Tumblr Slammed for Limiting Visibility of LGBTQ Posts

Tumblr was slammed for having a “complete lack of regard for the LGBT community” after it suddenly censored LGBTQ searches. The service blocked user searches of the LGBTQ-based tags #gay, #bisexual, and #lesbian on its mobile app, limiting the visibility of user posts flagged with those terms, in an effort to ensure broad availability of its app. Tumblr’s users quickly lashed out, calling the policy “completely offensive,” while media denounced it as “crippling” for some members of the Tumblr community. As a result of this pressure, the company made fixes and issued a public apology within twenty-four hours.