Etsy, the popular e-commerce platform, will no longer allow the sale of adult toys and sexual accessories. The company announced this policy change in a recent memo, sparking frustration and anger among its loyal vendors. Starting July 29, Etsy will remove listings for sex toys such as dildos, vibrators, and similar products, as well as items depicting sexual acts, genitalia, or sexually charged slogans related to familial relationships like “daddy” or “mommy.”
Alice Wu, head of Etsy’s trust and safety team, stated the policy was updated to “keep our users safe.” However, vendors have criticized the decision as “lazy” and a “crushing disappointment.”
“The ban will essentially close the doors of many handmade makers in the adult toy realm like ourselves,” said Preston Stevenson, an Etsy vendor, in an interview with The Guardian. For small shops like his, which have invested significant time on Etsy, the 30 days’ notice is insufficient to transition to a new platform with similar traffic and exposure.
Stevenson and his partner Laura Norden, who have been selling handmade sex toys since 2018, expressed concern that their site traffic will not recover if they move to another platform. “Bans like this one further the idea that sexual health and pleasure are taboo or something to be ashamed of,” he added. “It has broader impacts on society as a whole.”
Alexandra Houston, founder of the UK-based fetish apparel platform Charmskool, criticized Etsy for catering to the mass market instead of remaining loyal to its users. “Etsy wants anything creative as long as it is beige and middle of the road. It doesn’t want anything risqué anymore,” Houston told The Guardian, noting an increase in former Etsy vendors migrating to Charmskool.
Simply Elegant Glass, another affected vendor, penned an open letter to Etsy on Twitter, condemning the company for its “lazy solution” under the guise of community safety. “Protecting children from adult content is a noble interest, and we agree it should be pursued. But that’s not what you’re doing here, is it?” the vendor wrote, arguing that a blanket ban is an easy fix for non-compliance issues Etsy created. “It’s a solution that targets buyer retention and appeases investors and advertisers.”
The transition to other platforms is complicated by many payment processors’ refusal to work with vendors advertising adult toys. Anna, founder of Simply Elegant Glass, told the BBC she feels “betrayed” by Etsy’s new policies. “As creators who have helped make Etsy what it is and remained loyal for years, we feel betrayed,” she said, advocating for explicit labeling of sexual products rather than an outright ban.
According to Anna, a large portion of their profits came from Etsy sales, and moving to a new e-commerce site would be like starting from scratch. Other vendors echoed her concerns, worried that new platforms may not generate enough income.
“It’s like having your house burnt down,” Houston said, reflecting on the difficulties of establishing a new business presence after relying on Etsy for years.
This decision by Etsy is not only a business challenge for vendors but also raises questions about societal views on sexual health and pleasure. Many see the ban as a step backward, reinforcing outdated taboos and stigmas. This decision by Etsy is not only a business challenge for vendors but also raises questions about societal views on sexual health and pleasure. Many see the ban as a step backward, reinforcing outdated taboos and stigmas.
Last Spots + International Guests: This Is Lalexpo 2026
The Lalexpo experience keeps growing! A new edition is coming, packed with high-level content, international guests, exclusive spaces, and activities designed to take the industry to the next level.
Ideas Without a Script: Conversations That Make an Impact
Ideas Without a Script is a space designed for real, unfiltered conversations with the people who are transforming the industry. A place where experiences, insights, and stories become inspiration.
In this first edition, the special guest will be Yeferson Cossio, one of the most influential content creators in Latin America, with millions of followers and a massive digital reach. Beyond his success on social media, he has established himself as an entrepreneur, developing high-level projects and collaborations.
A close and relaxed space to hear his stories, insights, and perspectives.
Limited spots available
Price: $84 USD
If you already have your Lalexpo ticket, you get 50% OFF
Or request more information through Lalexpo’s WhatsApp lines.
Special Guests: Global Talent at Lalexpo
This year, we will host some of the most influential names in the adult entertainment industry worldwide:
Johnny Sins – American actor, director, and content creator, recognized as one of the most popular male talents in the industry. With nearly two decades of experience and over 3,000 productions, he has been inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame and has become a global icon.
Lily Phillips – British actress and content creator who has gained notoriety through her presence on digital platforms and viral projects that have sparked global conversation.
Jason Luv – Actor, director, and producer from Houston, known for his versatility and strong global positioning. In 2026, he surpassed one billion views, reinforcing his impact on the industry.
Yusuf Gattouz – Algerian model known as Gattouz, who has quickly positioned himself among the most viewed male talents worldwide, with hundreds of millions of views.
Lalexpo Awards: Voting Is Now Open
The official Lalexpo Awards voting is now live.
You can now support your favorites by logging into your profile and participating in the selection of the winners.
Diva Traffic: Traffic Services Shut Down on February 20, 2026
Everything is changing in the camming industry. As a clear example, after years of being known as a traffic company—especially for promotion within the adult cams space—2026 is the year the industry says goodbye to Diva Traffic!
Behind this exit is an announcement posted by the company under the headline “Important Service Update.” Diva Traffic stated that effective February 20, 2026, it will discontinue its operations, including all traffic purchase services. The platform also noted that all previously purchased tokens must be used to activate traffic boost campaigns by that date, and that as of today, token purchases and subscriptions are no longer available.
The shutdown closes the chapter on a brand that, for some, was a useful promotional tool—and for others, a recurring source of controversy. Over time, countless rumors circulated across studios and among models, with many in the community alleging the service relied heavily on bots, fake clicks, and non-human traffic rather than real users.
Whatever side of the debate people were on, the outcome is now the same: a familiar name in cam-focused traffic services is exiting the scene, and studios and creators will need to rethink and adjust their promotion strategies moving forward.
Reclaim The Net: Arizona HB 2920 Would Expand Age Checks to Preinstalled Apps
Arizona lawmakers are weighing a sweeping app-store age-verification proposal that would apply not only to app downloads but also to core phone functions most users take for granted, according to Reclaim The Net.
The measure, House Bill 2920, was introduced on January 27, 2026, and is pending before the Arizona House Science & Technology Committee. As described, the bill would require age checks for app store accounts and would also cover preinstalled software and built-in tools such as the web browser, text messaging app, search bar, calculator, and weather widget, effectively placing nearly every piece of mobile software under age-gating requirements.
How HB 2920 would work
Under the proposal, app store providers would be required to determine each account holder’s age category using “commercially available” verification methods. The bill, as reported, does not precisely define what verification methods would qualify, and it assigns the Arizona Attorney General the role of setting rules for acceptable processes.
HB 2920 would divide users into four groups:
Under 13
Ages 13–16
Ages 16–18
Adults
For anyone under 18, the bill would require the minor’s account to be “affiliated” with a parent account and mandate “verifiable parental consent” before a minor could download or purchase an app or make in-app purchases. Reclaim The Net notes that this consent framework would also extend to preinstalled apps, meaning the first time a minor attempts to open certain default phone functions, the system could require parent approval before access is granted.
A key issue raised in the coverage is that the bill does not specify how parent-child relationships will be verified. Instead, app stores would have wide discretion to determine parenthood via unspecified “commercially reasonable” methods.
Updates could trigger new consent requests
The bill’s scope would extend beyond initial access and downloads. If a developer makes a “significant change” to an application, the proposal would require renewed parental consent before the minor can access the updated version.
In the Reclaim The Net description, “significant change” would include:
Privacy policy modifications
Changes to categories of data collected
Age rating changes
Adding in-app purchases
Introducing advertisements
That could mean routine software maintenance becomes a gatekeeping event. A weather app that adds a banner ad, for example, could require fresh parental approval. A note-taking app’s privacy policy update could also trigger a new consent prompt before a minor can keep using it.
To make this system function, developers would be required to notify app stores of “significant changes,” while app stores would need to notify parent accounts and secure renewed permission before restoring access.
Penalties and lawsuits
Reclaim The Net reports that HB 2920 would include civil penalties up to $75,000 per violation, alongside a private right of action allowing parents and minors to sue for $1,000 per violation, plus potential punitive damages. The piece argues these provisions could increase compliance pressure on both app stores and developers.
Because consent status would need to be tracked, app stores would have to collect and maintain records tied to age categories, parental affiliations, verification records, and consent histories, and share age-category data with developers during downloads, purchases, or app launches. While the bill includes language around “industry standard encryption” and limiting data use to compliance purposes, it would still require extensive data collection and transmission to operate as designed.
Comparisons to other states and legal scrutiny
The coverage points to Texas as a recent example of similar legislation. Reclaim The Net notes that a federal judge blocked Texas’ law before it took effect, describing it as comparable to requiring every bookstore to verify every customer’s age and to require parental consent for minors to enter and buy books. The ruling found the law likely unconstitutional, concluding that it imposed content-based restrictions and failed strict scrutiny.
Arizona’s HB 2920 is framed as part of a broader state-level push toward app-store age verification. Reclaim The Net lists Texas, Utah, Louisiana, and California as states that have passed versions of these measures, with different effective dates and enforcement approaches.
HB 2920 is described as going further than most by explicitly covering preinstalled applications, raising the possibility that a minor could purchase a phone and be unable to use built-in tools until a parent account is established and consent is granted.
Proposed effective date
Reclaim The Net reports that if HB 2920 advances through the legislature, it would take effect on November 30, 2026, setting a compliance timeline for app stores and developers.
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