XTube, the first adult community site to allow users to upload and share adult videos, will be shutting down completely on September 5th. The site is owned by Toronto-based parent company MindGeek, and new content uploads were disabled on July 5th.
Here’s an apparent statement from the XTube team, tweeted by anti-pornography activist Laila Mickelwait (the announcement isn’t easily accessible on XTube, although acknowledgement of the closure is):
The site, which boasts nearly 10 million users, originated in 2006. On the gay side, XTube offers 41,161 videos—but only 12,014 are from verified accounts. On XTube’s community blog posts, many users have left information on where else to follow them. In its FAQ on the closure, XTube notes that all remaining payout balances will be paid out by September 16th 2021. Users can no longer buy new credits or memberships.
MindGeek also owns gay porn studios like Men.com and Sean Cody, and also owns the embattled Pornhub—which gutted its library and revised its terms late last year shortly after Visa and MasterCard suspended payments on the platform, as we reported on The Sword. Just weeks ago, 34 women filed a lawsuit against MindGeek, saying it “embraced under-age, non-consensual, and pirated content in its business” and claiming the company “profited from content produced through human trafficking” through Pornhub.
As reported by CBS: Michael Bowe, the lawyer representing the women, said the company has skirted rules that have long been in place to protect actors in the “traditional” porn industry, which requires producers to verify the age and identities of the people featured in videos.
No further specifics about the XTube closure were provided, and its unclear what relation it might have to the lawsuits. XTube has been the focus of lawsuits before, including in 2017 when a London man was sentenced for posting a Grindr hookup video on the site without getting consent from the other man (who was closeted). The clip was eventually taken down, but not before it did its damage.
What do you think of the decision to shut down XTube? Has an adult video or picture of you ever been published somewhere without your consent?
xtube was great once before onlyfans. Then it went way downhill and all the videos became nothing but fats, trannies, and fisting. Just nothing left but disgustingness that you are EXPECTED to pay for! The days have been long gone; a tree in the woods.
Xnxx twin site shut down too or maybe remain online?
They want it shut down so these good to shoes followers won’t be tempted to watch porn. What difference does it make to them if they don’t want to watch it dont watch it don’t start dictating to the rest of the world what 5he6 should be doing. For some people gay or straight the internet porn maybe the only intimacy they can get.
It is unbelievable to think that in the 21st century we are still fighting the stigma of pornography. I agree content should be consensual, especially those of the amateur status, but come on, let go of the puritanical ideals.
Farewell Xtube!
I think it stinks! Looks to me like right wing nut conservatives are actually behind all these efforts.
I agree with you completely. There is even more to come. The war against porn has only started, and gays will eventually be forced back into the closet.
OMG, The above statements are like something Karosene Maxine Waters would say.
Then I’m in good company.