Is it possible to have a child friendly zone free of adult content?

1. 70

   makingamarkposted 9 years ago

   I have to say I'm very surprised to be writing this as so far an awful lot of Hubpages the site has been very impressive and I'm liking it a lot.
   
   However I'm concerned about adult oriented topics getting mixed up with those where the content should be 100% suitable for children
   
   I don't want hubs about erotica being listed at the end of any of my hubs which I know are read by people who would be offended by such content - or have parents who would be extremely offended
   
   We need to know that hubs have the option of being designated as part of a zone where adult content is banned.
   
   Is it possible for you to:
   * designate the status of hubs between adult oriented and 100% suitable for children
   * activate a filter so that adult type hubs never ever appear on ones designated as suitable for children
   * provide a way to easily report those hubs which purport to be child friendly when they are very obviously not.

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      Writer Foxposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Porn was banned years ago on HP.  It's up to parents to choose what is appropriate for their children to view online and what isn't.  Do you really believe that informational sites like Wikipedia censor their content in case a child might view it? There are many Hubs which display fine art from old masters, discuss diseases and body parts, marital relations, etc. If you don't like the way HP shows related Hubs on your pages, move the articles to a children's website.

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         Shades-of-truthposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         I understand MakingAMark's concerns, and was glad to have reaffirmed that HubPages does not tolerate porn content. I have millions of words online, on my own sites and elsewhere, and have always been concerned that the advertisements are not of an inappropriate nature.

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            Writer Foxposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            You're going to find some Google Ads (listed as Related Search) that you might not like, either.  You can turn off advertising on your Hubs if you want to do that, but you can't turn off the "Related Hubs."

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         Nate On A Plateposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         +1

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      relacheposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      http://hubpages.com/faq/#adult_topics
      
      "Hubs are not allowed to contain adult content. Below are some examples of prohibited adult content; this should not be interpreted as exhaustive list of what is prohibited. Further, your Hubs must also comply with Google AdSense Program Policy on Adult Content....."

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2. 83

   psycheskinnerposted 9 years ago

   If you see any erotica you should report it.  The closest permit-able thing is clothed glamor shots of actresses.  Anything else even slightly adult is not permitted.
   
   Every single hub has a "report" text link and flag at the top right of the hub.

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      Writer Foxposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Well, here are 264:
      http://hubpages.com/search/include%3Ahubs%2Berotica

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         psycheskinnerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Actually those hubs are non-fiction *about* erotica. So long as there is not sex language on the hub that is permitted.
         
         Actual erotica is not permitted due to Adsense rules. If you see that it should be reported.

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            Writer Foxposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            http://randybehavior.hubpages.com/hub/N … men-photos
            
            http://amanda-severn.hubpages.com/hub/T … Life-Class
            
            Erotica is allowed and yes, you can turn off AdSense ads and just sell Amazon products.

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            1. 83

               psycheskinnerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

               "Sexually explicit"  material is explicitly not allowed.  As shown in the link already provided.  It is only on Hubpages if it has not been detected and will be removed if reported.  Posting such material endangers Hubpages Adsense account and thus the ability we all have to earn here.

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                  Writer Foxposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                  Those Hubs do NOT have AdSense on them.  And, many, many Hubs like those are reported and allowed to be published provided they do not display AdSense. You'll find hundreds of these Hubs in the Arts category. What is found and allowed on HP is mild compared to YouTube and Wikipedia.

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                     psycheskinnerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                     I go with assuming the rules are the rules.  Enough people on this forum have been unpublished for posting about non-sexual topics like breast cancer or gay rights that I would not suggest anyone assume there are unwritten exceptions in place.  At least not until I personally had asked the staff about it and been given that exception.  Otherwise I just assume they have gone undetected.

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                        Writer Foxposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                        Sometimes certain words trigger a flag, like the guy who wrote a recipe for chicken breasts.  A simple email to HP allowed his Hub to be published.

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                           psycheskinnerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                           Indeed.  And sometimes Hubpages has a ridiculous policy like the one against having hubs about homosexuality.

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                              Writer Foxposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                              There are 400 featured Hubs which have 'homosexuality' in the title:
                              http://hubpages.com/search/include%3Ahu … osexuality

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                                 psycheskinnerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                                 Again, you mistake erratic enforcement for lack of rule.
                                 
                                 "Reproductive medical content (including vaginal and penile issues and sexually transmitted diseases)
                                 Content about sexuality, including losing your virginity, fetish, or LGBT issues"
                                 
                                 It is also on the forbidden list and people in these forums have reported being unpublished for it.
                                 
                                 Hub[ages uses the Adsense rules plus a few more.  And Adsense rules are draconian enough.  I have had two blogs dropped by Adsense for adult content and it was an expensive experience.  Neither had anything explicit on them. Hubpages has had similar problems and probably wants to avoid having them again.

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                                    Writer Foxposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                                    Did they send an email to HP asking them why the Hubs weren't published? If the word 'homosexuality' triggers a flag, then those 400 Hubs wouldn't be here!  No one would have to report them for them to be unpublished.

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                                       psycheskinnerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                                       It is all back in the old threads.  And it wasn't my hub.  I put all my adult stuff on my own websites with alternative non-Adsense monetisation.

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                              Jayne Lancerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                              Notice, too, here, the subject of the thread: http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/98806#post2113267

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                                 Writer Foxposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                                 I'm glad you found that and posted it.  That seems to be the policy.  If a Hub isn't out-and-out porn, it will be published but the Hubber has to voluntarily remove AdSense ads or HP will unpublish it.

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                                    Jayne Lancerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                                    It seems the ads are removed by HubPages after manual moderation. That's Bard of Ely's complaint in that thread.

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3. 92

   Jayne Lancerposted 9 years ago

   Although there are hubs for children, HubPages is by no means a children's website. Parents/carers etc. are responsible for the internet activity of children, not websites.
   
   I think HubPages' current ruling on adult content is perfectly adequate: http://hubpages.com/faq/#adult_topics

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4. 70

   makingamarkposted 9 years ago

   I think it's customary when people make suggestions to allow their suggestion to stand rather than to try and speak on behalf of management - to whom the suggestion is directed.
   
   However the response given indicates that's a major difference between Squidoo and HubPages since squidoo differentiated between lenses with adult oriented content and those which were classified as being child-friendly.
   
   Given the vast quantity of lenses made by mothers coming across which relate to families and children that should make for an interesting situation.
   
   I'm guessing it will also influence the decision-making people make about whether to keep their sites at HubPages or take them elsewhere where it's more child-friendly.
   
   Future-proofing a site would also look at the initiatives around and about to control access to what children can see. I welcome them.

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      Writer Foxposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      You are wrong.  On the forum it is customary for anyone to respond who wants to respond. Several other people pointed this out to you last time you made the mistake of asking people not to respond to your forum posts because you only wanted responses from an HP employee.  If you want to direct something privately to management, send an email.  Sending an email, however, is not for trivial suggestions.
      
      
      I don't know who "decision-making people" are, but people can publish their content wherever they want to.  There are already so many, many articles on HP relating to families and children that the topics might be overly-saturated here anyway. 
      
      There are already several search engines built just for sites for children.  HP's audience is for people with credit cards.

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         Nate On A Plateposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         +1

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      Marisa Wrightposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      On this forum, Hubbers are encouraged to voice their opinions on suggestions - it's never been the case that people make a suggestion and it just sits waiting for management to respond, so it's something you'll have to get used to.   
      
      That's a good thing, IMO, because it gives management a chance to see how other members feel about the suggestion.   
      
      If you feel someone has been rude or hurtful to you in response to a comment, the best avenue is to hit the report button.  Responding only escalates the situation.

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5. 70

   makingamarkposted 9 years ago

   Another word for "decision-making people" is "mothers"  
   
   They too have credit cards.

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6. 83

   kerbevposted 9 years ago

   Do you have an example of erotica hubs displaying on a hub for which it would be 100% inappropriate?

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   1. 70

      makingamarkposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yes. Obviously I'm not going to identify it in this forum as to do so would be inappropriate.
      
      However I have flagged it.

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         Writer Foxposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         But, you didn't answer her question.  Did you actually find a Hub displaying erotica that was a 'Related Hub' on one of your Hubs? Feel free to give the Title (not the link) of your Hub where that is happening.

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7. 83

   psycheskinnerposted 9 years ago

   "The following are not allowed:  Sexually explicit content, including descriptions of sexual acts, tips, or practices"
   
   If you can write erotica without these things, kudos--that would be allowed.

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8. 83

   psycheskinnerposted 9 years ago

   I reported a few of those erotic stories in the link to the category provided and they have already been unpublished.  This suggests to me that they are not permitted, whether they enable Adsense or not.

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9. 95

   SmartAndFunposted 9 years ago

   This thread is more evidence that a better method for choosing related hubs is needed.
   
   Here's another current thread on the same topic:
   http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/124540#post2633128
   
   In my opinion, the hub which I believe makingamark is objecting to isn't all that scandalous, and kids probably wouldn't be interested in it at all. However, I am not the OP. If she doesn't want a photo of a bikini-clad woman on her article (which is targeted toward kids), I don't blame her. If the algo worked better, the "Promoting Erotic Fiction" hub would not be placed on a how-to-draw article.
   
   In this case, both articles are about books. Makingamark, perhaps if you recategorized your article in the arts section under the drawing category, drawing-related articles would come up instead of book-related ones. Of course, that might not be your preferred category, as I believe this article's intent is to promote about a book you have written. (I'm not sure; the article is very long and I didn't take the time to do more than skim it.)

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      makingamarkposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I thought about recategorisation - and might still do that. However it's been a successful lens since 2007 and started off in the art category. However for most of that time it was located in the books category - probably because people who want a book look under books! Obvious really.
      
      I think the last pragraph also provides the answer to your speculation about the purpose of this hub. The lens/hub has been around since 2007 i.e. a lot longer than my book which is not even published! Some 11 months ago I was commissioned by a leading publisher to write a book about drawing and sketching - and it was sent to print the day before the announcement about the transfer. (Incidentally I really don't need to use the hub to 'advertise' my book - my blog and Facebook Page will be doing that! The mention of the book relates to "author validation".  I'm sure you've come across the notion! )
      
      I think one of the reasons I was asked to write the book is because I'm actually well known for writing about drawing and sketching. Which probably explains the traffic my lens - and now hub - gets. More to the point it's why I'm very concerned about the nature of the other hubs which appear on this particular hub.
      
      I've already got a domain name and a website set up all ready to go if it doesn't work out her on HubPages. I'm just waiting to see what the stats and conversions look like - and the nature of the other hubs that appear on my hub.  I can take it elsewhere if I'm not convinced this is the right place for this content to be.
      
      I'm personally very puzzled as to how hubs which have to remove all their Adsense adverts can then appear on another hub - which does have AdSense adverts. That sounds like a complete nonsense to me.

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10. 92

    Titiaposted 9 years ago

    Ok, then this might be the best place to put my two cents in too because I stumbled upon this very broadly interpretation of related hubs and it actually made me laugh and wonder how the hell it got there.
    
    My hub is about one of my lambs who jumped into a creek and I jumped right after it to catch it. (Can Sheep Swim)
    
    
    

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       mistyhorizon2003posted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Well mine is the hub called 'Losing your Virginity' but if you read it you will see it is a true life story of a bad relationship decision, not the actual physical act of losing your virginity which makes it non graphic, and educational in terms of encouraging young people to make the right decisions about who they choose to get involved with as their first relationship.
       
       I should add though that even I am surprised it appeared it the related content section of an article about sheep lol.

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          Titiaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          Ha LOL, mistyhorizon2003, mind you I wasn't offended or anything like that, I just thought it was so funny to see that in my sheep hub. I haven't had the time yet to read your hub to see what on earth might have triggered the filters.

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             mistyhorizon2003posted 9 years agoin reply to this

             Lol, I would be interested to know as well

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    psycheskinnerposted 9 years ago

    LOL that's one of the weirder examples i have ever seen.

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