Farewell Pinterest, Hello KOSA?
March 11, 2024
After more than a dozen years, Saturday I removed all my pins and essentially abandoned my Pinterest account. Up until last week, I displayed my book covers with artwork by various designers -- many created using stock photos (sometimes as many as ten or more per cover) combined into something new by my talented submissive, Patrick. I also posted covers and interior art I produced myself as well as covers of books that include my writing.
Then, one-by-one, Pinterest started removing my covers, some of which had been posted for more than a decade. Apparently the prudes have taken over (possibly in anticipation of KOSA's censorship) and are offended by any "nudity" or "Sexualized content, even if the people are clothed or partially clothed". This should concern everyone on Pinterest (and other platforms).
I already comply with major restrictions placed on what art can appear on my book covers because of retailers' arbitrary and capricious guidelines. With the exception of one board (which hadn't been touched), all the work displayed on Pinterest met those guidelines.
So be warned, Pinterest has decided to restrict things even further. It's no longer a safe place for art that appreciates the beauty of the human body or tastefully depicts the passion that two (or more) people can develop for each other. As has happened with other platforms, expect the fascists to come after LGBTQ2S+ content on Pinterest next (especially the T).
Adult content has always been the canary in the coal mine for Internet censorship. The fact that Pinterest is choosing to remove erotic content in anticipation of a bill that's not yet become law should worry anyone who creates/shares erotic content or educational material for young people. If passed into law, the unconstitutional censorship bill would be used by states' attorneys general to enact their own political agendas including denying the right of LGBTQ2S+ people to exist, eliminating women's bodily autonomy, and preventing accurate historical and/or science education.
Erroneously titled Kids Online Safety Act KOSA will endanger (to paraphrase the Electronic Frontier Foundation) young people who are, for example:
- LGBTQ2S+ (content, educational material, and their own online identities will be erased)
- looking for information on sexual health and reproductive rights (their search results will be restricted)
- members of historically oppressed and marginalized groups (access to information about their history and shared experiences will be restricted)
- activists such as those fighting to stop genocide, oppose fossil fuel consumption and climate complacency, change gun laws, or protect religious rights (they will be silenced and unable to advocate and connect on platforms)
- seeking mental health help and information (even discussions of suicide, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders will be hidden from them)
- hoping to combat addiction problems -- either their own or those of their friends, families, and neighbors (any resources they need won't be available to them)
- searching for truthful news or information (since that could be considered depressing, they will find it more difficult, if not impossible, to educate themselves and engage in current events and honest discussion).
In addition, any adult unwilling to share their government-issued identification with platforms known for collecting and selling personal information will find themselves shunted onto a second-class internet alongside young people and will be denied access to this information as well as erotic content.
For now, you can find most of the book covers that I removed from Pinterest here and at https://transgressivewriter.com/. But if KOSA passes, that may change as well. Even if you've done so before, tell your Congress critters you do not wish to give any government the power to decide what topics are "safe" online for young people.