Tumblr NSFW policies: What every user & guardian should know

Tumblr is an ideal platform for innovators to cluster and express ideas, thoughts, art, and other content. As with most social networks, the predominant users are teenagers and young adults. So, one of the biggest issues with platforms like Tumblr is the Tumblr NSFW content. From the concerned parents’ perspective, this problem becomes compelling and they wonder if the platform is safe for children or not.

Nonetheless, this NSFW content is available on Tumblr and it isn’t hard to access. In this article, we are going to examine Tumblr NSFW policies in more detail, discuss some of the harmful impacts and offer some parenting advice to save children from adult content.

What is Tumblr mostly used for?

Tumblr is a microblogging service that can also be characterized as a social networking site. That means it lets its users share all sorts of content like text, photos, GIFs, music, videos and links. Similar to other blogging platforms, Tumblr’s users can follow other bloggers, repost and communicate. The communication is done either through the comments section or through personal messages.

Tumblr’s input style liberates users through the constraints of ‘likes’ or ‘shares’ present in most social media networks. It allows users to express their uniqueness. However, this freedom makes Tumblr suitable for sharing NSFW content as well.

Are there any age restrictions on Tumblr?

Tumblr has set the age limit when signing up for an account at 13+ years. It defines its rights and obligations based on its users and policies. It doesn’t want young children to get any chance to watch unsuitable materials. However, as with many other social networks, age verification on Tumblr is relatively easy to fake. At the time when account settings are being made, there are no strict verification methods to check the validity of the birthdate given. A child could, for instance, select the wrong date and be fully authorized with the right to access all content. For parents, this is a big issue. The platform in question explicitly states that it has a policy against young ones accessing NSFW content. But still, their safety checks can easily be breached with a simple tweak in date of birth.

What does NSFW mean on Tumblr?

NSFW means Not Safe for Work, and it is a term used to label material that should not be viewed in the workplace or school. On Tumblr, NSFW content is anything that might be rated adult or could be defined as not suitable for work or other professional environments. It could contain crude language or subject matter. It could relate to TV programs containing violence or sexual connotations.

The NSFW label is often applied to content that includes:

• Nudity or sexual images.
• Graphic language or adult themes.
• Violence or suggestive material.

When content is reported as NSFW, Tumblr tries to limit it or ban it from users who are in safe mode. However, this system presupposes that users themselves can adequately tag their posts in the system. If someone doesn’t specify it as NSFW, it can still appear in the feeds that a particular user does not want to go through.

About the NSFW policies on Tumblr

Many people ponder, “Does Tumblr allow NSFW?” In 2018, Tumblr decided to eliminate any adult content, which means porn as well. This action was implemented primarily following concerns over the availability of content which is against the law. This action was supposed to prevent exposure to content that might endanger the young users of the web. However, now Tumblr’s policy towards posting anything even remotely sexual is a lot less clear-cut. The depicted sexual activity is still forbidden and SFW (Safe for Work) content is permitted.

What types of NSFW content are allowed?

Tumblr has a more restricting NSFW policy compared with the one before 2018 but the website does not entirely ban adult media. Here’s what is generally permitted:

› Artistic nudity: Pornographic snaps, sketches and figures are permissible if categorized as artistic work.

› Mature discussions: It is only safe for users of Tumblr because they allow discussions about issues like sexuality, body positivity or mental health concerns as long as they are properly marked with tags.

› Non-explicit sexual content: Sexually provocative material but not sex-related acts are acceptable. It may involve subjects with half-bare bodies or talking about them in some way.

While these types of content can be shocking or provocative, they have to be marked as mature so that Tumblr can use filters correctly. For example, if a user posts some forbidden pictures or videos and forgets to tag them as mature content. The post will be deleted, and the user will be penalized.

Can I block NSFW on Tumblr?

Yes, Tumblr allows their users to filter out NSFW images from being shown on their dashboard or in a search. If you or your child is using Tumblr and you want to block inappropriate material, you can follow these steps:

• Log into your Tumblr account.
• Go to the profile icon in the top right corner of the page, click on it and hit the setting icon.
• Under Filtering, flip the switch for Hide Sensitive Content or turn on the safe mode.
• You can also exclude certain tags by dragging and dropping them into the Filtered Tags menu on your own.

By following these steps, users will be able to exclude explicit content from their feed or any search results they may perform on the site.

Specific tags and labels for NSFW content on Tumblr

Regarding mature content, individuals are advised to use specific hashtags in their posts. This way users who do not wish to see such material will be able to avoid that posting.

Common tags for NSFW content include:

• #NSFW (Not Safe for Work).
• #n-s-f-w (a variation that bypasses certain filters).
• #Mature
• #Explicit

Furthermore, Tumblr uses a feature called the ‘Mature Content’ tag that is placed on posts with mature content by default. This label prevents users from viewing material they usually consider unfit for them. That said, the tagging system is not flawless. Since tags are created by the users, not all content will be tagged appropriately. It can generally allow NSFW content to show even with filters since someone may use workarounds to slip through.

Alternatives for NSFW content access

If someone’s interested in specific erotic material, they can easily find an alternative to Tumblr. Even though Tumblr has made efforts to limit the instances of NSFW content within the community, other websites are not as forgiving. Parents should, therefore, learn about these other platforms.

Common platforms for NSFW content include:

Reddit: Reddit has several categories that contain content of this type and most of the ‘’Adult Content’’ can be posted freely. Due to the relative ease at which one can create a subreddit, users can easily bypass filters to get to these subreddits.

Twitter: Twitter does not ban the posting of adult content as long as it is flagged as sensitive material. Though content can still be shared regardless of some restrictions. However, since Elon Musk’s acquisition, that stuff is not easily available now.

Snapchat: On Snapchat, people are able to exchange intimate pictures and videos privately with one another. This makes it quite difficult for parents to monitor what their children are sharing or receiving.

Pinterest: If you search for it well enough, it is possible to find explicit material on Pinterest. However, it is mostly surrounded by family-friendly content.

Are teens at risk of viewing NSFW content without filters?

While using multiple filters and having strict NSFW policies, young folks are still capable of encountering bare nudity. Most of the youths are very tech-savvy and know how to minimize restrictions or filters that may be placed to check on provocative material. For example, pornographic content on Tumblr can be falsely categorized or tagged. In the same context, messages of explicit content can be exchanged. This makes it difficult to block or filter the materials in question. This threat is even greater if teenagers use Tumblr on their phones because parents cannot supervise everything. That is why parents must become initiators in explaining these risks to their children on their own.

How to prevent Gen-Z from accessing inappropriate content?

Here are some strategies that parents can use to help protect their children from NSFW material on Tumblr and other platforms:

• Adjust social media privacy settings: It is important to turn on the filters and restrictions for all social media apps.

• Use parental control apps: FlashGet Kids is one of the most popular parental control apps that lets parents monitor and set restrictions on kids’ activities on the Internet. It includes filtering out obscene content on different websites. Furthermore, it offers live monitoring, screen mirroring, screen time and daily usage features.

• Educate about online safety: Talk to your children about possible dangers concerning NSFW content and how to protect themselves. Explain to your children that they should be careful about what they type into a search engine or click on a link.

• Encourage open communication: You need to make sure that your children understand that you are open to listening to them if something wrong or obscene is bothering them over the internet.

• Use age-appropriate platforms: If you have little children who use the internet to play games, watch cartoons or learn something new. Try using YouTube Kids and other age-appropriate platforms.

By using these guidelines, parents can minimize the risks and teach their children to make the right choices on the Internet.

Wrap up

Tumblr is still active but has NSFW content policies that can be a boon or bane for parents. Despite the ban on most social networks on any nude or sexually suggestive themes, there are always some ways through which mature images can be posted. Since children are using these social platforms for blogging, parents have to ensure that they are guarding their children properly. Useful apps such as the FlashGet Kids parental control application can be effectively utilized to monitor children’s activities online and protect them from unsafe material. By using FlashGet Kids, parents can guard their children and allow them to express their creativity at the same time.

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