Congress Passes SESTA, Craigslist Personals & Other Sites Disappear
 

This week the US Senate passed SESTA (the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act). A slightly different version, FOSTA, had previously passed the House.

As Gizmodo explains, Responding to this, Craigslist has taken their Personals offline to avoid possible liability.

XBIZ reports on further reaction. For CFS, I am considering closing the site CRUISING for ESCORTS (CFE) containing customer-written escort reviews. Keith, the founder of CFS, had started CFE in the early 2000s.

However, traffic and interest at CFE had already declined mainly due to the termination of a linking agreement with a related site a few years back. It may be best to concentrate solely on CFS.

I don't expect personals and hookup apps and sites to go away in response to SESTA. It's a developing story and response and I'm not going to react hastily.

Bob ~ Manager/Editor

This is going to be an interesting one to follow - as with most things Congress has reacted rather than acting - they did a knee jerk reaction law rather than fulling researching all the implications.

Craigslist closing their personals has received a lot of press - but depending on the interpretation of the law this could have a far reaching implications to many adult businesses.

Since CL is down, maybe that will drive more interest in CFS. It would be nice. I've had some hot times here in the past.

I am seeing more posts both for the Sex Listings and the Message Board. I'm sorry that I had to close the Communal Stalls site, but the way it was set up would have been an administrative nightmare under SESTA.

Also, I am definitely going to close the CruisingForEscorts.com site.

Bob ~ Manager/Editor

How they can hold the website responsible is beyond me...

If I get in a traffic accident can I sue the state for having built the road? If someone wants to use a personal ad to meet they understand there are some risks involved. But if you go to a bar and meet someone there are also risks involved.

Following up on this, actual sex workers - as opposed to people like us "amateurs" who have sex as a hobby or vocation, I suppose :) - have a new option after SESTA/FOSTA.

XBIZ reports about a new service called "Switter" (e.g., Sex Worker Twitter) which has debuted: It's a big world out there, and of course RENTMENT, probably the largest western gay escort site, is based in Europe - again not subject to SESTA/FOSTA.

I'm sure that regardless of Craiglist's decision non-sex-worker personal ads will continue in the US. We here at CFS will do our part to make it so.

Bob S. ~ Manager/Editor

The one thing Craigslist had going for it was it is NOT a sex website - I know a number of married guys who would occasionally use the personals and felt safer because it was "just Craigslist" - it was not like making the mental / emotional leap to actually signing up for a sex website.

I can understand that. On CL the Personals and the Missed Connections were just a couple categories among many dozens.

"Honey, what are you doing?" "Just looking at Craigslist... There's an ad that looks like a great deal on a big Harley-Davidson hog." :)

Exactly - no need to clear browser history - if someone catches a glimpse most likely they will not realize you are looking for sex.

One married guy I know that was the only site he would use.

I wonder now that it is gone as the sexual tension builds up will he dare try other places like CFS?

You can always browse using a "Private" or "Incognito" window (under Firefox and Chrome, I don't know about Safari, etc.). This type of browsing doesn't go into your browser history.

I've also used a "Private" window (shhh!) to look at news web sites that limit you to only five or ten pages before demanding you sign up for a subscription.

For CFS, I do think something less graphical, stripped down, and with easier navigation would make things a lot better for the many, many mobile users.

Apparently doublelist (com) is replacing CL. Someone registered the site the same day CL took down the personals. Not sure if they are behind it or not but the place is picking up very quickly! The site is also registered in France, so fuck FOSTA lol...

SESTA/FOSTA now signed
 

Now XBIZ reports that Trump has signed SESTA/FOSTA into law.

Doublelist has changed what ads and pictures tiger accept now :(

Amazing how fast sites like CL get scared off.

I thinks it's because they make so much money on the non-sex hookups part of their business. So, they don't want their money maker business jeopardized.

So what to do?
 

Now that CL has gone worthless? Grindr is owned by Chinese now and any info they have can be and likely will be requested by their government and I'm not going to use the app because of this.. All due respect but CFS has like almost no one posting anything anymore..

I did not know that Grindr was now had overseas ownership. :-(

That could very well change their stance on privacy for the app - and if I was a Chinese guy who had been using Grindr I would be very nervous...

Yeah, or anyone who has any business interest in China either.. This was in the news a few months back that grindr had been bought...I can imagine they would try and squelch the reporting...

In KC area... Married cheating Cocksucking husband and looking for much more