Panic Among Adult Artists as Gumroad Bans Most NSFW Art

Gumroad, a popular e-commerce company that caters to creators, has recently announced stricter regulations on its platform regarding NSFW (Not Safe For Work) content. This decision was made in response to pressure from payment processing companies such as Stripe and PayPal.

For creators who specialize in adult artwork, such as explicit comics or provocative cosplay photos, these changes in policy can have a major impact on their income and livelihood.

“I’m concerned on a number of levels for my livelihood and the livelihoods of all types of creators in my sphere: artists, writers, sex workers and content creators of all kinds,” Sleepingirl, a kink educator and writer, expressed to TechCrunch. “This is obviously far from the first site that is bending to the pressure of payment processors, and it will not be the last, but this is the first time my content (which is primarily academic and educational) seems to be threatened.”

Due to previous experiences with platforms like Patreon and OnlyFans, adult creators have learned to anticipate these types of deplatforming situations. However, the sudden changes in policy can still be incredibly distressing and potentially result in a significant loss of income. The process of transferring followers and directing fans towards a new platform or web store can cause friction and hinder earnings.

Founder of Gumroad, Sahil Lavingia, stated in an interview with TechCrunch that the decision to enforce stricter rules was a request from a partner company, though he declined to specify which one. “Obviously, it sucks to do this. We don’t take it lightly that many creators rely on Gumroad for their livelihoods and have communicated that to our partners wherever and whenever we could,” he shared. “We’ve been around since 2011, and this isn’t a new fight. It’s ongoing.”

This decision not only affects the creators on Gumroad, but also has implications for the platform itself. As they take a 10% cut of every sale, this adult content crackdown could lead to a loss in revenue. Other competitors, like Just For Fans, are already seizing the opportunity to welcome these displaced creators.

The monetization of sexual content online has become increasingly difficult, with platforms like OnlyFans facing backlash for their attempts to restrict adult content. In fact, in 2021 OnlyFans announced it would no longer host adult content, causing confusion as the site is primarily known for its explicit content. However, after receiving pushback, OnlyFans reversed their decision and implemented stricter policies for performers who appear in adult videos, including the verification of identity through legal documents and biometric scans.

These strict regulations have also affected non-performers, such as artists, who are not depicting real individuals or participating in pornographic acts.

“Gumroad including ‘sexual coaching services or explicit instructional content’ as prohibited content makes me worried not only for my income, but for the discussion of safe sex and kink practices as a whole,” Sleepingirl expressed.

Patreon has also recently updated their guidelines for adult content, adding more specific definitions of what is considered acceptable on their platform. Many adult creators do not see this timing as coincidental.

“I don’t know what to do next, personally, for my content,” Sleepingirl shared. “I am trying to plan next steps, but Gumroad was an ideal, free storefront for e-books and instructional videos like I sell, and all other sorts of digital content. Almost all other services charge a hefty monthly fee and have terms of service that already disallow adult content.”

Gumroad’s founder, Sahil Lavingia, is also at a loss for the company’s next steps. “Should Gumroad hire a lobbyist?” he pondered in an email to TechCrunch.