SAN JOSE, Calif. — eBay has announced it has changed its policies regarding what it considers “adult items” effective June 15, completely eliminating the category “Adult Only” for new listings, with wording that essentially bans the vast majority of sexual expression items on their platform.
The prominent online marketplace quietly made the announcement by updating their “Adult items policy” page and sending emails to some accounts warning them about the new state of affairs.
Among noteworthy statements effectively censoring sexual expression, eBay broadly declared that “most adult-only items are prohibited.”
Items that contain nudity are allowed only if the eBay moderators consider it to be “nude art listings that do not contain sexually suggestive poses or sexual acts” and if they are accordingly categorized and labeled.
In a throwback to Victorian-era language, eBay will allow some art listings categorized as “risqué.” eBay also apparently reserves the right to decide what is and is not “art.”
Nudity According to eBay
eBay offers their own definition of nudity as “showing any part of male or female genitalia, anus or female breasts where the areola or nipple is visible,” but then expands this definition to also include “modeled clothing that is see-through or very tight and shows human genitalia, the anus or the nipple/areola of female breasts; male erections, even if the model is clothed; and people engaged in sexual contact or activity.”
The company also somehow decided that vintage copies of only four magazine titles — Playboy, Playgirl, Mayfair and Penthouse — may be listed for sale or auction “as long as the listing does not contain nude images or explicit content.” All other adult publications are banned from eBay.
In terms of erotic videos and films, eBay’s ban is universal, covering “Adult films and video games with a rating of X, XXX, R18 or unrated for an adults-only audience” and all “sexually explicit anime, comics, books, films, animation, manga, hentai [and] yaoi.”
Allowed 'Adult Items' Will Have to Be Re-listed
As for pleasure products, the elimination of the “Adult Only Sex Toys, Accessories, Clothing, Jewelry, Books, and Music categories” means that sellers will find all their stock deleted unless they re-list every single item “in the next most appropriate category and follow the guidelines for that category.”
eBay suggests “Health & Beauty > Health Care > Sexual Wellness,” “Clothing, Shoes & Accessories > Specialty > Erotic Clothing,” “Jewelry & Watches > Fashion Jewelry,” “Books & Magazines > Books,” and “Music” as suitable categories for sellers to consider.
eBay somewhat nonsensically offers, by way of explanation, that their blanket censorship of the vast majority of erotic expression has gone into effect because “we want to make adult items available to those who wish to purchase them and can do so legally, while preventing those who do not wish to view or purchase these items from easily accessing them.”
The New Policy
This is the complete new policy posted by eBay effective June 15, 2021:
Adult items that are allowed must follow our guidelines.
Most adult-only items are prohibited. Items that contain nudity are allowed only in limited situations and must follow the guidelines below. We'll review the content of the listing, images, and the category of the items to determine if an item is allowed.
eBay defines nudity as showing any part of male or female genitalia, anus, or female breasts where the areola or nipple is visible. The following are also considered nudity:
- Modeled clothing that is see-through or very tight and shows human genitalia, the anus, or the nipple/areola of female breasts
- Male erections, even if the model is clothed
- People engaged in sexual contact or activity
The following items are not allowed:
- Adult items with content that is illegal
- Item that do not comply with our Illegal explicit content policy
- Sexually oriented materials, including items containing nudity and displays of sexual activitys, are not allowed. This includes the following:
- Adult films and video games with a rating of X, XXX, R18 or unrated for an adults-only audience
- Sexually explicit anime, comics, books, films, animation, manga, hentai, yaoi
- Adult magazines, nudist publications, or adult anime/manga that include sexually-explicit content, nudity or sexual stories
The following magazines and books can be listed in the Magazines category as long as the listing does not contain nude images or explicit content: Playboy, Playgirl, Mayfair and Penthouse
The following items are allowed only under certain conditions:
- Nude art listings that do not contain sexually suggestive poses or sexual acts are allowed, but they must include the item specific attribute Subject: Nudes. They can be listed only in the following categories:
- Art categories
- Collectibles > Paper > Pin Up > Vintage (Pre-1970)
- Collectibles > Postcards > Risqué
- Collectibles > Photographic Images > Risqué > Vintage & Antique (Pre-1940)
- Sex toys and sex accessories can be listed in the Health & Beauty > Health Care > Sexual Wellness categories, and must follow these guidelines:
- Sellers must be pre-approved. Seller accounts are automatically reviewed for pre-approval at the time of attempting to list in these categories
- Items must be new and in the original packaging
- Listings must not offer international shipping
- Listings must not include images of nudity or sexual content
Effective July 15, 2021, the 'Adult Only' category will no longer be available for new listings.
Items in the following categories are no longer permitted on eBay:
- Adult Only DVDs & movies
- Adult Only Magazines
- Adult Only Video Games
- Adult Only Domain Names
- Other Adult Only
- Adult Only Collectibles on Blu-Ray, DVD and Film, LaserDisc, VHS, Other Adult Movie Formats, VCD, SVCD, VHS Non-US (PAL)
Items in 'Adult Only Collectibles' and 'Art' may be listed outside of the 'Adult Only' category only if they do not contain displays of sexual activity and follow these guidelines:
- Nude art listings must include the item specific attribute Subject: Nudes
- They may not contain sexually suggestive poses
- They can be listed only in the following categories:
- Art categories
- Collectibles > Paper > Pin Up > Vintage (Pre-1970)
- Collectibles > Postcards > Risqué
- Collectibles > Photographic Images > Risqué > Vintage & Antique (Pre-1940)
Items in 'Adult Only Sex Toys', 'Accessories,' 'Clothing,' 'Jewelry,' 'Books' and 'Music' categories may be re-listed if they do not show nudity or sexual activity and must follow the following guidelines:
- Images showing nudity or sexual activity must be removed
- Items are listed in the next most appropriate category and follow the guidelines for that category
- Health & Beauty > Health Care > Sexual Wellness
- Clothing, Shoes & Accessories > Specialty > Erotic Clothing
- Jewelry & Watches > Fashion Jewelry
- Books & Magazines > Books
- Music
Activity that doesn't follow eBay policy could result in a range of actions including for example: administratively ending or canceling listings, hiding or demoting all listings from search results, lowering seller rating, buying or selling restrictions, and account suspension. All fees paid or payable in relation to listings or accounts on which we take any action will not be refunded or otherwise credited to your account.