If you're an iOS user and want to explore some saucy communities on Discord, you'll have to move to use the app on your computer. The site announced this week that it is banning iOS users, including those 18+, from accessing NSFW communities. The site has stated that those communities will still be available on the desktop and web iterations on Discord.

apple is making it so iOS devices can't access nsfw discord servers holy shit pic.twitter.com/dhWOgwlBhI

— transsexual menace 2 society (@femboyfinance) April 13, 2021

While Discord did not give a full explanation as to why it was making this change, the answer seemed pretty obvious to onlookers: Apple has a policy saying that apps with user-generated content "that end up being used primarily for pornographic content… do not belong on the App Store." It was this rule that caused Apple to remove Tumblr from the App Store in 2018, which caused Tumblr to ban pornography altogether, leaving it a husk of its former self.

While Discord's attempt to skirt the Apple Store's boundaries isn't as heavy-handed, it does seem a little ridiculous and concerning to those who genuinely want adult spaces online. "Preventing adults from accessing adult content on one platform specifically seems like a counterintuitive way to stay in Apple's good graces in this regard," wrote Ars Technica. Users on Twitter were also alarmed at the decision.

Apple’s regressive stance on sexual content being available on its largest platform is verging on a full on moral panic and it’s really gross. Entire businesses and communities have been crushed by it, and it often hurts queer and trans communities most.https://t.co/jfGfhpPBZm

— Matthew Bischoff (@mb) April 13, 2021

I reckon use what IOS is doing to Discord's NSFW servers as a reminder on WHY AO3 is a non profit and doesn't have an app. But also why we need to maintain and support Adult Only spaces for as long as we can.

— All Chaos and No Control🐍☁️/ ⛩️🐺/❄️🔥🔞 (@JenosonTwit) April 13, 2021

Apple</a> why are you trying to force apps into following your weird puritanical rules about NSFW content, why is <a href="https://twitter.com/discord?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">discord being made to ban NSFW server access to iOS users? Stop trying to babysit us that are adults. Force parents to be accountable and stop punishing everyone else. pic.twitter.com/OfNBQbMfAa

— Aerik Tirel (@colorofsakura) April 13, 2021

Microsoft is reported to be in talks to buy Discord. Should the sale go through, it is unclear what the future of NSFW communities on Discord would be.