Amazon found out that erotic novels are being removed from ranking quietly, criteria unknown

byMickael Gresset Follow Message

IndependenteroticaAmong the novelists and SNSs, there were rumors that "Amazon is quietly changing policy on sensual novels". Motherboard interviewed, it turned out that these writers' works were removed from the Amazon Best Sellers Rank (Amazon ranking) where main streams are treated as "viewing care work".

Amazon Is Burying Sexy Books, Sending Erotic Novel Authors to the 'No-Rank Dungeon' - Motherboard
https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/bjpjn4/amazon-erotica-best-seller-rankings-removed

The criteria by which novels including erotic content are ranked out are not certain, and Ann Mayburn's work depicted on "Penis vibrating with aliens and semen with violet colored pickles" still ranked It is said that it is, but on the other hand "BDSMThe novel that wrote about "romance of love" is said to have been removed from the ranking by labeling "erotica".

byRonaldo Oliveira

In addition, another writer has tagged "erotica" about his series work and was ranked out, so I contacted Amazon and received the following e-mail.

"We reevaluated your work and confirmed that the work contains sexually explicit content or sexually explicit content.We are looking for content when the book is placed in the correct category We understand that there will be more touches of visitors.In addition we are trying to make your search experience better.To remove your book from the current category, Clearly deleted content, newASINWe need to re-submit it as "

Part of the Amazon ranking algorithm affects how the work appears in search results, recommended products, advertisements, and for independent writers the ranking is important for the work to touch people's eyes It was an element.

Jenny Trout, whose own series work has been removed from the rankings and also removed from the "romance" category, sold 500 thousands copies through Amazon in the past three years, but even with all other selling methods We say that sales are about 35,000. "For an independent writer who can not make a living without Amazon, this is impossible." "But since Amazon is a private company, you can decide whatever you want, so what we can do is to make complaints from the consumer's standpoint It is only saying, this is not censorship, it's simply the lowest event, so there is nothing I can depend on. "

byMarvin Meyer

The behavior of Amazon this time is not a notice in advance, and the point that "I do not know what is going on" is one factor that confuses the writers. Mayburn says, "We are adaptable to the market because we are a businessman and have been experiencing Amazon's ridiculous behavior so far, so it is within the range of expectations." "Amazon took a share from sales of my book and I I will pay the usage fee, but they will not even reply to e-mails. "

In addition, Motherboard asked Amazon for comment, but there is no contact.