Tumblr has launched a new Safe Mode designed to let sensitive souls browse the web without seeing anything likely to offend them. This is part of a growing trend online, as social networks and other sites are realizing the responsibility they have to their legions of users.

Tumblr boasts a high percentage of NSFW content, and, according to TechCrunch, this material drives 20.53 percent of clicks. However, not everyone uses Tumblr for the Ts and As. In fact, some would prefer those Ts and As to GTFO. Which has led to Tumblr launching a Safe Mode...

Protecting Sensitive Souls From Harm

Tumblr's Safe Mode is an extension of the Safe Search function that's been around for several years now. As its name suggests Safe Search filters sensitive content from search results. Safe Mode also filters sensitive content from your Dashboard, meaning you won't see it at all ever.

With Safe Mode enabled you won't see any content Tumblr has deemed to be sensitive in nature. Instead you'll see a gray screen with a message informing you, "This post may contain sensitive media". If you click View Post you can bypass this screen and see the content hidden beneath.

Tumblr is likely to face the usual claims of censorship. In practical terms it is censoring sensitive content, but only if the user opts in by choice. The exception are users under the age of 18, who will be opted in to using Safe Mode by default whether they like it or not. However, users can simply lie about their age when registering their account in order to circumvent this.

Viewing the World Through a Filter

As we intimated above, there's a growing trend, especially amongst social networks, to offer sensitive users a way of navigating the web without being bombarded with NSFW material. It's not how I'd choose to view the world personally, but offering that option can only be a good thing.

Do you regularly use Tumblr? If so, will you be opting into using Safe Mode? What kind of content are you hoping to avoid seeing? Do you already use the Safe Search capacity? Or did you not even know that was a thing until now? Please let us know in the comments below!

Image Credit: Cappi Thompson via Flickr