opinion

Sex Is a Part of Life, So Why Is Silicon Valley So Afraid of It?

Sex Is a Part of Life, So Why Is Silicon Valley So Afraid of It?

Sex is a fundamental part of life. That ought to be an uncontroversial statement. Yet my experience as co-founder of a sex tech brand with a mission to destigmatize sex and pleasure is that we have entered a new era of censorship, driven not by church or state, but by the powerful tech and media giants who control so much of the information we receive.

At Hot Octopuss, much of the content we produce is created specifically for groups who want to enjoy sex but may face challenges in finding information that is relevant for them, such as older people, disabled people and those experiencing sexual dysfunction. However, in recent years our campaigns sharing information about sex for disabled people have been bluntly rejected by mainstream media platforms. Our advertisements about how to tackle sexual dysfunction have been blocked by Google multiple times, and social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram won’t even let us through the door.

Big Tech must work with leaders in sexual health and the sexual wellness industry to review their current policies and ensure regulations are based on common sense.

You may well be thinking, “What’s your point? You are, after all, a sex toy brand. Isn’t some censorship priced in?” Let’s be clear: our content never contains explicit images or video. In every one of these examples, the information that was blocked by the tech giants was targeted squarely at adults, with the aim of providing practical, straightforward advice to improve the quality of the sex they’re having. This is content created with education in mind.

The dawn of the digital age should have made it easier than ever for people to find the information they need. Yet instead of embracing the opportunity, tech and media companies have thrown up new barriers, often with little rationale behind the decisions they are making.

We are not alone in this situation. All over the world, organizations working to promote vital information on sexual health and well-being face extreme and unwarranted levels of online censorship. From charities fighting HIV or promoting contraception to businesses helping adults to have the kind of sex they want, Silicon Valley’s current approach is to bracket us all together in an unmarked envelope and keep us hidden behind their digital counter.

You may be wondering where all this is coming from. Those working in Big Tech are generally thought of as educated, socially liberal and forward-thinking, hardly attributes linked with squeamishness about sex. The big problem is not the personal attitudes of those behind the scenes, but the vague way most adult content policies are written, banning “sexually explicit content” while providing little guidance on what this means in practice. The result is that ads can be rejected and accounts blocked for talking about anything a platform considers sexual. Triggers have included using keywords like “vagina,” or simply daring to talk about sex in the context of pleasure.

Some adult companies have come up with creative ways of circumventing these obstacles. One brand we work with, for example, now sells items like scented candles as a way of sidestepping the censors. Such inventiveness is admirable, but I worry that putting brands in this position only perpetuates the outdated idea that sex and pleasure must exist in some “back room,” to be talked about only in hushed whispers.

This attitude only perpetuates ignorance and stigma. Let down by the poor quality of sex education in schools, as many as nine in 10 teens now use the internet as their main source for information about sex, according to one study — and many young people have increasingly turned to online porn for guidance. While there is certainly a place for porn, we also need to acknowledge that most porn is not created with education in mind. There are far better ways for young people to get the information they need.

The irony is that the tech giants are making it harder for young people to access that kind of information, by treating all information on sexual health and well-being as innately pornographic. Meanwhile, their heavy-handed approach does nothing to stop young people from accessing actual pornography, which is easier today than at any point in history. Instead, it hides educational blogs and content, which only drives young people toward the porn sites that sit at the top of the search results.

What needs to change? First of all, Big Tech needs to meet its responsibility to ensure people can access the information they need, especially groups that have specific needs. That doesn’t mean throwing all regulations out of the window, but a lot could be achieved if search and social media platforms would undertake a comprehensive, grown-up review of what “sexually explicit content” means and what it doesn’t.

Big Tech can’t do this alone. They must work with leaders in sexual health and the sexual wellness industry to review their current policies and ensure regulations are based on common sense rather than blanket censorship. Sex is part of life, and the adult approach is to treat it as such.

Julia Margo is the co-founder and COO of revolutionary sex toy company Hot Octopuss, which in 2013 created the world’s first “Guybrator.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 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

Optimizing Your Leadership Through Wellness Practices

For many of us, 2025 has proved intensely stressful — and we’re still only halfway through the year. In times like these, it may seem counterintuitive or even irresponsible to talk about seeking pleasure. Yet pleasure, presence, joy and connection can help you return to a mental and physical state that allows you to face and handle stressors.

Sarah Tomchesson ·
opinion

Chastity Play Is Trending: Why It Should Be in Your Marketing Strategy

From chastity fetishes to power play, erotic control — once considered an esoteric niche within the world of BDSM — is now entering the mainstream. Google searches for “chastity cages,” “chastity fetish” and “orgasm denial” have exploded over the past year, with interest especially high for beginner-friendly models.

Naima Karp ·
opinion

A Look at Adult Retail's Role in Community Care

In the adult retail industry, we focus on empowerment, exploration and connection. We connect people with products that can transform their relationships with their bodies, with their partners and with themselves.

Rin Musick ·
trends

A Deep Dive Into Key Trends Shaping Pleasure Products

In 2025, the pleasure industry is evolving in intentional ways. Rather than racing toward newness for novelty’s sake, brands are reassessing everything from shape and function to what price intended shoppers can afford.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
profile

WIA Profile: Jia Jeng

Modern branding is all about storytelling — and Jia Jeng certainly knows how to tell an authentic, perspective-shifting tale. As brand manager for ID Lubricants, Jeng applies her creative talent to shaping the long-established company’s public image in a way that aligns with her own vision for an ethical future.

Women in Adult ·
profile

Spicerack Market Offers Indie Brands a Launching Pad

Spicerack Market is an ecommerce platform with the heart of an artisan crafter and the soul of a kinkster. On the website, independent sex toy makers, lingerie seamstresses and kink gear craftspeople can set up a personalized shop to sell their handmade wares, unhindered by censorship or bans on adult products.

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

Strategies to Bring Pleasure Brands into the Spotlight

Every brand dreams about landing a feature in The New York Times or Men’s Health — and pleasure brands are no exception. After all, mainstream media coverage isn’t just a vanity milestone. It builds trust, attracts new audiences and opens doors to connecting with retailers, partnerships, and investors.

Hail Groo ·
opinion

Is Your Retail Business Sextech-Ready?

Sextech isn’t just a niche novelty anymore; it’s the future of sexual wellness. From wearable sex toys that provide biofeedback to interactive sex toys with AI capabilities, sextech has made significant progress over the past few years.

Kate Kozlova ·
opinion

Top Product Launch Tactics to Boost Q4 Sales

According to recent industry insights, over 70% of sexual wellness brands finalize their Q4 lineups between July and early September. This is a high-stakes window for launching new products.

Matthew Spindler ·
opinion

Scroll-Stopping Social Media Strategies to Capture Short Attention Spans

Attention spans are shrinking across all types of media. No matter how innovative a concept may be, if it doesn’t stop the scroll, it’s quickly forgotten. That’s why Netflix has intentionally been simplifying its content, with executives directing writers to create scripts that are less complex and nuanced, and more second-screen-friendly.

Naima Karp ·
Show More