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Microblogging app Tumblr has been struggling to maintain an edge over other social media sites since instituting a ban on porn. Now, it is up for grabs.
Verizon, which acquired the platform along with other Yahoo assets in 2017, is seeking a new buyer and told the Verge that the sale process is "ongoing."
One company expressed interest and hopes to restore the app's former NSFW reputation.
Corey Price, the VP for Pornhub, told Buzzfeed in an email that the restoration of Tumblr's formerly racy content will be a determining factor for buying the platform.
Pornhub Is Horny For Tumblr https://t.co/AEzcDlJHCZ— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) 1556832244.0
Price wrote:
"Tumblr was a safe haven for those who wanted to explore and express their sexuality, adult entertainment aficionados included."
"We've long been dismayed that such measures were taken to eradicate erotic communities on the platform, leaving many individuals without an asylum through which they could comfortably peruse adult content."
Buzzfeed detailed Tumblr's ownrship history, starting with Yahoo purchasing the platform for $1.1 billion in 2013. After Tumblr's value was written down by $230 million in 2016, Verizon Media Group, formerly Oath, took over the app with their acquisition of Yahoo in 2017.
In December 2018, Tumblr announced it would be banning all its adult content, which was something users feared.
The company used AI to detect and block pornographic material while existing posts became visible only to the original poster.
Many users not only used the app for its curated porn, but it was also considered as a "safe space" for young people exploring and expressing their sexuality.
This is because y'all kept posting porn, right in front of Yahoo's salad.— Brandi For Miss Dior 2020 😾🌺 (@Brandi For Miss Dior 2020 😾🌺) 1543874246.0
Soon, jokes about Pornhub saving the day circulated the internet.
Tumblrs: Pornhub welcomes you with open arms. Join our amazing community of millions Curators: Customize your per… https://t.co/dt4olFvu13— Pornhub ARIA (@Pornhub ARIA) 1543939208.0
@Pornhub if Pornhub creates a social media site, I think they would even beat Facebook— Alii Harrison (@Alii Harrison) 1543945861.0
@Pornhub Dear Santa, please convince pornhub to team up with cards against humanity to create the social media site… https://t.co/rPxTJTEKa0— BlueWhisperandAbsinthe⭕ (@BlueWhisperandAbsinthe⭕) 1543946596.0
But now with Pornhub expressing their interest, Tumblr users are hoping to avoid getting blue balls.
@BuzzFeed @Pornhub https://t.co/j50m5x3GiQ— NekOtaku🔞🇫🇷🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@NekOtaku🔞🇫🇷🇬🇧🇺🇸) 1556843846.0
@BuzzFeed @Pornhub If being run by competent people who know how to run a website counts as a kink now, then I guess that means I'm horny.— Dredgen Grave (Nick) (@Dredgen Grave (Nick)) 1556845076.0
Pornhub is hoping Tumblr will provide much-needed relief for horny users once again.
@verge Pornhub saving the world one step at a time with their weird, unique plans completely unaffiliated with sexual content sometimes.— GitGoodrich (@GitGoodrich) 1556834904.0
@verge Pornhub doing more for this world than politicians— emi loves ally 🗡 (@emi loves ally 🗡) 1556843713.0
@BuzzFeed @Pornhub Pornhub doing gods work— June Sy 🔞 (@June Sy 🔞) 1556848376.0
@verge Pornhub looking out for humanity’s best interest is something I can behind. A thank you https://t.co/49X78TRKjH— At This Moment Jarrett Allen Blocked a Shot(42-40) (@At This Moment Jarrett Allen Blocked a Shot(42-40)) 1556833681.0
Former Tumblr users are hoping to return under new management.
@BuzzFeed @Pornhub I'm getting my Tumblr account back if this happens ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️— 😔 (@😔) 1556861368.0
@verge Oh my god PornHub I will turn off my adblocker for you if you manage to save Tumblr.— Cat Overdose (@Cat Overdose) 1556834550.0
Price added:
"There are obvious synergies between the two brands and value Pornhub could derive from Tumblr. We're extremely interested in acquiring the platform and are very much looking forward to one day restoring it to its former glory with NSFW content."
While the proposal has everyone at attention, a legitimate offer to Verizon has yet to be made by Pornhub.