LOS ANGELES (November 4, 2013) — The Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP) is delighted to announce the naming of its three Featured Sponsors for November, in recognition of the fine supporters that assist the association in performing its ongoing task.

ASACP Executive Director Tim Henning explains that the commitment demonstrated by its sponsors goes beyond financial and other material support for ASACP, to include adoption of the association’s Code of Ethics and its industry segment-specific Best Practices, as well as using the Restricted To Adults (RTA) website label to prevent minors from accessing age-inappropriate materials.

“By upholding the highest ethical and operational standards, ASACP’s Sponsors distinguish themselves from their competitors — guided by business owners who set an example worthy of being followed by their peers,” Henning stated. “ASACP’s Sponsor Recognition Program honors those companies that have put child protection ahead of profits, as being true leaders of the adult entertainment industry today.”

For November, ASACP recognizes Various Inc. (Adult FriendFinder), Online Buddies (ManHunt) and Sextronix.

Various Inc. (Adult FriendFinder)

A Platinum Sponsor that has supported ASACP since 2005, AFF has also helped out the association with service on the Advisory Council, providing guidance and industry input — but AFF doesn’t just talk the talk, it walks the walk. Not only does the AFF website include an RTA label to keep minors away, it goes beyond this step to offer a detailed guide to help parents protect their children online, with tips for filter setup and more; demonstrating a real commitment to keeping underage users away from AFF’s market-leading websites. This level of corporate care extends to adults as well, with AFF also offering a guide to safe dating tips.

Launched in 1996, AdultFriendFinder.com has more than 40 million single, swinger, straight, gay, and transgender members, seeking a sex hookup, casual dating or just chat friends. These members can view blogs, chatrooms, and webcam shows, plus submitted photos and videos. Since AFF is free to join, it is especially important for it to secure this material from underage viewers and so the company is very proactive in its measures, which include keeping the most explicit content behind a pay wall.

Online Buddies (Manhunt)

Founded in 2001 by Jonathan Crutchley and Larry Basile, and an ASACP Corporate Sponsor since 2008, Online Buddies was created to connect the gay community during the early days of online dating. With more than 6 million active members around the world, the company’s combined websites account for one of the world’s largest and most trusted social networks.

With a tagline of “Any guy. Any time. Anywhere,” Manhunt makes a commitment to service, balanced with child protection, its number one priority. This dedication to protecting children from inappropriate content and situations online is a part of the company’s cross-business mandate to proactively seek out ways to continually improve its policies, communications, marketing, and operations to keep children safe on the Internet — and indicative of the quality and forethought instilled into its services.

While many companies offer quality products and services, it is the high level of corporate leadership that Online Buddies exhibits that sets it apart. For example, Crutchley has been vocal in his opposition to onerous regulation, yet a supporter of ASACP’s Best Practices, highlighting the self-regulatory role played by progressive adult entertainment companies.

Sextronix

An ASACP Corporate Sponsor since 2010, Sextronix offers a popular affiliate program that promotes the company’s more than 200 premium adult websites, which target straight and gay consumers with sites promoting niches such as solo girls, cartoon and Hentai material, along with content for transgender enthusiasts.

Among the company’s offerings are free sites, which may typically allow unrestricted access to age inappropriate materials; but Sextronix takes the proactive steps of including a warning page as well as RTA labeling, to prevent unexpected or unauthorized access — a process that it further strengthens by requiring a credit card for age verification.

Sextronix is also on the leading edge of mobile technology, with more than 60 of its sites specifically targeting consumers on the go — a move necessary for keeping up with today’s demanding audiences, but one that can complicate matters from a child protection standpoint, especially given the international reach of its properties.

Here, adherence to ASACP’s Best Practices for mobile adult sites and applications serve to guide companies facing these challenges towards workable solutions, without the need for overbroad governmental regulations that harm consumers of legitimate adult entertainment.

“Various Inc., Online Buddies and Sextronix are prime examples of the caliber of market-leading adult entertainment firms sponsoring ASACP,” Henning concludes. “These companies demonstrate industry leadership by taking proactive measures to keep children out of and away from age-inappropriate materials, online and over mobile networks, while enabling ASACP to carry on its valuable mission.”

For more information, please contact [email protected].

About ASACP

Founded in 1996, ASACP is a non-profit organization dedicated to online child protection.
ASACP is comprised of two separate corporate entities, the Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection and the ASACP Foundation. The Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP) is a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization. ASACP manages a membership program that provides resources to companies in order to help them protect children online. The ASACP Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The ASACP Foundation battles child pornography through its CP Reporting Hotline and helps parents prevent children from viewing age-restricted material online with its Restricted To Adults (RTA) website label (www.rtalabel.org). ASACP has invested 17 years in developing progressive programs to protect children, and its relationship in assisting the adult industry’s child protection efforts is unparalleled. For more information, visit www.asacp.org.