It's a sad day for Tumblr users, but fans of the former adult content haven made saying goodbye a little less painful with a priceless send off.
When Tumblr announced that it would be banning adult content on its site as of December 17th, it sent a shock wave through its community that rippled across the internet.
The announcement came after the Tumblr app's sudden removal from Apple's iOS App Store in November following a child pornography incident. Over fears of losing access to the Apple ecosystem, Tumblr resorted to drastic measures, banning all adult content. However, they may have underestimated just how big a role pornography played in the site's identity.
Since Tumblr's launch in 2007 the blogging platform had become a safe harbor for alternative sexual communities. From niche fetishes to LGBTQ friendly content, users and creators considered Tumblr one of the few sanctuaries from other male-dominated and often hostile online spaces. Now many of those users may be left without a place to express or explore their sexuality.
Before logging off forever though, users mourned the loss of porn-friendly Tumblr with a hilarious goodbye.
Today is the Day Tumblr officially dies ladies and gents. https://t.co/SzMVv9Xnwk— TRAFON (@TRAFON) 1545026789.0
@RiseFallNick https://t.co/yziVclREbX— 𝚃𝚘𝚡𝚡𝚘𝚔𝚞𝚖𝚊 (𝚒𝚗 𝙱♭ 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚘𝚛) (@𝚃𝚘𝚡𝚡𝚘𝚔𝚞𝚖𝚊 (𝚒𝚗 𝙱♭ 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚘𝚛)) 1545030714.0
tumblr dies at midnight, rip https://t.co/1JiCNB0LDo— Calvin (@Calvin) 1545007075.0
According to Tumblr, not all nudity or explicit content falls under the new ban. Exceptions will be made for art or political protest, but as of now the site's community guidelines bans sex acts, real-life human genitals, and the infamous "female-presenting" nipples.
Tumblr be like when they see NSFW content like “female presenting nipples” #tumblrpurge https://t.co/sKpNUJTL1a— Christian S. (@Christian S.) 1545055683.0
Is this what happened during your management meetings? @tumblr #Tumblr #tumblrpurge https://t.co/9fM8OxTtmE— Sandrasaurus Rex (@Sandrasaurus Rex) 1545054754.0
#Tumblr how's this for female presenting nipples #tumblrlogoff https://t.co/PRNm2eoTiv— Momo (@Momo) 1545033455.0
Today, we mourn the loss of female presenting nipples, but celebrate their legacy.. #tumblr— 🧛🏻♀️Nicole Maines🧛🏻♀️ (@🧛🏻♀️Nicole Maines🧛🏻♀️) 1545033732.0
Tumblr’s gonna ban my damn hat https://t.co/SBj6IpchTZ— Allison "yeth" Stock (@Allison "yeth" Stock) 1545198266.0
What seemed to anger users most though was the type of content that is still on the site.
Just checked now that Tumblr's new rules are in place how the site is holding up Looking good! https://t.co/n4Fc4WP7wo— TRAFON (@TRAFON) 1545028950.0
tumblr is gross part (???) https://t.co/rCu6vTSMZD— natalie ❣️ (@natalie ❣️) 1545059097.0
Been followed by 2 more porn spam bots since the apparent ban. Pretty good job it doesn't seem. #Tumblr— Aaron (@Aaron) 1545189697.0
Predictably, the roll out of Tumblr's new content filter has been messy, sweeping up approved posts along with the newly banned material.
Tumblr porn ban goes into effect, puppy photos caught in sweep https://t.co/JyiRTqrPVr https://t.co/c5sm5ontqh— CNET (@CNET) 1545117321.0
He BAN my SFW tumblr Lol! #tumblrisdead #Tumblr #riptumblr https://t.co/rn4IHxfwTP— Magnus Semper (@Magnus Semper) 1545194164.0
Tumblr applying their new community guidelines like #tumblrpurge https://t.co/gn9tKi9MS6— Christian S. (@Christian S.) 1545053892.0
And without porn many are predicting the total demise of Tumblr is not far off.
Here's some common questions about the #logoffprotest ! I'll be adding more photos to answer your questions. Don't… https://t.co/ZGd9Lq8976— Log Off Protest (@Log Off Protest) 1544912135.0
I'm glad we're all in agreement. #Tumblr #RIP https://t.co/TSB0ZhnaGd— Chaz the Weasel ✏️🎮 (@Chaz the Weasel ✏️🎮) 1545063013.0
#Tumblr on 17th December 2018, colourised #logoffprotest https://t.co/PtW8Ok3paS— Blufox234isadumbname (@Blufox234isadumbname) 1545038480.0
The end is near... #logoff2018 #tumblr #TumblrLogOff #tumblrpurge https://t.co/YOQKWdyCPD— Gotchi (@Gotchi) 1545023104.0
These are your priorities @tumblr #Tumblr #tumblrpurge https://t.co/hPr0BrVBWV— Sandrasaurus Rex (@Sandrasaurus Rex) 1545054807.0
Despite alienating much of its core user base, Tumblr appeared far more optimistic about its future. We might share in that optimism and wish Tumblr the best, but without porn who really cares?
tumblr out here with the best joke of 2018: https://t.co/oZ6nbfgC1Q— 💎tina¹²⁷☀️haechan propagandist☀️ (@💎tina¹²⁷☀️haechan propagandist☀️) 1545059645.0