While Tumblr may be a site filled with fan art and other sexually explicit content, it is also a site rich in queer knowledge and counterhegemonic sexualities.
This article will explore the intersection of queer knowledge and Tumblr sexuality. The Internet is an extremely powerful tool for promoting counterhegemonic and alternative sexuality, and we can use it to make our voices heard.
Tumblr was a site of sexually explicit fan art
Tumblr was an online community that had many users sharing sexually explicit fan art. The community has since come under fire because of its censorship. The site has banned sexually explicit content, including videos, pictures, and GIFs. Moreover, it also requires users to select a community label to share their content. Many creators have been targeted by censors, leading many to question the site’s legitimacy.
Pornography on Tumblr was considered “pretty” porn. It was often depicted with delicate lighting and beautiful poses. In contrast, many other online forums tended to feature NSFW content. Tumblr was a popular site for fan art and pornography, especially in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Tumblr was a site of queer knowledge
In the past, the literature has posited that Tumblr was a site of shared queer knowledge, a place where queer communities could form and connect. In a way, this is true, but Tumblr is also a place of fluidity and ambiguity. This is because the platform lacks defined boundaries and allows communities to emerge through tags and other features.
However, this openness has its costs. Tumblr has faced backlash for banning content that is deemed adult. Because of this, many queer and trans people who used the site felt that they weren’t welcome there. Tumblr also restricted access to NSFW content and penalized creators of NSFW material.
Tumblr was a site of counterhegemonic sexuality
Tumblr was an unconventional site, and in many ways it was a counterhegemonic space. By refusing to be a default public space, it impeded the value-extractive mechanics of platform capital. Moreover, the site’s economic model was unprofitable. After a three-month ban, its traffic fell by 30%, and it was eventually sold for a fraction of its previous value.
During the ban, Tumblr users were prohibited from posting images of their bodies or of other people’s bodies, and from discussing sexual content. Among those who had been banned, many queers and other counterhegemonic sexual groups gathered in Tumblr groups.
Tumblr was a site of nudity
Tumblr was once a site where users could post photos, videos, and other multimedia content. Since it was introduced in 2007, Tumblr has been used by kink, LGBTQ, and porn communities. Now, the site has changed its stance on nudity.
In 2018, Tumblr banned adult content, including porn, human genitals, and illustrations of sex acts. Tumblr also made an exception for “artistic content” that depicts nudity. However, this exception was not enough and many creatives turned to other platforms.