternative sexual values based
on ethics, not one implicit set of morals
more accessible than ever.

67. Ethical Values: Contextual and Specific
⊗ Define the character of individual right and wrong conduct of
an individual
⊗ Respond to a situation, not always the same
⊗ Ethics is the knowledge/study (of multiple sets) of morals
and therefore capable of putting each value system into
context

68. 68

69. Tumblr: A Repository of Unseen Gazes
Most prominent platform for erotica
outside of the heterosexual male gaze
mainstream and a safe space to
develop one’s sexuality without that
context.

70. 70
Assumption 6
Tumblr can be seen as a symbol for the
shift from sexual morals to sexual
ethics in the digital age.

71. 1. Consent and
self-determination are the
basis of ethical sex.
71

72. 2. Sex is a normal and
healthy part of what it
means to be a human being.
72

73. 3. Question heteronormativity,
validate bi- and pansexuality
AND: Asexuality is a thing
73

74. 4. Honesty and fidelity in
relationships are not always
the same as monogamy.
74

75. 5. Queer identities are
gradually seeing
normalization across the
globe.
75

76. 6. People with disabilities have
the same right to a healthy and
self-determined sex life as able
bodied people are.
76

77. 7. Sex work is work and is
better protected by
decriminalization than with
restrictive laws.
77

78. 8. Sextech for others than
cis(het)-men is still in its
infancy and waiting for investors
to realize the massive potential
it has.
78

79. Content policies are often based on implicit moral
frameworks
Users seem to gravitate towards expplicit ethical
frameworks
79
Assumption 7

81. A single set of morals
can be implied, ethics
require context.

82. QUEENS

83. Rethinking Content Policies for
Safer and more Profitable
Platforms

85. Sexuality and sexual imagery require context
and consent. This should also be a principle
of content policies.
Assumption 7

86. ● Age-appropriate selections
● Personal filters
● Creating validation processes for
child protection
● Embracing social sex

87. Reframing and Rewording Classifications
● Sensitive Content
● Intimate Content
● Sexual Content
● Unsettling Content

88. Our parents bring us up to
have good manners, a
work ethic, a sense of
responsibility. Nobody ever
brings us up to behave
well in bed.
Cindy Gallop
founder of makelovenotporn.com

89. If we value and normalize sexuality, find ways to teach
sexual etiquette we will see a drastic increase in social
and cultural ease.
89
Assumption 8

90. Establishing Universal Sexual Values
● Normalize Sexuality as a human fact
● Not bound to any specific sexual identity or
context for validity
● Ethics as rules for right or wrong
● Making sex education more important

91. Sexuality has to be part of mainstream,
multi-purpose platforms. It cannot be isolated
on porn-platforms. This is why we need sexual
values based on context-driven ethical
standards.
91

93. How Tumblr can be revived
● Keep Tumblr apart from the tube sites
● Give content creators a safe space to
create revenue and engage with their
audiences

94. Invest in Sex Tech
● With sexual values based on ethical standards sexual
content is no longer “dirty” but integrated into lifestyle
content genres
● There is a lot of money to be made out of closing the
female/non-male pleasure gap.
● Quit the male-centric, patriarchal set of sexual morals
blocking the way to growth and development