Pixiv would no longer show NSFW content to users living in the US / UK starting April 25, 2024. - Pixiv And it's specifically outlined what is considered NSFW content on this link to Specific Restrictions / Pixiv Source. This stuff caused some commotion over twitter.
Pixiv is an image hosting site from Japan that has gradually spread its reach in the West. It's popularity can be likened to the West's version of DeviantArt and ArtStation. Websites like these give the hobby artist to professionals a platform to be scouted by agencies for work and portfolio building. Since the site's efforts to support the English and other languages, its influenced has increased in the West.
For people that go hard otaku mode beyond just watching anime and consuming manga, this site is where they can follow up with their favorite illustrator before twitter became the norm. I remember how hard it was to navigate through the site years back because English translations were limited on the site but this was the gold mine for discovering new artists before they make it big on Western twitter.
Mastercard, Visa, and Paypal have imposed a lot of restrictions for processing payments for NSFW content creators and this makes it hard for these artists to make a living. Pixiv has been adjusting their policies to accommodate these Western Payment Processors in the past.
I don't know about your stance on NSFW content and its creators but this only makes it difficult for both artists trying to make a living and patrons that want to splurge their disposable income. If times are hard due to the economy, how much more for artists that have to compete with AI or job security from fields that do require artists but can't get into because of the limited positions available.
Of course there are a few steps to bypass the restrictions like setting your account's profile as a person not living within the US / UK territory but I don't know how that would play out if you're also relying on Mastercard and Paypal to purchase some of the subscriptions to NSFW artists. The most effective way to sell anything online would always be creating systems that reduces the steps to connect between seller and buyer.
For NSFW creators living in the West, marketing their stuff on the site and relying on Western Payment Processors would limit their sales or rely on SFW content. For consumers of the NSFW content, it adds another step because what patrons are unable to use the payment options set by the creator. There are ways to bypass this hurdle like moving into another site that caters to these audiences but you're adding extra steps.
Unless we're talking about die hard fans willing to go through extra lengths to buy some merch even signing up for a different site, the average user may no longer be bother over this small obstacle and would opt for patronizing another content creator. NSFW is a competitive market and you'll have no shortage of alternatives given how there's a fetish for everything out there.
Let's be real, sex sells and the quickest way for an artist to make a living is doing NSFW online. I'm talking about average hobby artists or starting professionals like doujin artists who have yet to get their network going. SFW content is already competitive but there's a real market out there for artists willing to commission people's rule34 fetish. I know, because my friend that does rule34 art only does it for the large sums of money from the niche sites he's been into.
I'm just saying artists and their patrons don't come out as winners from these changes. And one could argue about relying on SFW content, but let's be real, Pixiv is more chill when it comes to live streaming WIP that shows NSFW content than YouTube. At least, when I registered for an account or use its app, the first thing I saw on the top livestreaming shows were NSFW and I wasn't even touching my NSFW visibility sittings.
Thanks for your time.