Searches on Etsy for Children’s programmes returning dildos- FFS!!

[SilverCatStripes]

I have just been searching for Gravity Falls merch on Etsy, and was presented with Pride Dildo in the search results, for anyone not familiar with the show it is a childrens show, primarily aimed at the pre teen/early teen market and children would be likely to use “Gravity Falls” as a search on Etsy - what pride dildo’s have to do with Gravity Falls is completely beyond me , this is hugely inappropriate particularly as one of the characters (who is 11 I think ?) is famous for her rainbow jumpers.

I have tweeted Etsy (linked tweet below- don’t care if it is outing will
name change at some point) but this isn’t just me thinking this inappropriate is it -

am I being unreasonable to think there shouldn’t be dildos coming up in searches for children’s programmes ??

twitter.com/SilverCatStreak/status/1532299605425152001?s=20&t=lmHgpvLQJLjrnOTqkQfRog

Forgot to include pic

I've not seen the show but it's set in Oregon - a pride dildo seems appropriate based on the location.

First of all, the vast majority of the Gravity Falls merch (like all the Disney / Marvel etc merch) on Etsy is unlicensed and the trademarks are being ripped off. Etsy is a wild west for this sort of thing so you have to be prepared to come across some fairly weird and outlandish things. I say this as someone who loves Etsy!

Secondly, why would young kids (who shouldn't have bank cards) be shopping online unsupervised, and why would they go to Etsy looking for Gravity Falls stuff rather than official dedicated GF websites?

Honestly the dildo is bloody weird, but a safeguarding fail by Etsy as per your tweet? Don't be daft.

Parents should safeguard their kids from the internet. Etsy is not a kids site.

Etsy has a bit of a history for allowing inappropriate items to be sold. There were child sex dolls on it until recently...

Agree with pp that kids are unlikely to be on Etsy looking up items but I also think Etsy need to do better in keeping the searches and content more specific and appropriate.

I’ve had a good scroll and it doesn’t come up for me, etsy does also include your usual searches etc when giving results.

The only safeguarding fail is parents who choose to give unsupervised internet access to children.

Gravity Falls is a children’s show and Etsy is a very popular app.

It is weird that you are falling over yourselves to normalise attaching dildos to searches for a children’s programme!

Etsy is popular yes, but it's not for children. There is a tonne of stuff on there that is in no way appropriate for children!

It's up to parents to make sure that their children aren't accessing age-inappropriate websites.

Also I suspect the programme has adult fans who want merch. I've never seen it, but having an adult fanbase for kids programmes is not unusual.

It's a pretty dildo though!

Etsy is an app for adults.

Etsy has smart search, so things you usually would search for/view will appear on searches. I’ve been searching personalised dog bowls recently, so now when I search other things the odd dog bowl appears.

Nice try. I have never searched Etsy or google or anything else for anything remotely dildo rated.

Etsy is not an app for adults though is it. Tinder is an app for adults. Anne Summers selling app is an app for adults- wouldn’t see a problem with rainbow dildos there,
so long as they aren’t linked to a CHILDREN’S programme .

It might be a children's programme officially, but if it also has an adult fanbase, and there is a platform where people who wish to exploit said fanbase are able to produce and sell unlicensed merch, then it is not surprising that you end up with adult items of merch associated with that programme. And other than the licensing issues, this is not illegal.

Kids shouldn't have unsupervised access to Etsy because there is a lot of R-rated stuff on there. It's not a site for kids.

Like I said before, it's bloody weird, but this is not a safeguarding fail.

YANBU it’s weird OP

Nice try?? Who 'tried' anything??

That poster has a valid point!

It came up on the second page of results. I have no relevant search history and have safe search settings turned on.

Etsy clearly state that under 18s are considered minors and need constant and direct supervision from an adult. It is an app for adults, just as amazon is, or do you also think credit cards are for children?

I agree with you. I think children are being sexualised from all angles and it's terrifying. Look how many actual p43dophiles are in parliament, the police, found teaching, etc. etc. etc.

It's not okay. Even in movies it's a joke for a child to hold a dildo. I think being open about sex and sexuality within your family and friends is great. But making it into a public spectacle is too far the other way.

It’s a parents job to safeguard their children online. Any child old enough to be perusing Etsy alone is old enough to see a dildo.

KimikosNightmare

thats what bothered me - my internet is set to filter out any appropriate content through the hub app, plus we have google safe search. Sex toys shouldn’t be linked to programmes for kids.

Simonjt I used work in safeguarding children so it’s pretty safe to say I am familiar with what apps children will have access to and will use. Your use of “but children shouldn’t have access to credit cards so they shouldn’t even be on Etsy” is naive at best. Sex toys shouldn’t be linked to programmes for children- and anyone arguing that it’s absolutely fine because the children will “never know” is an absolute fool who needs to do some basic safeguarding training. This is how children are groomed.

YABU

Etsy isn’t a kids site. Supervise your children online.

Etsy is a store, online shopping is something only adults should be doing. If kids can be on Etsy unsupervised then they could just as easily be on any other website which can link to sexualised content. They're not advertising sex toys on CBeebies

I think op is offended for HERSELF as surely she doesn't let her kids on the app as she's so cautious herself?

If you don't want your children finding adult products then surely you don't allow them on online stores that sell adult products. If its children's toys they are looking for send them in the direction of a children's toy shop.

Ultimately it is a parent's responsibility to monitor their children's internet activity. Things like this will ALWAYS slip through safety settings from time to time and it's naive to think otherwise.

YABU.

I agree with you op, it shouldn't be linked.