OPINION: CENSORSHIP.
Social media’s strict “community guidelines” have resulted in deleted accounts and increasing censorship on hook-up apps, say the developers of Squirt.org.
OUR DIGITAL safe-space is being eroded. Censorship seems to be the go-to option for governments and companies around the world, and anything that’s a bit queer or sexual is at the top of the hit-list.
At Squirt.org we love sex. We think sex is a good thing and that our bodies – whatever the shape, size, colour or age – are beautiful and should be celebrated. We believe there’s nothing wrong with getting your clothes off and that there’s no shame in nakedness.
Not everyone feels the same way. Differences of opinion about sexual expression aren’t new, but there appears to be a growing shift to a more socially conservative outlook on the world.
If you own a platform like Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr or YouTube you get to decide what content you allow your users to publish. We might not like the decisions they make or the way they go about it, but they get to make the rules.
However, censorship impacts us all and it can often be in quite unexpected ways. Hook-up apps, for example, are being forced to introduce new guidelines for user profile photos. The new guidelines specify that “photos in underwear, jockstraps or bikini style bathing suits are no longer permitted in profile photos”. Given that these are gay hook-up apps, this seems like an odd move.
Hook-up apps rely on app stores to distribute their service to users, and app stores are becoming increasingly cautious and conservative when it comes to anything that might be considered adult-oriented.
From a Squirt.org perspective, we don’t rely on app stores to connect with our members, so we’ve been fortunate to dodge that particular bullet. However, we’re acutely aware that censorship of adult and sex-positive content is only increasing.
We can’t be complacent. The rising tide of censorship and online regulation could soon put us all out of business, making it no longer feasible to provide the types of services and content that our members value – services and content that also play an important role in our community.
So, we want to take a stand. We can’t stay silent in the face of increasing censorship. We’ve launched our #CensorshipSucks campaign to allow people to have their voices heard.
SEX WITHOUT APPS: SQUIRT.ORG
Squirt.org is a website established in 1999 where men meet other men for sex, fun and friendship. Squirt.org is a completely uncensored hook-up and cruising site for gay, bi, and curious men who want to skip the pretense of dating and get right to the sex.
Consisting entirely of user-generated content, the site is continually growing to provide men around the world a way to meet. Squirt. org is available on mobile, desktop and tablet platforms through any web browser without the need to download an app. Squirt.org is a sex-positive community that welcomes men of all weights, ages and backgrounds.
Squirt.org advertise with DNA.