Will Pornhub save Tumblr? Adult content purveyor is 'extremely interested' in acquiring the beleaguered blogging site as Verizon looks to sell it

  • Verizon is reportedly looking to offload blogging site Tumblr to a new buyer
  • Now, Pornhub says it's 'extremely interested' in acquiring Tumblr from Verizon
  • Tumblr has faced criticism after it instituted a ban on adult content late last year 

Verizon is reportedly looking to offload Tumblr to a new buyer after acquiring the beleaguered blogging site in 2017. 

But if Pornhub has its way, it may be a vital lifeline that could keep Tumblr afloat, according to BuzzFeed News.  

Pornhub told the site that it's 'extremely interested' in buying Tumblr from Verizon. 

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Verizon is reportedly looking to offload Tumblr to a new buyer after acquiring the beleaguered blogging site in 2017, but if Pornhub has its way, it could be a vital lifeline for the blogging site

Verizon is reportedly looking to offload Tumblr to a new buyer after acquiring the beleaguered blogging site in 2017, but if Pornhub has its way, it could be a vital lifeline for the blogging site 

WHAT IS TUMBLR? 

Tumblr is a blogging site that sits somewhere between Twitter and a traditional blog. 

There are no length restrictions on Tumblr posts, but the culture of the site encourages short updates.

The major feature that makes Tumblr stand out is that it divides up posts by type: Text, Photo, Quote, Link, Chat, Audio, and Video. 

Depending on the type of post, Tumblr serves up a different template. 

Photo bloggers are particularly fond of the network, as are fashion bloggers.

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It comes after the Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Thursday that Verizon is seeking a buyer for Tumblr. 

The sale process is ongoing and may not result in any transaction, according to the Journal. 

Verizon Media Group, formerly called Oath, is the digital media umbrella that owns more than 50 brands, including HuffPost, TechCrunch and Tumblr.

Yahoo acquired Tumblr for an estimated $1 billion in 2013 and then Verizon inherited Tumblr as part of its acquisition of Yahoo in 2017. 

Since then, Tumblr hasn't lived up to the money-making property that Yahoo and Verizon had hoped for, the Journal reported.

Making matters worse, Tumblr recently instituted a ban on adult content on its site, which served to anger its user base. 

Since the ban was instituted, Tumblr user traffic has declined by as much as 30 percent. 

If Tumblr were to be acquired by Pornhub, adult content could come back to the platform, along with some of its disgruntled users. 

'Tumblr was a safe haven for those who wanted to explore and express their sexuality, adult entertainment aficionados included,' Pornhub vice president Corey Price told BuzzFeed News. 

'We’ve long been dismayed that such measures were taken to eradicate erotic communities on the platform, leaving many individuals without an asylum through which they could comfortably peruse adult content.'

He added that Pornhub would almost certainly restore adult content to the platform if it acquires Tumblr. 

Tumblr has faced a wave of criticism after it instituted the adult content ban in December.   

CEO Jeff D'Onofrio said the firm weighed the pros and cons thoroughly before making its decision, and said users who still wanted to look at porn had 'no shortage' of other places to visit. 

At the time of the announcement, Tumblr said the ban includes 'Adult content primarily includes photos, videos, or GIFs that show real-life human genitals or female-presenting nipples, and any content—including photos, videos, GIFs and illustrations—that depicts sex acts.'

However, it promised there were some exceptions.

'Examples of exceptions that are still permitted are exposed female-presenting nipples in connection with breastfeeding, birth or after-birth moments, and health-related situations, such as post-mastectomy or gender confirmation surgery.

'Written content such as erotica, nudity related to political or newsworthy speech, and nudity found in art, such as sculptures and illustrations, are also stuff that can be freely posted on Tumblr.'     

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