Simply Elegant Glass, a small business selling hand-crafted sex toys on Etsy for nearly a decade, is facing a major hurdle due to Etsy’s new restrictions around sex toys. The new Adult Nudity and Sexual Content policy prohibits the sale of adult toys that are designed to be inserted into the body, applied to the genitalia, or designed for genitals to be inserted into them. This policy update has left many sellers, like Andy from Simply Elegant Glass, feeling like they have been cut off from the internet as Etsy was their primary sales platform.
Despite efforts to shift away from reliance on Etsy by launching their own website and migrating to Shopify, sellers like Andy have found that most of their traffic still originates from Etsy searches. The ban on adult-oriented products has left sellers feeling like they have been unfairly targeted, especially with the lack of communication from Etsy regarding the new policy.
Moreover, the ban on adult products has raised concerns about access to gender affirming products, like packers, which are prosthetics meant to mimic male genitalia for gender expression purposes. While some sexual wellness products are still permitted, the ban on certain items could have a significant impact on sellers like Daniel Tyler from Secret Kink, who rely on Etsy for a substantial portion of their sales.
The changes at Etsy come amidst a push for age verification laws in the US to protect minors from adult content online. The impact of these changes on the artisanal sex toy industry could be devastating, with many talented makers facing the risk of losing their businesses overnight. Sellers are also grappling with broader issues on Etsy, such as changes in search rankings, the influx of dropshippers, and the shift away from the platform’s original focus on handmade products.
As affected sellers like Matt Rowe from Odyssey Toys navigate an uncertain future, they are left wondering about the fate of their businesses on Etsy. The lack of communication from Etsy following the policy change has left sellers feeling anxious about potential deactivations or restrictions on their accounts. The situation highlights the challenges faced by small businesses operating on online platforms like Etsy, and the need for greater transparency and support from these platforms during times of policy changes and uncertainty.
