Sex (and Sexuality) in the News: Weekly Roundup — Sep 19, 2023
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Stay informed and entertained with our curated weekly roundup of 'Sex (and sexuality) in the News.' Explore articles, updates, and trends related to human intimacy, relationships, and identity, including insights into legislation, law, and censorship, as well as engaging topics such as enhancing your sex life and experiencing deeper levels of pleasure. Article summaries were co-written with the help of ChatGPT.
The FOSTA-SESTA fallout is about to get worse
The FOSTA-SESTA legislation, enacted in 2018 under the guise of combatting sex trafficking, has raised significant concerns over its supposed unintended consequences. FOSTA-SESTA removed legal immunity for online platforms hosting content related to prostitution, resulting in a chilling effect on online speech and safety for sex workers. Reports now confirm that the law has been counterproductive, pushing sex trafficking further underground and endangering sex workers. Furthermore, new age-verification bills are emerging, requiring users to upload personal identification documents when visiting adult websites, triggering privacy and security concerns. These actions reflect a broader trend of curtailing online freedoms in the name of protecting children, potentially leading to a sterilized internet landscape.
The Nation • Sascha Cohen
Bumble changes its policy to crack down on bots, ghosting and doxing
Bumble, the dating app company, has updated its community guidelines to address issues like bots, spam, ghosting, and doxing. These new rules apply to both Bumble and Badoo. Bumble is taking measures to combat bots and has already blocked millions of accounts this year using AI to detect fake and spam accounts. The company is also cracking down on ghosting by categorizing "no-show" dates as instances of bullying and abusive conduct. Additionally, Bumble is including doxing and victim-blaming as rule-breaking offenses under its Bullying and Abusive Conduct policies. However, the article did not provide details on changes to reporting options or handling off-platform violations of these rules.
TechCrunch • Ivan Mehta
Can watching ethical porn help improve our sexual body image?
The article explores how shifting from mainstream free porn to diverse body representations often found in ethical porn (also known as feminist porn) can positively impact one's sexual body image, emphasizing the need for "porn literacy" and promoting a more inclusive and authentic sexual industry. Mainstream free porn predominantly features a limited range of bodies, often portraying cisgender, athletic, white performers, while frequently neglecting the importance of consent and pleasure in sexual encounters. In contrast, ethical paid-for porn platforms actively celebrate body diversity, and prioritize pleasure and the communication of consent, offering a more encompassing view of human sexuality.
Mashable • Katie Baskerville
OnlyFans CEO Ami Gan steps down
Ami Gan is stepping down as CEO of OnlyFans after approximately two and a half years at the helm, with Keily Blair, Chief Strategy and Operations Officer, set to take over as CEO. Despite its success, the CEO role has been challenging due to evolving credit card company policies and regulatory hurdles affecting online sex workers. Gan has launched a new venture, Hoxton Projects, a marketing company, while Blair steps into her new role, emphasizing data privacy in a company reliant on user data security.
TechCrunch • Amanda Silberling
Mexico decriminalizes abortion, extending Latin American trend of widening access
While the United States has faced increasing abortion restrictions, Mexico's Supreme Court has made a groundbreaking decision, deeming all federal criminal penalties for abortion unconstitutional, thus expanding access to abortion in Latin America. This sweeping ruling will remove abortion from the federal penal code and compel federal health institutions to provide abortion services upon request. While some Mexican states still criminalize abortion, this ruling sets a precedent, making it easier for activists to advocate for legalization state by state.
NPR • The Associated Press
Stereotypes of bisexual individuals vary based on gender, according to new research
New research highlights the varying stereotypes surrounding bisexual individuals based on their gender. The study reveals that people tend to perceive bisexual men as more similar to gay men, while bisexual women are not seen as similar to lesbian women. These perceptions are associated with identity-denying beliefs about bisexuality. The research, conducted through three experiments involving 1,149 participants, aimed to understand the intersection of sexual orientation and gender in shaping perceptions of bisexual individuals. The findings underscore the distinct challenges faced by bisexual men and women concerning their identities. However, further research is needed to explore the origins of these stereotypes and beliefs.
PsyPost • Eric W. Dolan
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