Internet Culture

Facebook and Google .xxx domains sold—but not for pleasure

A significant number of the 55,000-plus .xxx domains purchased last week were by major companies looking to protect their online brands. 

Photo of Jordan Valinsky

Jordan Valinsky

Article Lead Image

If you wanted to buy YouTube.xxx to launch a porn website, you’re out of luck.

Featured Video

YouTube’s parent company, Google Inc., purchased YouTube.xxx last week, adding to the long list of companies that scooped up the .xxx domain to protect their reputation.

Google also purchased Blogspot.xxx, Picassa.xxx, and Google.xxx, according to Fusible. They are nonresolving websites—meaning if you log on to those pages, nothing will load.

ICM Registry also blocked the registration of other popular websites including Facebook.xxx, Twitter.xxx, and Yahoo.xxx, just to name a few. The Florida-based domain company even blocked the sale of popular overseas sites, like Baidu.xxx, according to a query on WHOIS domain search.

Advertisement

However, some domains that ICM Registry failed to block for sale initially are now owned by people who might not be associated with the company. We found cyber-squatters scooped up WordPress.xxx and another buyer bought HuffingtonPost.xxx. Both addresses are valid for a year.

As previously reported, a redditor snagged the domain, WestboroBaptistChurch.xxx, a move that spurred talk  about using the site for some form of protest porn. 

Last week, ICM Registry sold more than 55,000 domains in the first 24 hours that the domain went on sale. Also, adult performers can now buy their .xxx address on a newly launched website.

 
The Daily Dot