NewTumbl was a blogging platform that emerged in 2019 as an alternative to Tumblr, after the latter banned adult content from its site. NewTumbl allowed users to post and share anything they wanted, from NSFW images and videos to art and poetry, without any censorship or restrictions. However, on June 7, 2023, NewTumbl announced on its Twitter account that it was shutting down, leaving its users shocked and disappointed. What happened to NewTumbl? Why did it shut down? And what are the implications for the online community of NSFW content creators and consumers?
The Rise and Fall of NewTumbl
NewTumbl was created by a small team of developers who wanted to provide a safe and welcoming space for people who felt persecuted or marginalized by Tumblr’s adult content ban. According to NewTumbl’s website, the platform aimed to “offer asylum to all those who feel persecuted simply for wanting to exercise your freedom of speech.”1
NewTumbl attracted thousands of users who migrated from Tumblr or other similar platforms, such as Pillowfort and Newgrounds. NewTumbl offered a simple and user-friendly interface, similar to Tumblr’s, where users could create blogs, follow other blogs, like and reblog posts, and send messages. Users could also customize their blogs with themes, colors, fonts, and icons. NewTumbl also had a unique rating system, where users could choose from four categories: O (safe for work), M (moderate), X (explicit), and XXX (pornographic). Users could filter their content according to their preferences and comfort levels.
However, NewTumbl also faced many challenges and difficulties throughout its existence. One of the main problems was the lack of resources and funding. NewTumbl was a self-funded project, relying on donations from users and ads from sponsors. However, the donations were not enough to cover the costs of hosting, maintenance, security, and development. The ads were also problematic, as many sponsors were reluctant to associate with a platform that hosted NSFW content. Moreover, some users complained about the quality and relevance of the ads, as well as the intrusive and annoying pop-ups.
Another problem was the lack of user interest and engagement. NewTumbl was not able to attract enough users to sustain itself. According to SimilarWeb, a website analytics tool, NewTumbl had an average of 1.2 million monthly visits in 2023, which was significantly lower than Tumblr’s 292 million monthly visits3. Moreover, many users were inactive or abandoned their blogs after a while. Some users also reported technical issues, such as slow loading times, glitches, bugs, and errors.
The final problem was the legal and ethical issues surrounding NSFW content. NewTumbl had a policy of allowing any kind of content, as long as it was legal and consensual. However, this policy also exposed the platform to potential risks of hosting illegal or harmful content, such as child pornography, revenge porn, hate speech, or violence. NewTumbl claimed that it had a team of moderators who reviewed and removed any such content, but it was not clear how effective or efficient this process was.
All these problems eventually led to the demise of NewTumbl. On June 7, 2023, NewTumbl posted a tweet that read: “It’s been a blast. Thanks for your patronage. We hope you enjoyed your time at NewTumbl.”4 The tweet was accompanied by an image that said: “We’re sorry…NewTumbl is no longer available.” The tweet did not offer any explanation or reason for the shutdown, nor did it provide any information on how users could access or download their data or content. The tweet also did not mention any alternative platforms or options for users who wanted to continue blogging or sharing NSFW content.
The Impact and Implications of NewTumbl’s Shutdown
NewTumbl’s shutdown had a significant impact on its users and the online community of NSFW content creators and consumers. Many users expressed their sadness, anger, frustration, and disappointment over the sudden and unexpected closure of the platform. Some users also lamented the loss of their blogs, posts, followers, friends, and contacts. Some users even accused NewTumbl of betraying their trust and loyalty.
NewTumbl’s shutdown also raised some important questions and issues about the future of NSFW content on the internet. How can NSFW content be regulated without violating freedom of expression or privacy? How can NSFW content be protected from censorship or discrimination? How can NSFW content be monetized without compromising quality or ethics? How can NSFW content be hosted without risking legal or security problems? How can NSFW content be preserved without losing data or history?
These questions and issues are not easy to answer or resolve. However, they also present some opportunities and possibilities for innovation and improvement. NewTumbl’s shutdown may inspire new platforms or initiatives that can offer better solutions or alternatives for NSFW content. NewTumbl’s shutdown may also motivate existing platforms or services to enhance their features or policies for NSFW content. NewTumbl’s shutdown may also encourage users to explore new ways or methods of creating or consuming NSFW content.
NewTumbl’s shutdown may not be the end of NSFW content on the internet, but it may be the beginning of a new era.
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