Etsy releases "Images of Minors" policy! Officially implemented on September 8th!

According to foreign media reports, Etsy will implement a "minor image" policy next month, which will have a huge impact on all sellers whose product images contain children. The e-commerce giant said the move is to strengthen its commitment to child safety.

Etsy said: "Starting September 8, 2023, we will introduce a new policy that prohibits the following content: pictures of minors in underwear and minors in fitted clothes. Because these pictures are cropped to focus on private parts, or pose in a way that may be understood as age-inappropriate. While we know that most Etsy sellers have good intentions, we also recognize that pictures are subjective and different audiences sometimes have different views. The new policy provides clear and consistent guidelines for our market, minimizing the risk of abuse or misunderstanding of content featuring minors."

Etsy has several tips for sellers whose product images include children:

• No minors in underwear: In keeping with evolving industry best practices, photos of children or minors in underwear will no longer be allowed on Etsy. If you sell such items, please use a mannequin or other product display.

• No zooming: For images of children or minors, Etsy recommends using full-body images, especially if the minor is wearing close-fitting clothing such as bodysuits, swimsuits, or leggings. If you do need to show a close-up of a product detail that would normally cover private areas (such as genitals, buttocks, or breasts), use an image of the product on a non-real model.

• Use age-appropriate poses and settings: While Ets recommends that sellers use creative and artistic images, please ensure that the images are age-appropriate. Minors should be in a neutral pose, including legs closed or shoulder-width apart, and looking directly at the camera. Do not take photos of minors in the bath, shower, or in bed.

Etsy said the new rules build on its long-standing policy prohibiting child sexual abuse material and underage nudity, and that it will continue to take its responsibility to remove and report such content seriously.

"Protecting children's safety is a responsibility we all share," the company said in a statement sent to sellers. Etsy also warned that it would remove or delist products if sellers violated its policies.

Additionally, the statement said: "If we become aware of or are alerted to sexually explicit content involving minors, we will report all relevant information to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)." It also links to instructions on how to report a product or store.

Editor ✎ Nicole/

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