Tumblr is Dead

RIP to one of the most creative and inclusive nooks of the internet.

Tumblr has always felt inherently different than any other social media. If Twitter is like shouting into a crowd, Tumblr is more like passing notes in the dark corner of a speakeasy. It is private, quiet, and somehow both anonymous and not. The first rule of Tumblr is not to speak about Tumblr, after all.

At its core, Tumblr is a site built on circles of interconnected strangers all whispering secrets to each other, a platform fundamentally built on trust. And the announcement of the new December 17th regulations toppled the fragile balance of trust the site requires to work.

The shocking news appeared at the top of the page a week ago. Within minutes, uproar spread like wildfire. The nihilistic memes followed soon after.

Starting Dec 17, adult content will not be allowed on Tumblr, regardless of how old you are…Adult content primarily includes photos, videos, or GIFs that show real-life human genitals or female-presenting nipples, and any content — including photos, videos, GIFs and illustrations — that depicts sex acts.

Apart from the very real issue of defining “female-presenting nipples” (and even more questions as to how this distinction will be determined), the new policy is a total 180 degree shift from the platform’s previously…