Does adult content filter affect sales in some way?

Discussion started by Ozne000

Hi there,

In the last year my sales increased little by little in time, hitting a certain stability in the last 4/5 months (with the usual peak reached in April).

The problem is, my June sales unexpectedly dropped (¼ of April's sales). I've also checked the monthly summary, and even my free models download dramatically dropped (usually 1000 download per month, and in June barely 70 downloads, not even 1/10!).

My human characters gained a certain notoriety on the field in time, but I recently realised that they are not longer visible on the unfiltered results cause apparently now they're considered adult content (all images and thumbnails censored manually by me, NOT marked 18+ on draft, so theorically adult content-free, approved and published after the usual pending review, so no cheating, nor tricks of any sorts. I want also to clearify that my models have not genitalia).

A conversation with CGTrader's team occurred after realising the fact, and they told me that in order to be adult content free, my models must be covered in clothes. Confused by their response, I've replied, pointing that there's a lot of unfiltered results of nude models still out there except mine and few unfortunate creators, despite their moderation policy.

They replied to me that eventually every human model that has no clothes on them, even censored ones, will need the adult content filter to be visible again.

After the long post, back again to the question.

Is that possible that sales could be affected in some way since a certain model is no longer visible in the unfiltered results? Have you ever experienced something similar?

I also want to say that I'm not attempting to complain in any way, it's just pure curiosity. CGTrader's Team is always very polite and fast at replies, but still, there's something that I don't fully understand about this adult content moderation matter.

Kind regards,

Lorenzo

Answers

Posted over 5 years ago
1

I just visited your models. Models that are "Age+" are hidden outside your profile page. Only after clicking Age+ Toggle they show up. Obviously what is needed is a mention that files are hidden due to Age+ content. In fact: even better would be a global setting that remembers your preference.

Well it least it's a possible explanation of your observations.

Hope CGTrader improves on this.

Ozne000 wrote
Ozne000
Exactly. There's no mention of any sort, they're just hidden and honestly there's no point. As you wisely suggested, a simple setting that toggle permanently the user's preferences would be perfect, or simply just making the products visible to 18+ users by default. I sure hope CGTrader would fix this issue sooner or later.
Posted over 5 years ago
4

Woah, that is terrible implementation of age censoring. In fact this should be considered as a critical bug. Everywhere where is age sensitive content, you must confirm your age on registering account and/or give your consent to be able to view such content. And that should be enough. If one must turn on age filter everytime they use the search, then those models are effectively dead. If i would buyer, i probably would think that all age+ models were wiped out and would go to rival marketplace for such content.

Posted over 5 years ago
1

@Ozne000, if i were you, i would write directly to cgtrader support. This bug should be fixed ASAP.

Ozne000 wrote
Ozne000
Of course. Indeed, I'm just writing to support@cgtrader.com hoping that my email will gain attention. I've tried to implement my argomentation and your suggestion in one topic. Thanks for your moral support, I feel less lonely now. I know nothing about all this matters, I'm just a freelance illustrator and an indie creator that likes spending time sculpting human anatomy on Blender, nothing more. Kindly appreciated.
Posted over 5 years ago
1

@Ozne000, no problem. I don't have any age+ models, but i still think that such tactic is very unfair. Similar situation to me happened in turbosquid, where few months ago they did the same thing with textures - buyer has take specific action to be able to search for textures. From that moment all my texture sales drained almost to zero. It's a shame that instead of improving things, marketplaces actually make life harder for its customers.

Let me know if you don't get response from support - i have good relations with some cgtrader employers, i will make sure, that the message is delivered.

Ozne000 wrote
Ozne000
That's very kind of you, highly appreciated. I shall wait a few days for a response. Hope for the best. By the way, how have you managed the issue on turbosquid? Have you got any response or have you just let it go?
Posted over 5 years ago
4

I never understood this prudery. If it is anatomy and not explicit sexuality why should it be age restricted. Everyone has a body.
Believe it or not there are pre-school biology books for kids showing child and adult anatomy, because it's an essential knowledge.

Ozne000 wrote
Ozne000
I know, it's pointless. I do believe that's a very recent moderation policy, cause as far as I know, my models always shown up on the unfiltered search with any issue until May, which I gained the usual revenue and free download amount was stable. My models are simple human anatomy, male model has just a bump on the pelvis area like a mannequin, and woman model has nipples - obviously everything censored in the thumbnails.
Posted over 5 years ago
2

I agree with @LemonadeCG that it is unfair. I also think that it is a problem that affects many sellers, (some like @Ozne000 quite a lot) and that CGT is not managing it well. To begin, has the regulation changed? because it seems that the invisible models are the ones that complied with the filter for adults. That makes me think that something has changed. But again, it benefits the cheaters. Adult models that are not well published are still there. In any case, an action like this deserves to have been communicated in advance, at least to those affected. That would be more respectful, and at least more efficient, by not having to answer the individual emails that each of the affected has sent.

For my part I sent 2 emails because I lacked 3 models, but only 1 is adult content, the others are 2 bikinis, in which photos of a model, but always with the bikini. I sent the first email more than a month ago and they told me that in a short time it would be fixed. After a month, one of the bikinis has appeared and in response to my second email, I received a link to the WP:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recreational_Software_Advisory_Council

what does not solve the doubt, since, if the censored models are those that already have the filter for adults, what is the problem? The main thing would not be to put the filter to those who need it and do not have it?

I also agree with @IndieArt the body itself should not be the problem, nor is it the seller's fault that his model is used. There are many women on the beach right now in bikini, I do not think that the model of a bikini can be considered for adults, but my model has been withheld for all this time. As there will be many more cases, some more serious as @Ozne000, I understand that it takes time to fix it, but I already start to seem excessive.

On the other hand, based on the wikipedia link, the nude is only a part. Is it going to do something similar with the violent, obscene, xenophonic, gore ... models? If it is done, I hope it is done more step by step, less traumatic, especially for users who specialize in models of those categories. In my opinion if the models are well labeled, I do not see any problem. Where I do see it is with those who sell stolen models, for example from DAZ, that probably this situation has increased their sales.

Ozne000 wrote
Ozne000
Hi Tecna, If regulation changed so dramatically, creators like me that basically sells exclusively models concerning human anatomy, as you said, would deserve at least communication of some sort, which haven't occurred. As I said, this is a very recent issue, since until the end of May everything was just fine as usual. My only human model which is adult content free at the moment is a child. It has no clothes, and yet is shown up on ufiltered result. Isn't that nudity as well, I wonder? That's why I think something is wrong or missing by CGTrader's team right now. Censorship in general is fine, if there's a valid reason for it. I believe there's a slighly difference between pure anatomical nudity and explicit, sexual/porn content. Fortunately, they replied to me. They told me that my feedback and insights will be shared with their product team and management. I honestly don't know how much long I will have to wait, but I hope that there are not just hollow words. Thanks for the moral support.
Posted over 5 years ago
1

In my experience I can add that views of 18+ models fell by 70-80%. And if there are no views, no sales

Ozne000 wrote
Ozne000
That's exactly my point. Its penalizing and pointless. Hope to receive a reply in the next weeks.

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