Kickstarter Abandons New Mature Content Guidelines
Last week, we highlighted some unusual updates to Kickstarter’s content guidelines, which included a ban on “sexual wellness products that are not designed for insertion or penetration and are not marketed primarily for sexual gratification.” Those rules have now been scrapped, and the platform has reverted to its previous guidelines.
In an apology from COO Sean Leow, Kickstarter explained that the changes were largely influenced by its payment processor, Stripe:
> “The updates to the rules were primarily driven by requirements from our payments processor, Stripe. Stripe operates under its own legal and compliance requirements separate from Kickstarter’s own rules. And even Stripe’s rules are dictated by a larger system shaped by financial institutions that govern how money moves globally.”
Kickstarter noted an increase in campaigns that were initially approved but later suspended by Stripe during funding. The company has been advocating for these creators directly with Stripe, emphasizing their belief in the projects and the importance of allowing creators to see their campaigns through.
After the new rules were announced, we reached out to Kickstarter for clarification and only received a full response today, directing us to their public statement. We had inquired about how they differentiated between “sexual wellness” and “sexual gratification.” When we pressed for clarification following the retraction of the rules, here’s what Nikki Kria, Kickstarter’s director of communications, shared:
> “Given that we’ve reverted to our previous guidelines, the specific rule you’re referencing is no longer in effect. I don’t want to parse language from guidelines we’ve already walked back. The blog post reflects our current position and is the most accurate representation of where we stand.”
For years, payment processors have tightly regulated “mature” content, so it’s no surprise that Kickstarter felt the need to comply. Stripe has stated that businesses cannot sell “sexually explicit materials” intended for “sexual gratification.” Kickstarter’s blog post referenced these rules to explain its now-rescinded guidelines and insisted that the recent update does not align with its values, including the “f*ck the establishment spirit of Kickstarter.” (Though it seems the establishment still holds enough power to avoid using the word “fuck” uncensored.)
Kickstarter acknowledged that its community made it clear the new rules were misguided and that it’s “going back to the drawing board.” The platform is also committed to pushing Stripe for more flexibility, clarity, and consistency. It remains to be seen if a platform that has helped fund creators with billions can stand firm against the financial institutions controlling the money flow. In the meantime, creators on the platform may still face challenges due to Stripe’s regulations, even as Kickstarter advocates for them.
