PP minimum age

I've worked with a couple of U18s - one before I joined this site and one on here. They did things by the book - their parents monitored things, I spoke to a parent on the phone before the shoot, parent(s) were present throughout the shoot, and everything we shot was age-appropriate, of course. So there were no problems whatsoever. But that was several years ago, and although I had no reservations about U18s being on the site at that time, I think that things have changed on PP since those days.

Dunno if it's my perception, but I reckon that there's a lot more higher-level stuff on here now. It's a lot more 'almost anything goes' on here than it used to be. At least, that's my perception. So now I'd support an increase in the minimum age. 

And as Mr.Wells says, if there are so few active U18s on here would the site lose much? 

EDIT: The casting that Eloise mentioned - if I'd have seen it at the time, I'd have reported it as well. Even if it doesn't break any site rules, I reckon it gives heaven-sent ammunition to those who already refer to the site as Purpleporn.  

It would be good to have slightly stricter rules on age, but minors can lie about their age online. Parents should really be monitoring what their children are doing on the internet. If a minor is going to photoshoots without their parents' knowledge, that’s just asking for trouble. The internet is an adult space and isn’t safe for children in any way and it is a parents job to keep there children safe. 

Plus some under 18s do model legitimately monitored by parents etc doing only fashion, dance and headshots etc.

Edited by ANDY00

Why is it shocking to learn that a person who is at the age of a school leaver and can work full-time is on a site that allows them to apply for work?

When people reach the age of 16 they can:

• Drink wine, beer or cider with a meal in a restaurant.
• Legally have consensual sex.
• Get married with parent’s permission. In Scotland they can marry without parent’s permission.
• Get a licence to drive a moped.
• Claim benefits in some circumstances.
• Open a bank account without parent’s permission.
• Get a full-time job.
• The NSPCC recommends 16 as the minimum age for babysitting.
• Join the Army with parent’s consent.

It's no ones business but theirs and their parents. If you have safety concerns then raise those with Admins, for example you could suggest admins have visability of all incoming and outgoing messages on accounts of members under the age of 18.

I also highly doubt that accounts under the age of 18 have visability of NSFW or Adult images, but again if your concerned, raise a ticket with admins.

I might point out that you don't need to be a member to see nude images, and surely a 16 year-old with a chaperone is safer than a 20 year-old without?

Gothic Image said

Personally I'd be more worried about "a school themed shoot".  :-(

That has a whole bunch of alarm bells going off for me too. Editorial and catalogue possibilities wouldn't be described like that. 

Mick Wells said

 Given how few there are, I'm surprised the site doesn't hasn't made 18 the minimum sign-up age 

And then people would have to prove their identity. The site doesn't even process credit cards for itself, so that's a whole can new of worms. The site could make claiming to be 18 a minimum, but it's not worth much, so things as a they are could be the less bad option.

Edited by CalmNudes

Sensual Art I would much rather raise a concern about something that might happen, we shouldn’t be waiting until a photo of a 16 year old appears on a porn site to report it if we saw potential signs of it happening. Not saying anyone is guilty of any wrong doing, but always worth looking into something that raises alarm bells if it might prevent an actual incident. I hope you will agree with me on that, as I’m sure everyone here is interested in the safety of those who use the site, especially those who might be more vulnerable.

I do not think it's an appropriate place for 16 or 17 year olds, no. 

TBH it worries me sometimes to see what people fling themselves into at 18 just because they can.

The amount of reports of that castings by people with genuine concerns, to be met with it's fine is pretty concerning. Young teen implies under 18/19 and school girl inspired shoots are pretty sexual if it's not for an actual school uniform brand.

As a photographer I've shot 13, 14, 15 and 16 year olds. Always fashion and actor headshots and parents were always on set.

It's all about context. And the context of that particular casting is pretty gross.

Orson Carter said

Dunno if it's my perception, but I reckon that there's a lot more higher-level stuff on here now. It's a lot more 'almost anything goes' on here than it used to be. At least, that's my perception. So now I'd support an increase in the minimum age. 

And as Mr.Wells says, if there are so few active U18s on here would the site lose much? 

EDIT: The casting that Eloise mentioned - if I'd have seen it at the time, I'd have reported it as well. Even if it doesn't break any site rules, I reckon it gives heaven-sent ammunition to those who already refer to the site as Purpleporn.  

I suspect it is perception - it fluctuates, but I don't think the overall level has changed, but when you become aware that some members post a diet of fanny snaps, you notice every one they post. 

My kids are no longer teenagers but it was recent enough that I don't think making people say they are over some age ever stopped them going on a site they wanted to be on. If a 16 year old wants to join the site and saying they were born 2 years earlier than they really were is what it takes, 90% will do it without thinking. Better, perhaps, to allow them to be honest about their age. 

If you verify age, with ID... In the early days of PP when you and I joined would we have trusted them with copies of our ID, and would they have had the resources to check it was ours and valid. We would now, but would they go back through tens of thousands of members. 

Extremely close monitoring of any calls asking for models under (or barely over) 18 , and removing anything that looks iffy is something most of us would want. I can't find the casting in question so that may have happened already.

Mick Wells said

I did a quick search and found less than 10 female models on here under the age of 18 within 1,000 miles of me who were active in the last three months. Only two of those have any references. There's a similar number of male model accounts, with only one reference between them.

Given how few there are, I'm surprised the site doesn't hasn't made 18 the minimum sign-up age to minimize potential issues.

I agree there's no reason not to do it now. 

Setting a minimum age of 18 would be logical.

Nakiat said

Setting a minimum age of 18 would be logical.

I'm not sure this is the right option, to be honest. Right now, there are legitimate child models shooting fashion, dance, and headshots with their parents or guardians present. If you impose a blanket rule of 18 and over, you risk models lying about their age, which could lead to them receiving job offers that are inappropriate for their age and without proper supervision. Currently, it’s the photographer's responsibility to check IDs and ensure they're only shooting what’s legally acceptable. changing that may force those that really want to model and have free rain on the internet to falcify there age and in doing so have the ability to falcify the proof that safeguards photographers perviously. 

Agreed. I was also shocked at my response from Admins after reporting the same casting. 18 seems far more sensible for this site.

CalmNudes said

I can't find the casting in question so that may have happened already.

It has not. :-O

Unfocussed Mike said

CalmNudes said

I can't find the casting in question so that may have happened already.

It has not. :-O

I found it by changing search terms. Could be innocent, but someone wanting a stick to beat PP with would go "A-ha!"