Flickr Criticized as Porn Portal

LOS ANGELES — Adult webmasters wondering where the traffic has gone have a new answer: according to some critics, surfers are finding their porn fix on social networking sites such as Flickr.

Considered to be among the top photo sharing websites, Flickr is coming under attack for some of the images it displays, which according to some observers, go against the "no porn" rules of parent company Yahoo!

Yahoo!'s terms of service (TOS) state that users agree not to use its Services to… "upload, post, email or otherwise transmit any Content that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortuous, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, invasive of another's privacy, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable."

According to gadget news site Electricpig.co.uk, it was alerted to the adult content on Flickr after a reader "searched innocent-sounding body parts to create a home-made birthday card, and was surprised when innocuous searches, such as 'feet' and 'mouth,' brought back full frontal nudity and graphic close ups of genitalia, even with Flickr's SafeSearch feature enabled."

No mention was made of the copyright issues surrounding the card-maker's photo quest, but his salacious claims led to an investigation of the allegedly "obscene" materials on Flickr and the apparent inadequacy of its SafeSearch feature, which is intended to prevent the display of this material.

Nude photos, along with groups that share them, are easier to find on Flickr than you might think, the Electricpig investigation concluded, despite any measures that are being taken to prevent this from happening.

"Yahoo! has a number of measures in place to make sure that using our hugely popular Flickr service is a safe and fun experience for everybody," stated a Yahoo! spokesperson. "When you first sign up for Flickr, the SafeSearch function is turned on. This protects you from Restricted images on Flickr. You can only get access to Restricted images if you're over 18."

"SafeSearch works by checking the flags that users add to their photos — 'Safe', 'Moderate' and 'Restricted,'" the spokesperson added. "With over four billion images uploaded to Flickr by our community, there may still be pictures you feel are inappropriate. To report them, you can click the 'Report Abuse' link, which can be found at the bottom of every Flickr page. The queue is manned 24/7 and every request will be assessed."

While it's unlikely that the masses are turning to Flickr for their porn fix, it's clear that the venues for dissemination of digital erotica are broader than their historical confines to the adult Internet and this trend undoubtedly chips away at industry profitability.

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 News

TrustyFans Introduces New Blog

Creator directory TrustyFans has introduced an official blog to its site, titled "From Hidden to Hype."

JustFor.fans' Dominic Ford Featured in Wired Magazine

JustFor.fans Founder and CEO Dominic Ford is featured in a new article in Wired Magazine, titled "The Internet Revolutionized Porn. Age Verification Could Upend Everything."

Dr. Charlotte Gaydos Joins ProDx Health Advisory Board

Dr. Charlotte Gaydos has joined the Advisory Board of ProDx Health.

Aylo Fined $5 Million as FTC, Utah Settle Safety Practices Complaint

The Federal Trade Commission and the state of Utah on Wednesday settled a complaint against Aylo, requiring the company to pay a $5 million penalty and implement measures to prevent illegal content from appearing on its sites.

New AI Companion Platform 'Pornstar.love' Launches

Pornstar.love, a new AI companion platform, has officially launched.

Pineapple Support, Stripchat to Host 'Navigating Thoughts of Suicide' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Stripchat are hosting a free online support group to help performers deal with suicidal ideation.

Plaiir Names Cade Maddox as Lead of Creator Relations

Networking platform Plaiir has appointed Cade Maddox as its new lead of creator relations.

Go.cam Launches 'One-Line Integration' Verification Solution

Go.cam has introduced a one-line code integration for age verification.

XBIZ Amsterdam to Debut 'Behind the Lens' Screening Series

XBIZ is pleased to announce the debut of “Behind the Lens,” a new screening series presenting discussions with noted directors, taking place at the upcoming annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam.

'White Rabbit' Party Headed for XBIZ Amsterdam

XBIZ is pleased to announce the White Rabbit Party, an XBIZ Amsterdam special event set to take place Wednesday, Sept. 3.

Show More