After Tumblr, LGBTQ dating app SCRUFF gives into Apple's demands as it bans bikinis and underwear in profile photos

NOTE: For all latest, breaking news related to Tumblr adult content ban as well as its alternatives, head here.

It’s a well known fact that presence on Apple’s App Store is oh so important for most app-based businesses. This again became glaringly clear when Tumblr announced it’s banning almost all kinds of adult content from its platform after its app was removed from the App Store by the Cupertino-based company.

Now, another popular service Scruff has revealed their iOS app got booted out of the marketplace earlier this year after it was found violating the App Store guidelines.

This revelation was made by none other than Scruff CEO Eric Silverberg in a post on the official Scruff website.

Today most software is distributed via app stores, and consequently app content policies are a direct extension of app store content policies. Simply put, all gay and queer apps must enforce app store content policies or risk being removed from the app stores altogether, and this happened to SCRUFF earlier this year. Had this removal been permanent, it would have been devastating to our company and our community

Of course, the app got removed due to adult content. So, to mitigate that, Scruff updated its guidelines to disallow stuff like jockstraps, underwear, and bikini-style swimwear in profile pics.

Initially, the company also imposed restrictions on hugging and kissing images.

Is this part of the policy new? No kissing or hugging? pic.twitter.com/RildUuz9wm

— Stephen?Molldrem? (@StephenMolldrem) January 24, 2019

But that has been lifted now. Here’s the clarification from CEO over this:

We have also clarified our policy by removing references to hugging and kissing – it is specifically sexually suggestive embraces that may not align with app store guidelines

And following is what the Scruff profile guidelines now say about underwear photos:

No photos in underwear, jockstrap or bikini style bathing suits. No photos of shorts or pants open to show underwear

Just like in case of Tumblr, this recent change by Scruff is also being seen as an effect of recently passed FOSTA/SESTA laws in the US.

What do you think about this whole episode? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

NOTE: PiunikaWeb has covered in detail the Tumblr adult content ban as well as the platform’s alternatives, check out all updates here.

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