Gumroad Limits Adult Content, Sending Creators into a Tizzy

Adult content creators who use the e-commerce platform Gumroad were surprised by the platform’s recent shift to limit sales of adult content. The change sent some creators into a panic, worrying about the immediate loss of income and searching for alternative platforms.

Gumroad made the announcement, updating the terms of service on its website, writing that it will no longer allow the sale of sexually explicit content in accordance with the policies of its payment processors. Stripe and PayPal were listed as two of those processors.

According to Gumroad’s website, “Content that is created for the primary purpose of sexual gratification - fetish content, media with characters depicted in sexual situations, or content that is clearly produced for titillation,” is no longer allowed. The site further defines this content to include all types of media: videos, photos, animations, illustrations, writings, and audio.

The platform says that some adult content would be allowed, such as content from cosplay/pinup creators who focus on cosplay only and not on sexually explicit photography involving cosplay.

Just for Fans Jumps In

Soon after Gumroad’s announcement, Just for Fans (JFF), a subscription-based platform for adult content, jumped into the fray, posting a tweet, inviting Gumroad sellers to switch platforms. In the tweet, JFF stated:

"Attention #Gumroad NSFW artists. We are sorry to hear you are being deplatformed. Come over to JFF. We just added a new Artwork category for you and can add other features you need. But as is, you can sell your artwork on your jff page’s store and make that the default view of your page (vs a subscription-based profile) if you’d like."

That post had 1.4 million views as of press time. JFF was founded by 16-year adult industry veteran Dominic Ford.

Although some content creators may be making the switch, Gumroad has become popular among independent creators from all backgrounds, including writers, graphic designers, and musicians.

Adult content creators, comic book artists, and creators of sexually explicit cosplay images are among those using the platform for its ease of use.

Turnkey tools that allow them to sell directly to consumers through custom-made landing pages and financial tools that allow sellers to track sales and process payments helped make the platform attractive.

Although these abrupt changes to Gumroad’s terms of service due to payment processor policies was surprising to some creators, others see this as part of the ongoing challenges adult content creators face and must maneuver when trying to sell their products online.

For the past few years, some payment processors have been refusing to provide back-end support for e-commerce sites that provide adult content material. This is often tied to the legal responsibilities these companies have to help prevent their services from being used for illegal activity(s).

In 2021, OnlyFans announced it would no longer allow sexually explicit content on its site in accordance with stricter regulations from payment processors. But the online subscription service, which is primarily used by sex workers, later reversed its decision after a public backlash.

The takeaway for adult content creators making a living online is that despite the huge annual revenues and potential earnings of the adult industry, this industry continues to evolve on multiple fronts. From the types of content to the types of platforms that reach consumers, content creators must be flexible and consider having multiple avenues for income.

In a recent interview, Gumroad founder Sahil Lavingia told TechCrunch that he doesn’t take it lightly that many content creators rely on the platform to earn a living. He considers this latest fight with payment processors an ongoing issue as they work to enforce stricter terms of service in order to comply.