Google and Reddit are cracking down on Internet pornography

This week, two notable Internet websites reevaluated their stances on pornographic material and have taken steps to eliminate this content from the public sphere.

First, Google announced to users that they can no longer “publicly share images and video that are sexually explicit or show graphic nudity” on its Blogger platform. The new policy will go into effect on March 23.

Second, Reddit, a website notorious for “revenge” pornography, privacy issues and leaked celebrity images, released an announcement saying the social network will eliminate any sexually explicit material in its threads or sub-Reddits that is posted without permission. The change in policy will start on March 10.

“No matter who you are, if a photograph, video or digital image of you in a state of nudity, sexual excitement or engaged in any act of sexual conduct is posted or linked to on Reddit without your permission, it is prohibited on Reddit,” the announcement read. “We also recognize that violent personalized images are a form of harassment that we do not tolerate and we will remove them when notified.”

This isn’t the first time either of these websites have taken a stance against sexually explicit material. According to The Huffington Post’s Andy Campbell, Reddit removed a thread of leaked naked celebrity pictures last year. And Google decided to cut down on sexual advertisements.

Fight the New Drug, a nonprofit anti-pornography organization, embraced Google’s decision to take down pornographic material from its blogs because it shows that a well-known and successful organization is willing to take some sort of stance against pornography.

“Google is making it so people who want to view porn still have the right to do it but it is not going to be out in the open for everyone to see,” the article read. “That’s what we’re talking about.”

This doesn’t mean that the Internet will be free of pornography, though. Google will still allow nudity if it’s for educational, artistic or “substantial public benefit,” according to the announcement the company sent to bloggers. And Reddit will still allow sexually explicit material on its threads as long as it doesn’t violate one’s privacy.

From a business perspective, this isn’t surprising. According a 2015 report from Covenant Eyes, an Internet accountability organization, more than 250 million people are expected to access pornography from their smartphones by 2017, which is a 30 percent increase since 2013. And currently one in five mobile searches are for pornographic material, the report said.

But efforts have been raised to cut down on pornography by places other than these websites. Church leaders have specifically tried to help churchgoers avoid online sexual material.

According to the Covenant Eyes report, 51 percent of pastors say Internet pornography is a possible temptation. Regular church attendees are 26 percent less likely to look at pornographic material, the report said.

“Pornography is prevalent everywhere today,” the report said. “In fact, one in eight online searches is for pornography. Because porn use thrives in secrecy, many church members are trapped in a cycle of sin and shame, thinking that they’re the only ones facing this temptation.”

One of these pastors is Craig Moss, who founded XXX Church to help believers and nonbelievers alike fight pornography addictions.

“Sadly most people don’t [get over it]. … Ninety percent of people I deal with don’t break free,” Mr. Moss told The Blaze. “The people I’ve seen it work with — they’ve got to want it more than you want it. Most of those people have lost everything, and now they’re willing to clean it up.”