Is this "too adult" for Google?

making a site on a "romantic" topic

[uhwebs]

I'm considering making a site on a topic that might have some adult words. Wouldn't be porn at all-- i guess you could say its sort of a romantic or couples topic... so words like "sex" will come up.

Is this considered "adult"? It definately is a mature topic but not what i'd consider dirty or pornographic in any way.
I've seen sites on relationship advice that include sexual information & run ads, so I'm assuming it's OK?
I have other sites in no way related so I don't want my account being in trouble.

And if one page was a little too adult for them, would they just not show ads on the page-- or the whole site, or ban the whole account?

[Quadrille]

The bots can't judge the context of the words, just the numbers of them. So if there's a chance it's over the top, then you need to recognise that. 'Adult' issues are never negotiable (Google need to protect themselves from potential criticism), so you'd be unwise to take risks.

I have a site where sex and anatomical terms appear, with no problems at all - but I do not have any 'sexual slang' on my pages.

Check the TOS carefully, but if it really is just one page, the simple solution is to take the ads off that page.

[uhwebs]

Hmmm. Maybe Adbrite or something else would be preferable then?
I really dont' want to risk my Adsense account.
What about sites that have relationship advice that mentions sex or sexual positions etc.... like cosmo? Is that "Adult"? I'm thinking yes.

[BigDave]

Some high volume sites like anything related to Cosmo would have a unique contract with Google. Never assume that something that a site like that does would have the same rules as your site.

[Quadrille]

Again, it depends how it's expressed.

Sexual advice can be very detailed without being 'dirty' - and it's not biology that makes sites adult, it's the language and attitudes that adult sites use.

If my forum software can recognise and censor a 'dirty comment', then I'm 100% sure that Google can spot a 'dirty' page at 673 metres.

I know the word 'dirty' sounds horribly prudish - but I think it's a useful word for the kind of problem we're discussing, and I can't think of a better word.

I don't know Cosmo these days, but twenty years ago, I used to read their problem pages* for the fascinating facts and amusement - and while they were often in graphic detail, 'dirty' is not a word that ever applied.

The test question is "Is this site OK for my kids?" - Cosmo's fine, problem pages are fine. Most adult sites are not. Google (like everyone else) will have their own definitions, and will have created their bots to ensure they stick to their code. There will be no grey areas.

*I'd like to stress, in case my future biographer is reading, that I never bought cosmo, I just thumbed my girlfriends' copies :)

[himalayaswater]

You better contact Google. I've seen websites with tips on better sex, celb pics and all sort of stuff with adsense (but no pr0n). I also suspect that somehow those topics makes good money.

[ecmedia]

I have a very successful website about dating and relationships with advice on physical intimacy but all provided in what I think in a PG-13 format. AdSense works just fine.