Discord bans iOS users from accessing adult servers, accused of 'moral panic'

Discord , a chat tool based in the United States, boasts over 100 million monthly users, and a diverse group of people gather on Discord's servers for a variety of purposes. On April 13, 2021 local time, Discrod announced new restrictions on Not safe for work (NSFW / adult content not suitable for formal environments) , even if users of the iOS app are 18 years of age or older. It turns out that the NSFW server is no longer accessible.

NSFW Server Designation – Discord
https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500005389362-NSFW-Server-Designation

Discord will block NSFW servers on iOS --The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/13/22381728/discord-nsfw-servers-blocked-ios-age-gate-restrictions

iOS users—and only iOS users—face NSFW content ban on Discord app | Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/04/ios-users-and-only-ios-users-face-nsfw-content-ban-on-discord-app/

Previously, Discord allowed you to specify NSFW for a specific channel, but now it's possible to specify NSFW for the entire server where adult content is the mainstream. This will prevent users between the ages of 13 and 17 from joining the NSFW server or viewing content.

The owner of the Discord server needs to specify the server as NSFW appropriately depending on the situation, and if a server that is not properly classified is detected, the Discord side may specify the server as NSFW. In addition, if there is even one NSFW channel or content, it is not necessary to specify the server as NSFW, and it seems that the server is specified as NSFW when the community is organized around NSFW themes and contents.

In addition, it was announced that users of Discord's iOS app will not be able to join or access NSFW-designated servers, even if they are 18 years of age or older. If an iOS user wants to access a server designated as NSFW, he or she must access it from the browser version, Windows version, or Android version.

Discord doesn't explain why it keeps iOS users out of the NSFW server, which is believed to be due to Apple's strict rules for apps delivered through the App Store. Apple has taken a strict stance on potentially offensive and sexual content, and in 2018, the mini blog service Tumblr 's iOS app said that `` sexual child abuse images were mixed in'' There was also a situation where it was deleted from the App Store.

It turns out that the Tumblr app disappeared from the App Store because child pornography content was mixed in --GIGAZINE

In addition, Tumblr completely banned adult content due to the exclusion from the App Store, but it is also reported that the number of user visits has decreased sharply due to this effect.

It turns out that the number of user visits to Tumblr, which completely banned adult content, has decreased by 150 million --GIGAZINE

by Esther Vargas

Compared to Tumblr, which bans sexual content altogether, Discord's response to assigning servers to NSFW and keeping out only iOS users is mild. However, some Discord users have complained of the inconvenience of switching from the iOS version and repulsed that it adversely affects the disturbed sexual minority.

'Apple's regressive attitude towards sexual content available on the largest platforms is heading towards a total moral panic , which is really terrible. Companies ,' said Matthew Bischoff , former product manager on Tumblr. and the entire community have been crushed by Apple, Queer and transgender may community is the most damaged 'and commented.

. Apple'S Regressive Stance On Sexual Content Being Available On Its Largest Platform Is Verging On A Full On Moral Panic And It'S Really Gross Entire Businesses And Communities Have Been Crushed By It, And It Often Hurts Queer And Trans Communities Most. Https: // T .co / jfGfhpPBZm

— Matthew Bischoff (@mb) April 13, 2021

Also, in a thread posted on Twitter by game developer and artist eevee , many of the queer people I know are acquainted through the pornographic community and talk about their own mind and body in the wake of pornography. Is saying. There is a stereotype in the world that 'sex is for the prosperity of descendants', and it is difficult to understand that pornography is important for sexual minorities. In fact, many of the queer cultures are included in NSFW, and Apple and others argued that the eradication of NSFW would have a huge negative impact on sexual minorities.

thinking about 'cracking down on adult content harms queer communities the most'

there's rarely an explanation attached, and if there is, it's something that sounds like it could be solved, like that transition discussion or the word 'lesbian' are mislabeled as porn

well, well,

— Eevee (@eevee) April 14, 2021