Startup founder Tara Langdale-Schmidt says that the devices of her company, known as VUVA, are designed to calm the pelvis and vaginal pain and the discomfort that she and millions of other women have experienced. But in the past decade, Langdale-Schmidt claims that Amazon has repeatedly concluded the product statements of Vuvatech, she says for violating what she regards as prudish “adult” content rules. Last year, Amazon Vuvatech blocked a discount coupon to one product because the automated systems identified the item as “potentially embarrassing or offensive,” said a screenshot seen by Wired.
“We just have to stop this madness because we are ashamed of things,” says Langdale-Schmidt. 'There is no difference with your vagina than your ear, your nose, your mouth. It is a different place on your body and I don't know how we came to this point where it is not good to talk about it. I just don't get it. “
Amazon spokesperson Juliana Karber tells Wired that no Vuvatech products have been blocked in the past year for policy violations for adults, although Langdale-Schmidt says that it is because she has given up to mention new items. Karber adds that Amazon understands the importance of sexual health and welfare products for his customers and has thousands of traders they offer. The small fraction of those products categorized as “adult” is subject to extra policy “to ensure that we are the best service of the intended customers and not surprising customers who are not looking,” says Karber.
Companies and organizations that work in sexual health and well -being have led for years against what they consider as excessive limitations on their content through shopping, advertisements and social platforms. A new study and an accompanying report shared exclusively with CBNewz by the Center for Intimacy Justice, a interest group for industry, underline how widespread these concerns are.
In the survey, which was completed in March 2024, Vuvatech and more than 150 other companies, non -profit organizations and makers of content in six continents challenging experiences with sharing content about their work, promoting products and using other services of Amazon, Meta, Google and Tiktok. The respondents include organizations that offer tools and support for pregnancy, menopause and other health topics.
Jackie Rotman, founder and CEO of the Center for Intimacy Justice, says that the termination of what she describes as biased censorship against women's health would unlock valuable commercial opportunities for technical platforms, and is also simply the right thing to do. “Bots, algorithms and employees who are not aware of this subject should not forbid the access of women to important and valuable health products,” she says.
Google, Meta, Tiktok and Amazon say they are in their policy, some of which are aimed at protecting minors against potentially sensitive content. The companies also all note that they offer ways for users and advertisers to appeal against enforcement actions.
Some of the offers cited in the Center for Intimacy Justice's Survey include non -regulated products that have limited or mixed evidence to support their effectiveness. Complaints about content -making on technical platforms also go much further than sexual health problems. But Rotman, the industrial group leader, says that the findings of the survey show how broad sexual health tools and information are suppressed on the internet.
