We're gonna go over what Tumblr claims is and is not allowed, what the distinction between 'mature' and 'sexually explicit' content is, and what tumblr actually enforces in practice.
To start, let's look at what the tumblr User Guidelines say about mature content:
Nudity and vaguelly "other kinds of adult material" are allowed. Very vague, but at least we know for certain nudity, itself, is allowed, so anything less lewd than 'nudity' should definitely be okay.
Let's see what the User Guidelines say about sexually explicit content:
No media with overt focus on genitalia. Nude genitalia in media is still okay as per the passage on 'Mature' content - the media simply cannot be overtly focused on the genitalia directly. So as an example, a furry character with a fat cock, standing nude, depicted fully body, just standing there should be fine. The image is focused on the composition as a whole, and not their genitalia.
Also, I'd say that masturbation and sex are probably right-out, as those are explicitly sexual acts.
Now let's see what tumblr's Mature Content Policy is, on its own page:
See, here we get less vague. Nudity is allowed. Strong language is allowed. 'Sexual Themes' are allowed. So not only is nudity allowed but explicitly lewd theming is allowed as well. So, two nude characters with fat asses and big cocks (that aren't the focus of the piece of media) can vulgarly speak to each other about doing it in each other's butts. That should be fine.
Which should go without saying that anyone fully clothed who happens to have large breasts should be fine. Or even nude and exposed breasts should be fine.
Let's see what the Mature Content Policy says about sexually explicit material.
Yup, as I'd thought. Explicit depictions of actively on-going sex acts and masturbation. Sexual fluids are, now, also listed as a no-go. Sexual interactions with toys is a no - BUT simply having sex toys present in media is NOT forbidden. It is only the demonstration of their usage which is forbidden.
But now we have something kinda odd. No aroused genitalia at all. Even if clothed. Okay, so any depictions of penis have to be flaccid. It'd he hard to tell if any other genitalia were aroused without focussing or displaying the genitalia in a way that would violate the policy otherwise, anyway. So this rule really only concerns dicks.
Do show nudity, sexual theming, and vulgarity.
Don't show erect cocks, sexual fluids, masturbation, use of sex toys, or in-progress sex acts.
SO WHY DOES MODERATION NOT ADHERE TO THIS!?
Here's something harmless. Twerking. Shaking ass. Often done fully clothed. This is not sexually explicit, yet a user can't even search the term.
Okay, let's try to give tumblr some slack. When a camer is fully focussed on a naked rear twerking, you can end up seeing genitalia a lot. It isn't the focus, so it still should not be an issue - but maybe tumblr is just being overly cautious.
Okay. Bare chest. Nothing sexually suggestive, let alone explicit. Nudity is fully allowed and breasts are not genitalia nor inherently sexual.
Tumblr has no excuse for that one.
Unless tumblr just considers breasts to be genitalia or inherently sexual.
Well that's fucked up. Breasts, nude or clothed are not kosher by tumblr's overzealous standards in-practice - conflicting with their policy on paper.
To really drive the point home:
Nudity is explicity stated in the text on both of the linked and screenshotted policy pages as being allowed content. We're not being ambiguous here. We aren't having to question whether tumblr thinks breasts count as genitalia.
We are searching a specific term that tumblr says IS ALLOWED - and then being told it is not.
This has been an issue since tumblr first allowed NSFW content again, in response to Elon Musk buying twitter.
Allowed on paper, but never actually allowed in practice.
With AI, recently, moderation has gone off the rails and is now overzealously slapping "Explicit Content" labels on anything from yarn to birds.
Even before the AI moderation, users have accused tumblr of censorship by disproportionately removing PoC and Trans media/blogs.
