xbiz world
xbiz premiere
opinion

.$$$

For those that have been following webmaster resource board discussions in my threads about asking for questions to present at the .XXX Panel, the #1 question is "who in the adult industry supported .XXX and what are they getting out of it?"

While alot of people want to see this list of .XXX supporters, and I do believe there is such a list, I am troubled in general by the separation and divide.

Same thing happened with Acacia.. webmasters wanted to know which companies sold out.. and talked about boycotting those companies.

While that boycotting talk was going on, I repeatedly and consistantly said, boycotting is not the answer.. the better answer is to support those that are in the fight.. those that are spending lots of money to knock down an issue that affects all webmasters.

While there were some that did help to support financially and to send traffic, it wasn't the response that anyone would have like to have seen, that showed the adult community did support those that were in the fight on their behalf... it showed, much like with PBS fundraiser drives, a few will support and the rest will just coast on the benefits.

Funding for FSC is in the same boat.. it's the one organization that has adult webmasters interest at heart, but the financial support isn't as strong as it should be.

So all of this talk of getting upset with .XXX is all well and good, but the reality is as a whole, this industry has not stepped up.

Sponsors could have emailed their affiliates last year to get them to email into the comment period..

ICM has over 1,000 adult webmasters from around the world that submitted support for .XXX that he presented to ICANN (this was published in an interview with him in avnonline article).

We couldn't get 1,000 webmasters to post up against. There hasn't been 1,000 different nicks posting up against .XXX even in keyboard warrior mode.

Affiliate webmasters have the most to lose in all of this, and only a few sponsors have been stepping up, as you can see from the public stance taken a year ago at my website: https://www.FightTheDotXXX.com.

I would hope that what the 2257 issue has awaken people to the fact that "united we stand, divided we fall" rings so true.. that there are outside forces that challenges people's livelihoods..and to take action when called for.

The path of public debate over .XXX good vs bad was over years ago when those that gave their support helped to demonstrate that the adult industry wants .XXX, and the lack of large demonstrations last year, and its gone to a higher level of policy and politics.

What can be addressed is what does it mean to get a .XXX domain, what are its impacts and implications upon businesses. These are the kinds of questions that I am looking to target for answers, because purchasing a .XXX domain, means agreeing to a set of terms and conditions that doesn't exist for .COM names

With Acacia, 2257, and .XXX, and whatever future things that come, I can only hope that someday, the adult webmaster industry will stop being cats.

Fight the herding!

Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

Why Adaptive Pleasure Belongs Across Every Adult Retail Category

For too long, accessibility in adult retail has been treated as a side conversation. When it appears at all, it is often tucked away in a hard-to-find website category, framed as a special accommodation or treated as a medical add-on rather than a legitimate pleasure category. That approach misses the point.

Hail Groo ·
opinion

What Mastercard's Scam Monitoring Program Means for Adult Merchants

Mastercard's Scam Merchant Monitoring Program (SMMP) has introduced a new, investigation-led framework that works very differently from the ratio-based chargeback programs the industry has relied on for years. It applies to card-not-present merchants globally, and Mastercard's guidance on business models warranting closer attention includes adult content and dating platforms, along with subscription services, digital goods and forex.

Len Garcia ·
trends

Why Retailers Need a Clearer Conversation About Margins

With rising manufacturing costs and living expenses, manufacturers’ suggested retail price (MSRP) no longer aligns with the actual costs of operating a business. This situation calls for a discussion about the current industry pricing landscape, potential adjustments, and how companies can make an impact.

Mersy Love ·
opinion

Why the Right Merchant Category Code Matters for NSFW AI Businesses

You explained exactly what your NSFW AI business does to your payment processor and they seemed to get it. The underwriting process felt thorough and exhausting, but it was well worth it because you began processing.

Jonathan Corona ·
profile

WIA: Perfect Fit Brand's Cee Cee Peters on Building a Lasting Career

For much of her decades-long career in the adult products industry, Cee Cee Peters let her work speak louder than her name. While she built relationships with retailers, became a top salesperson, and watched the business evolve from a movie-dominated marketplace into today’s sexual wellness industry, Peters deliberately kept a relatively low public profile. Raising children during the rise of the internet made that decision especially important to her.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
trends

How Local Payments Can Expand Access and Reduce Friction at Checkout

Global adult platforms often enter new markets with a familiar assumption: If their checkout accepts major cards, they're ready for local customers. In reality, payment habits vary widely by country. Dutch consumers use iDEAL for online shopping, BLIK is a leading e-commerce payment method in Poland, and India's UPI handles billions of transactions each month.

Mitch Platt ·
trends

A Look Inside CC Wellness' Production Process

Stepping through the front doors of CC Wellness’ 215,000-square-foot headquarters, you first encounter the lubricant manufacturer’s comprehensive process in the company’s wall of plaques, which celebrate more than 25 formulas that have received FDA 510(k) clearances for medical devices.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
opinion

How Detailed Receipts Build Consumer Trust and Reduce Chargeback

When was the last time you bought something online? Chances are you looked for the confirmation almost immediately. Did the transaction go through? Does it show what you bought? Were you charged correctly? And if there's a problem, who can you contact?

Cathy Beardsley ·
trends

A Look at the Growing Market for Pleasure-Enhancing Consumables

For decades, the sexual enhancement aisle consisted mainly of pills promising stamina, with bottles and blister packs leaning heavily into themes of masculinity, urgency and performance. The sales pitch was rarely subtle: Take this, and something bigger, harder, longer or more intense would follow.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
opinion

What Adult Platforms Should Know About the EU AI Act

The European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act is now largely in force, creating new obligations for adult platforms using AI for content creation, performer verification, age estimation, moderation and other functions.

Corey Silverstein ·
Show More