Kickstarter rolls back its mature content policy after outcry

Source: Engadget

Background

Kickstarter announced a new set of mature‑content rules last week, citing the policies of its payment processor, Stripe. The change was prompted by a rise in campaigns that Stripe suspended mid‑funding because of their nature. While Kickstarter continued to allow “romance and spicy literature, including comics,” it imposed stricter limits on pornographic and sexually explicit material.

Policy Reversal

After an outcry from creators—highlighted in an Engadget article and a Bleeding Cool report—Kickstarter retracted the new guidelines. In its official announcement, the platform stated that community feedback made it clear the change was “wrong,” and it would revert to the previous, less restrictive rules.

The reinstated policy still bans pornography and illegal content, but it is “bare‑bones and not as specific.” Kickstarter acknowledged that Stripe can still suspend campaigns, but the platform pledged to advocate for creators and help them adjust projects to meet Stripe’s requirements. The company described the current approach as an “imperfect temporary solution” and left the door open for future adjustments to mature‑content guidelines.

Industry Context

Kickstarter is not alone in grappling with payment‑processor restrictions:

• Steam began banning games that violate the rules and standards of payment processors, card networks, and banks, affecting titles with adult themes. (See the Engadget report.)
• Mastercard and Visa previously blocked the use of their cards on Pornhub and severed ties with the advertising arm of MindGeek, the adult site’s parent company. (Details in the Engadget article.)

These examples illustrate the broader impact of payment‑processor policies on online platforms that host adult or mature content.