Tumblr Adult Content Ban & Trans Surgery Blogs

The Tumblr adult content ban has left a lot of trans guys like me with nowhere to turn. Those of you who follow my website and YouTube channel for transition updates will know that alongside this website, I have a surgery blog on Tumblr. In the months leading up to Christmas, Tumblr announced that it would be placing an outright ban on anything that it deemed to be of ‘adult content’. This ban came into effect on the 17th December 2018. Since then, I have received countless messages from people asking if I will keep posting about my phalloplasty experiences. I thought it might be easier to make my answer public here.

Violation of Community Guidelines on Tumblr

Since the ban came into effect, the vast majority of my posts have been flagged as, ‘adult content‘ . A dozen times a day, I recive emails stating, “It looks like your post might be in violation of our Community Guidelines and is now hidden”.

I am not sure how Tumblr are deciding what makes a post ‘Adult Content’.
I understand why my phalloplasty posts have been flagged. These posts include images and speak very frankly about aesthetics and function. However many flagged posts do not seem to contain anything I would class as adult content.

A Sad and Frustrating time for Trans Guys

Finding reliable and honest information about phalloplasty, is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Tumblr has been an excellent resource for me in my phalloplasty journey. It is for this reason that I chose to be vulnerable and shared my own. Tumblr was the only place which allowed me to share pictures and details as openly as I have. Its decision, to deal with issues on the site by a blanket ban, is a massive blow to our community.

Will I Continue to Post on Tumblr?

I unfortunately will not continue to share on Tumblr. I’ve appealed some of the bans on my posts and been unsuccessful. It’s a relentless cycle of emailing back and forth. I do not want to have to keep battling with them about it. Although I will not be adding any new posts to Tumblr, I will leave the blog open. I do suspect though, that as they gradually make their way through my content, I will eventually lose the entire contents.

I will hower continue to do lower surgery update vlogs on my YouTube Channel. Though I am unable to go into as much detail on there, at least it is still an excellent resource for sharing experience and information. I expect these videos will be deemed as ‘in violation’ if I cross post them onto Tumblr. Therefore, if you haven’t already, please subscribe to my YouTube Channel to continue to see my lower surgery diary videos.

Finding Alternative Ways to Share about Phalloplasty

I believe passionately in sharing my experience to help others. Therefore, I refuse to stop sharing as candidly as I do. I will find an alternative way. This website isn’t an option, unfortunately. As it is for freelance work as well as my blog, I cannot afford to have a site flagged as over 18. Having an adult site will likely affect my business.

However, I am looking at other ways that I might share pictures and videos with you. I am also writing a book about my gender transition, Tumblr’s ban is now giving me the motivation to get that finished and in your hands ASAP.

In the Meantime

The overall answer then is yes, I will continue to share, but I won’t share on Tumblr. I would urge anyone who follows my Tumblr blog, to also follow me here on my website. Just in case Tumblr does mute the entirety of my surgery blog. If you follow me here, then I can let you know when and where I will be continuing the sharing of my Phalloplasty journey.

If you have any questions, you are more than welcome to use the contact me tab, this will send your message straight to my email. I also have an Amazon List of surgery prep resources which you may find of use as well as a comprehensive list of trans resources which you can find here. Just to let you know, these contain affiliate links. This means that I may receive a little commission but this is of no extra cost to you and I only ever recommend products I have used persinally.

I know it isn’t great news folks, but I promise you, we will find a way. Stay tuned!