🚫 New Policy and Seller Outrage
On July 29, Etsy will ban sex toys and other erotic items. This policy has upset many sellers. Etsy focuses on handmade, vintage, and craft items. They said new rules are due to "evolving industry standards." Affected sellers, like Anna from Simply Elegant Glass, feel betrayed. "We helped make Etsy what it is," she said. Sellers predict their revenues will plummet due to this change.
📜 Etsy's Justification
Etsy claims the ban is about user safety and industry trends. "We crafted this policy to enable creative expression while considering evolving industry standards," said Etsy's Alice Wu Paulus. Many countries press platforms to prevent under-18s from explicit content. Payment processors also avoid platforms with sex-based commerce. Etsy’s policy includes bans on items like body-insertable adult toys and pornography.
🗣️ Seller Reactions
Anna suggests concerns could be addressed by clearer labelling of adult products, not blanket bans. She has made adult glass products since 2015. A Czech seller of silicone sex toys worries about income loss. "People have 30 days to find new jobs," they said. The Free Speech Coalition's Mike Stabile accused Etsy of "sweeping censorship." Some sellers support the changes but question rule enforcement.
📉 Economic Impact
Simply Elegant Glass generates significant orders through Etsy. Migrating to another platform feels like "starting anew," said Anna. Sellers fear standalone websites won't attract enough traffic. Finding jobs is tough as "sex toy business" on resumes may deter employers. Sellers posted an open letter to Etsy on X (formerly Twitter). In 2015, Etsy’s rule changes on spells also sparked backlash. Etsy’s evolving policies continue to impact its seller community.
Is Etsy's new policy fair to its sellers?
