Reporter Ash Parrish writes on the Verge website:
In the aftermath of itch.io pulling the sale of over 20,000 pages of adult content , the creators of that work are left feeling betrayed, exhausted, and fearful. The number of
platforms that permit the sale of adult material is shrinking, and theres no guarantee the ones that remain will still permit it in the future.
To some creators, the most disheartening thing about itch.io removing thousands of
pages of adult content is that its relatively unsurprising. The storefront is one of several in recent years that have embraced adult content only to shun it later when payment processors start asking questions. They've now found themselves booted from
platform to platform, moving from Tumblr to Patreon to Gumroad, only to have the rug pulled out from under them each time.
But now, with their livelihoods at stake, many creators and their communities have begun to push back and
search for new ways to thrive.
PixelJail, a creator who makes BDSM and other kink-related comics and illustration, has now opted to set up their own websites. But even without the burden of conforming to a platforms rules, having
ones own website isnt a guarantee of absolute safety. In the UK, where PixelJail lives, the recently implemented Online Safety Act requires that online platforms have strong age checks in place to prevent children from accessing pornographic or harmful
content.
When adult creators are regularly forced to find new places for their work, their business overall suffers. I can never get ahead, said PixelJail, a creator who makes BDSM and other kink-related comics and illustrations.
I have to stop doing paid work to set up new accounts, backlog posting, pay for new subscriptions or services and other administrative tasks. I had to geoblock my websites in the UK, including my webstore, PixelJail said, meaning they no longer sell
their work in their own country
See the full article from theverge.com
