Yahoo Reportedly Prohibits Email With Porn Links

SUNNYVALE, Calif. — A Yahoo Mail user reported that he was unable to send a porn link to himself, receiving a bounceback email citing potential “characteristics that Yahoo Mail will not accept for policy reasons,” the Consumerist said.

The user —  identified as Reader Raven  — voiced his dissatisfaction in an email to the Consumerist that reads, “Yahoo is now, after having done some heinous upgrades that make the email website literally no longer even work and completely ignoring the literal thousands of complaints about it on user voice, is now refusing to send porn … even though this is a link I sent to myself.

“What’s even worse then (sic) that is that I have literally never seen a porn-blocking software that does not also block an insane amount of things that are unrelated to porn.”

XBIZ, curious to test Raven’s single-experiment assertion, created a dummy Yahoo Mail account and found that three self-addressed emails containing porn links made it to their destination unfettered.

However, explicit email subject lines like “PORN” and “Porn Link XXX” elicited an automatic “verification” process, in which we had to prove that we weren't robots by typing out a few garbled numbers and letters.

After a lag period, the emails arrived in our inbox; the email we sent titled “pics” that contained a porn link was processed immediately. 

Lack of error message and bounceback notwithstanding, the automatic verification process was clearly tied to the usage of the term “porn” in the body or the subject line.

Porn sites are subjected to other forms of e-discrimination: website information service Quantcast.com denies XXX sites a traffic ranking although it provides general stats for all content.

Yahoo representatives were not available for comment at post time.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Age Verification Watch: Patching the Holes

This roundup provides an update on the latest news and developments on the age verification front as it impacts the adult industry.

Pineapple Support to Host Autism Spectrum Support Group

Pineapple Support is hosting a free online support group for performers and creators who are, or suspect they may be, on the autism spectrum.

ImLive Launches Revamped Member Loyalty Program

Cam platform ImLive has revamped its member loyalty program.

GoFundMe Set Up for Danny Ferretti's Medical Expenses

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for Fangear founder Danny Ferretti, who requires extensive lung surgery.

Byborg Acquires Cuties AI

Byborg Enterprises has acquired adult artificial intelligence startup Cuties AI.

Irish Government Releases Report on Sex Work Decriminalization Legislation

The Irish government has released a report reviewing a 2017 law that decriminalized sex work across the country.

Texas Bill Would Require Age Verification for Online Sex Toy Sales

A new bill in the Texas state legislature would require online retailers to implement age verification of purchasers before selling “obscene devices” to anyone in that state.

New York Assemblyman Proposes Banning the Term 'Sex Work'

Republican New York Assembly Member Brian Maher has introduced a bill to prohibit the use of the term "sex work" in government documents.

Age Verification Watch: Michigan Joins the AV Club, Some Laws Just Make No Sense

This roundup provides an update on the latest news and developments on the age verification front as it impacts the adult industry.

Free Speech Groups Back SCOTUS Appeal of Georgia Strip Club Tax

Two civil liberties organizations filed an amicus brief Tuesday supporting a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear an appeal in a case involving whether a tax specifically aimed at adult entertainment establishments violates the First Amendment.

Show More