The Unseen Struggles Of Promoting Sexual Health Online

The Digital Dilemma of Sexual Wellness Promotion

Whitley Mallory, leading the charge in marketing and promotions, highlights a frustrating reality: despite the importance of sexual education, platforms place heavy restrictions on related content. Essential topics in sexual wellness are often labeled as "adult content" and face immediate censorship.

In Mallory's own words, "We’re incredibly mindful of all of the restrictions in place...this is general safe sex education and it’s being censored. Our audience wants this education but because we’re so restricted it’s hard to reach them with it."

The Strict Boundaries of Platform Policies

Even the most innocuous items, from suction toys to lingerie, can trigger a platform's red flags. Mallory explains that "even if it’s some fantastical colour that looks nothing like a body part, it’s a no-go." The challenge doesn’t end with visuals; words like "pleasure," "vibrator," and "penis" are similarly off-limits, hindering effective communication about sexual health.

This censorship, Mallory argues, only perpetuates the very stigma that these products and education aim to dismantle. For a tech-savvy generation, the unavailability of proper sexual education online sends a misleading message that sex and pleasure are taboo.

“When you want to promote about sex education wellness you need to talk about these parts of the bodies, and we want to, yet can’t.”

A Winding Path Forward

The struggle for visibility in sexual wellness goes beyond individual cases. In a humorous yet telling incident, a cake shaped like a vibrator for the company’s 15th anniversary was flagged and removed. The incident illustrates the absurdity of the current restrictions.

As Whitley Mallory and her team navigate these tricky waters, they continue to advocate for a change that allows for open discussions about sex education, ensuring that the next generation has access to the knowledge they need.