Should porn sites have their own .xxx domain?
ICANN has given initial approval to the creation of a new dot-xxx top-level domain (TLD) for adult websites. Will this make it easier to avoid online porn?
According to the BBC, the board of ICANN – the not-for-profit body that coordinates the internet’s naming system – has given initial approval to the creation of a new dot-xxx top-level domain (TLD) for adult websites. For those who may not know, TLDs are the highest level of domain names and represented by the two or three letter suffixes that make up the last part of a URL: .ca, .us, .com and .net, for example.
The debate as to whether or not a .xxx TLD should be created has rumbled on for quite some time. ICANN actually approved the idea back in 2005 but subsequently backtracked as a result of some inevitable lobbying and criticism from various groups.
Here’s what ICM Registry, the company behind the .xxx initiative have to say about it (copied from their website):
Despite a very large online market for adult entertainment, large sections of society do not wish to come into contact with its products and as such .xxx provides both willing consumers of adult entertainment and those who wish to avoid it with an easily identifiable mark – the end of the web address.
What’s more, the .xxx “registry” will be a professionally run outfit that will include Best Business Practices into the agreement that all registrants of .xxx domains will have to agree to before they can have a .xxx name. The result is greater confidence and certainty in .xxx domains by those who visit the domains.
For adult entertainment providers, identifying themselves as compliant with a comprehensive set of Best Business Practices can provide more predictable revenue streams, greater customer retention and fewer complaints as regulators and others will see adult entertainment providers take a proactive and responsible approach to their web presence.
For individuals or families wishing to avoid adult content, the machine-readable labels will allow easy and reliable filtering. No need to fiddle with keywords or expensive software.
In addition, the introduction of .xxx creates a credible, self-regulated forum for all stakeholders to discuss and actively respond to concerns about online adult entertainment.
So, is the .xxx TLD a good idea or a bad idea? In my opinion, it’s neither. I really don’t buy ICM’s claims that the new TLD will make it easier for people to avoid porn. Why? Because I think it’s unlikely that established adult content sites will abandon the .com addresses they have spent time and money promoting. Further, the operators of those websites may well not want to move to a TLD that may be widely blocked. In short, to my mind this move will have no real impact whatsoever. The porn will still be there and it will be just as easy as ever for people to intentionally or unintentionally find it.
What do you think? Is the .xxx TLD a good or bad move?
Personally I think this is a wonderful idea and falls in line with others such as “org” “ca” etc.
Being the owner/creator of fun2work4.ca and wealthy-grampa.com and Brian-Cooper.com and cooper-network.com I would welcome the new designation which would free up the .com’s and .ca’s etc.
Yeah bring it on.
Too little too late, the .xxx designation will allow the doubling of porn sites, and the same players who have the money will buy up their share of .xxx using redirects to the old or new site.
Unfortunately, the perverts are not going away any time soon, the xxx sites are making too much money off these sickos so they will put up all kinds of legal fights to remain in the publics face.
There is great software, firewalls, and filters on the market today some of which is free such as OpenDNS’ Family Shield as you mentioned in your June 24, 2010 (OL) article. Family Shield is a fantastic product and service that should be in every home. It can also be used to help seniors to be safer.
Setting up your own filters is simplicity itself, then check your work to see what gets through and what does not, tweak the filter(s) until it is where you need it to be. All the major software firewalls, antivirus programs such as Norton, McAfee, Microsoft, and others have filters that can be honed to excellence.
Amazes me the amount of intellectual thought time consumed to worry about such drivel.
It looks like the wealthy grampa just couldn’t wait to spam the site.
And by the comment about me spamming you mean what in particular???? I listed my sites to show that I do have sites and hey if it was free advertising then “what the hell”.
I did not solicit anybody to look at the sites. I did not “spam” anybody’s email. I don’t care if anybody goes to them or not. I mention on the sites that they are a hobby for me and definitely do not provide me with an income I need. My life is very complete both financially, healthwise, and a stockpile of “toys” in the yard. My wife and I are going to take an early retirement next year BECAUSE we can afford to at ages 61 and 60 and most definitely is NOT because of the sites.
I have always thought spamming was sending out mass emails to people and bugging them to buy, take part in, invest in, or whatever.
As I said I don’t see where I said for anybody to look at the sites.
btw.
In addition to the listed arguements that I offer as NOT spamming……I made one comment and happened to be the first one to see the article.
Do you see a list of “ads” or anything else I put in.
NO except for this afterthought.
For the porn stuff i dont believe it will stop ever… even i have watched porn and i think all i ended up with was dirty mind and ugly thoughts about all the women .. i felt guilty .. i feel even doing it will not make me feel as bad .. this topic “SEX” is overrated and has been blown out of proportion … with new TLD their business will certainly bloom more .. and they will make people pay more and in organised manner ..
one more thing this wealty grampa .. is more like sales man busy selling stuff .. i ve visited your website Grampa …
Leave wealthy Grampa alone! We all who we so lucky to be in his shoes!!
Unfortunately porn sites are not interested in sites that are designated xxx they are out to recruit more people from public domains that would not normally or intentionally view a site with a xxx rating .
In short they want to be in your face when ever and where ever they can in hopes of spreading their perversion for their own agenda which is not always just more money .
So no this idea will only give them a legitimate base to work from to there by increase their activities on the internet as a whole . What is really needed are better ways to filter out the trash sites for those that don’t wish to view them .
I think it’s a good idea! I think it will make it easier to block these types of sites now.
If implemented, why not run it as a non-profit organization and require that all adult content be moved away from any other TLDs over to XXX?
Of course that would require someone to define what “adult content” means.