The Internet is about to get a whole lot more porn. As of 11am ET today, more than 100,000 new websites will go online as the .XXX top-level domain, which was approved by ICANN in March, officially goes live. But just because there will be more pornography online doesn’t mean Web users will necessarily be bombarded by even more salacious content than they already are.
According to ICM Registry, which owns and regulates the .XXX top-level domain, the launch of .XXX will make it easier for those who wish to avoid adult content to do so, as the domain name itself will, in theory, clue users into what kind of content they are likely to be bombarded with when they visit such a site. Also, the .XXX signifier should make it easy for parents or websmasters to block sites with .XXX in the URL.
And if it doesn’t, well, it’s not like there isn’t a plethora of porn on the Internet already.
“The adult entertainment industry has, and always will, account for a large amount of this content and while it is enjoyed by some, it is not suitable, or of interest, to all Internet users,” reads the ICM Registry website. “Regardless of your views on adult content, it’s here to stay, so let’s be adult about it.”
In addition to making it easier to filter out (or in) porn sites, the .XXX domain also makes it more safe for people looking for adult content to do so without the added risk of contracting a (computer) virus while doing so, as all sites registered with a .XXX domain will be automatically scanned daily by McAfee antivirus tools.
Despite these selling points, some in the adult entertainment industry are displeased with the arrival of .XXX. Manwin, the company that runs Playboy.com, YouPorn.com and a variety of other adult websites, has come out firmly against the .XXX domains.
“We oppose the .XXX domain and all it stands for,” said Fabian Thylmann, managing partner of Manwin, in a statement. “It is my opinion that .XXX domain is an anticompetitive business practice that works a disservice to all companies that do business on the Internet.”
The opposition front does not span across all of the adult industry, with some porn publishers buying into the .XXX plan.
“We believe the future of adult entertainment online is in the .XXX top level domain,” said Adam Osborn, head of digital at Paul Raymond Publications. “We see a huge benefit in the adult community having an online space dedicated to our content.”
Porn sites aren’t the only organizations purchasing .XXX, either. A number of universities across the US, including the University of Missouri, Washington University, and Penn State, have purchased .XXX domains containing their school and team names as a way to protect their brand from becoming slathered in smut.
Despite the existence of .XXX, there is (so far) no requirement that porn sites migrate to .XXX, meaning all the .com sites will still be out there for you to avoid or enjoy.
