NEW YORK — Microblogging site Tumblr has mounted what appears to be a preemptive move to keep its iOS app from being banned for allowing porn.
Following the crackdown on Twitter’s Vine app and the 500px photo app that were both pulled for allowing adult material, Tumblr released its iOS 3.2.4 version app yesterday with a 17-and-over age warning.
The iTunes store description says, "You must be at least 17 years old to download this app. Frequent/Intense Sexual Content or Nudity."
CNET reported that although the upgrade says it’s designed for "small bug fixes," users must verify that they’re over 17. "Tumblr contains age-restricted material," the app says when upgrading. "Tap OK to confirm that you are 17 or over. Your content will then begin downloading immediately."
Tumblr founder David Karp said last June that 2-4 percent of Tumblr traffic is porn-related.
Just days after Twitter launched its Vine video service for the iPhone, iPod and iPad, the app was full of porn — including an erotic video that rose to Vine’s "Editor Pick" list — prompting Apple to stop promoting it in its store.
500px got canned completely by Apple iTunes after consumer complaints about porn, but is now once again available with a 17+ rating in the App Store.