No More Pro-Anorexia Blogs on Tumblr

Tumblr is taking a stand against blogs that promote self-harm. When a new content policy goes into effect, likely next week, pro-anorexia blogs or others that urge readers to self-injure will no longer be allowed on the blogging site, according to a staff post today. The Awl and New York's Daily Intel blog note that the policy has divided users and will be difficult to enforce. The post itself notes that the prohibition "is intended to reach only those blogs that cross the line into active promotion or glorification," meaning that jokes about starving yourself are fine but advice about how to starve yourself is not.

Tumblr will also begin showing PSAs when users search for self-harm keywords like "thinspiration," "proana," and "purging." The PSAs would include contact information for organizations that can help. Daily Intel notes that the controversial change will likely drive users to Pinterest, "which has attracted a certain flowering of 'thinspo' boards." (More Tumblr stories.)