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ICM seizes on Google’s porn algorithm change

Kevin Murphy, December 14, 2012, 18:13:22 (UTC), Domain Registries

Grasping the opportunity for a bit of easy publicity, ICM Registry has seized upon a recent Google algorithm change to promote its .xxx gTLD’s brand.
It was reported earlier this week that Google has made it harder to accidentally stumble across sexually explicit imagery in Google Images by making its Safe Search filtering mandatory in the US.
The company defended itself from cries of censorship by pointing out that porn could still be found, as long as you are a bit more “explicit” about what it is you’re looking for, telling CNet:

If you’re looking for adult content, you can find it without having to change the default setting — you just may need to be more explicit in your query if your search terms are potentially ambiguous.

Now ICM is plugging .xxx as a “workaround” to this problem, saying in a press release today:

one can simply type a description of whatever porn one wants into any search bar followed by the letters “XXX.” Results are instant and on target. For example, if one is looking for adult content that includes a mainstream generic word like “Toys,” simply enter the search term “Toys XXX” and problem solved.

ZDNet gave similar advice in an article this week, and ICM says that traffic to its own search engine, search.xxx, saw a 50% spike in the last 24 hours as a result.
Could this be a portent for changes in user search behavior in the age of niche new gTLDs?

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Comments (1)

  1. KJ says:

    A year ago google made XXX an non adult term.
    Over the past year searches for “XXX” and “anything XXX” have been in free fall. Dont take my word for it, look at the data.
    .xxx is just another TLD that will forever bleed traffic to .com domains.
    On the brighter side as google makes more and more porn related keywords non adult, BING is gaining users and traffic from this shift.
    Overall Google has been bad for top adult domains and domain industry as a whole.
    XXX.com, Pussy.com, Tits.com have all been devalued to some version of shitty traffic names.

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