Definition of Adult Content

1. 42

   evemurphyposted 15 years ago

   I would love to have some guidelines about what constitutes 'adult content'.  In two recent hubs I wrote about how to make love in the woods and in a car...with no "graphic" detail that I am aware of.  I don't mean  to write things that are offensive by any means. 
   Confused in Canada.
   Evemurphy

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   1. 71

      Maddie Ruudposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      The subjects of those hubs, by their very nature, are adult.  Whether or not you have graphic descriptions, I think that "How to Make Love In [Insert Location]" is fairly evidently adult subject matter.

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      1. 65

         Ralph Deedsposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         After all, most of us are adults. :-)

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2. 59

   dingdongposted 15 years ago

   At times, we don't see google ads in some hubs allowed by HP. The definition is still confusing, and I'm just not talking about photo galleries alone

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3. 0

   Poppa Bluesposted 15 years ago

   I know I don't have a clue! I suppose just the term "making love" could be considered "adult content".  I would consider some of what I write is targeted to adults and I wouldn't expect children to comprehend it, but doest that make it "adult content"? I don't know. I assume somewhere on this site it's defined, at least that would be my expectation though I can't find it.

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4. 61

   Smarticusposted 15 years ago

   While the hubs in question seem to be adult in subject matter, I would disagree that they are "adult" as defined by the accepted context in the American culture at least. I would not consider the hubs as described to be adult. The subject matter is adult oriented, but the treatment does not qualify it as "adult" by the commonly used implication. The posters are looking for specific directives on what constitutes adult content by Hubpage standards and what does not.
   
   I do not think that the material in the hubs in question, if it lacks graphic detail is actually "adult" on content as defined by the public. Maybe a rating system (G, PG, PG-13, Unacceptable) would be more helpful or a rubric that defined what was acceptable and what was not. From the descriptions of the posters, just my impression, it appears the hubs would qualify as PG under that kind of system.
   
   If Hubpages is going to require a certain level of compliance on content the onus for defining compliance is on Hubpages. It is neither ethical, nor reasonable to expect posters to be able to read the minds of the moderators and discern what is acceptable, and what is not from non-specific descriptions. Depending on their cultural background, and level of maturity, I feel fairly confident in saying that most actual adults would not consider the hubs as described adult in content.
   
   I know that is not an easy thing to do, and it will be almost impossible to produce guidelines that everyone would agree with. However, that said, it does seem as though that is important to do. Maybe a forum for discussing the issue might help moderators arrive at a useful, directive description for what is acceptable and what is not. A system for review by moderators might also be helpful.
   
   Once the moderators arrive at, and agree on a specific description of what constitutes adult on Hubpages, I think it would make their jobs a lot easier. The more specific the description the less authors will be confused by what constitutes adult content, and the less moderators will have to address such questions.
   
   Just my opinion.

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   1. 71

      Maddie Ruudposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for your suggestions.
      
      
      
      Well, the definition of the term "adult" is highly subjective, in the outside world.  I think you will find plenty of users here on HubPages who think that plenty of things that I do not take down are "adult."
      
      
      
      This is precisely why we advise in the FAQ that you email us to inquire whether or not your content would be considered adult, before taking the time to actually write and post the hub.

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      1. 65

         Ralph Deedsposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Seems to me that anything that is acceptable in a museum open to the general public should be acceptable on HubPages rather than applying a flat prohibition against nudity. I was glad  when HubPages broomed the porn that was taking over the site. However, IMHO you went a bit too far in banning tasteful, non-pornographic, non-sexual nudity.

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5. 42

   evemurphyposted 15 years ago

   I can't imagine a more eloquently phrased summation of what I was trying to ask.
   
   Thank you "Smart" for putting it into such precise terms.
   -Evemurphy

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6. 74

   Lissieposted 15 years ago

   It doesnt matter what we consider adult or explicit - its all about what google aka adsense thinks is - that's the issue not public taste. Hubpages makes us and them significant money from Adsense, which means the site has to abide by Adsense's IMHO prudish guidelines.

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7. 61

   Smarticusposted 15 years ago

   Please understand, Maddie, I am trying to give suggestions that could be helpful, not cause you or other moderators any headaches.
   
   Honestly, the direction to email and let us see if it will be adult content is not helpful. Many writers here produce extemporaneously. They are not certain what will be written or how until after the piece is finished.
   
   It should not be difficult to produce a list that at least defines a few specific subjects as acceptable or unacceptable. What you are asking them to do is a deeply subjective, and not very directive. Why not produce a list of basics for what is specifically not acceptable. Then if a writer is not certain they can send you the hub. The list should cut down on the number of iffy hubs you have to screen as a moderator, and save you enormous amounts of editing time.

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   1. 86

      Marisa Wrightposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Smarticus, as Lissie said, it's not HubPages that is responsible for the definition, it's Google Adsense - and they're maddeningly vague, too.
      
      Here's the link
      http://adsense.blogspot.com/2007/11/pla … -safe.html

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8. 61

   Smarticusposted 15 years ago

   Actually, this:
   
   "Our policy regarding adult or mature content may include any material that is not appropriate for all audiences. While this obviously includes full nudity or sexual activity, it may also include textually explicit sexual content, image or video content containing lewd or provocative poses, strategically covered nudity, see-through or sheer clothing, and close-ups of anatomy that would be inappropriate if shown nude. Additionally, topics such as sexual health and sex tips may be held to a higher standard of professionalism than content that isn't bordering on mature.
   
   While it's not a sure test, we sometimes suggest that publishers ask themselves the following questions to determine if content is family-safe: Would I be comfortable viewing this content with my parents or children in the same room? Would I feel comfortable viewing this content if my boss walked up behind me while I had this content on my screen? If the answer to either of these questions is no, then it is likely that some advertisers would not be comfortable showing their ads on such content and we might consider it mature."
   
   
   Posted by Guillermo Bracciaforte - AdSense Publisher Support
   
   from the link provided by Marissa is a great deal more specific than what we have here at the moment. I agree with Marissa "it is maddeningly vague" and with Lissie "it is prudish". However, I think a guideline can be developed from this that give more specific directions to writers like evemurphy, and make the job of moderators like Maddie a lot easier.

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9. 74

   Lissieposted 15 years ago

   And you will have to remember to pretend to be an American when you apply these rules. Topless sun bathing is common on the beach in parts of Europe but also in city centre parks at lunch time on a nice day - but the female nipple is unacceptable to Adsense.

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10. 61

    Smarticusposted 15 years ago

    Try something like this on for size:
    
    For the benefit of Hubpages and all our authors we must comply with the stringent guidelines on adult content required by Adsense. We will define adult content as anything that contains the following:
    
    •    material that is not appropriate for all audiences
    •    full nudity or sexual activity
    •    textually explicit sexual content
    •    image or video content containing lewd or provocative poses
    •    strategically covered nudity
    •    see-through or sheer clothing
    •    close-ups of anatomy that would be inappropriate if shown nude
    •    Topics on sexual health and sex tips must be highly professional, and approved by a
            moderator before posting.

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11. 42

    evemurphyposted 15 years ago

    Smarticus your list makes things much easier for me and hope it can be adopted as a general Rule of Thumb.  Like Lizzie,  I agree that Google pulls the strings, when all is said and done, and therefore we must follow their guidelines, as subjective as they are.  That is paramount.
    
    Here is where the problem arose for me:  I discovered that the more I talk about Sex (or related topics like How To Paint a Nude) the higher my traffic AND the higher my Hubscore. 
    
    What more can you ask for?
    
    Perhaps I haven't tried to write seriously entertaining/helpful  material on other topics and so the fault is mine.
    
    At any rate I personally will make a real effort to adhere to the guidelines that Smarticus has provided because I can live with them and hopefully I can still have fun producing pages that many people seem to enjoy visiting.
    
    I hope other authors have been aided by this discussion, because it is a grey area and no doubt it  produces  anxiety in other writers besides just myself.

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