Demonetization Without Due Process
Payment processors as unexpected censors. What Substack should do now.
I’ve been noticing something concerning on Substack. More and more writers and photographers who share mature, respectful adult-themed content—completely in line with Substack’s rules—are suddenly having trouble receiving payments. Their posts remain live. Their audiences remain. Their paywalls and subscription revenue do not.
I run a tiny traditional‑poetry Substack with fewer than 50 readers and no paywall at the moment. Maybe I’m setting myself up by writing this essay, but I think this really matters and needs to be said. If payments can vanish for creators who follow the platform’s rules but the platform’s only payment processor believes otherwise, it’s a problem for all creators on Substack. If Stripe can police content for one category, like erotica, none of us knows whose work is next.
What Is Happening
Stripe has labeled some of this material as “mature audience content.” Stripe’s decision follows restrictions imposed by acquiring banks, which, in turn, limit payment processors. As a result, Stripe has paused or removed payment processing for creators whose work Substack permits. The effect is the same: creators who followed Substack’s rules lose income because the payment path is blocked.
What Substack Should Do
The following measures are practical and achievable.
1. Secure a payment path that aligns with Substack’s policy.
Substack should engage multiple payment processors and obtain written underwriting positions explicitly covering literary and photographic erotica, negotiate merchant‑category carve‑outs, and pilot a separate merchant account or payment flow for permitted mature creators. Partner with a processor that accepts higher‑risk underwriting while applying robust age verification and compliance controls, and—if required—build or partner on a payments gateway that applies content review before transactions reach the acquiring bank.
2. Prompt and clear communication.
Substack must publish a plain‑language policy explaining permitted works and any payment restrictions by category. Sending itemized notices when payments are suspended that explain exactly why and what steps will restore them, and establish an appeals workflow with defined response and resolution times can help creators understand where their mistakes. Provide a clear remediation path and consider temporary revenue assistance or expedited transition support for creators who lose subscriptions because of processor actions, and ensure notices state when a payment provider or bank is the source of a restriction.
3. Implement contextual review and basic compliance tools.
Substack should staff a human review team trained to distinguish literary or artistic erotica from exploitative material, and maintain a transparent takedown and dispute process that documents the reasoning behind every action. When necessary, apply targeted age verification for subscribers to ensure restricted content is accessed only by adults.
4. Advocate for every creator that Substack permits.
Substack currently does not meaningfully advocate for creators who lose monetization. Leaving creators on the platform without working payment options is not support. Substack should advocate for all permitted creators, including small, mid-level, emerging, and high-earning writers. It should press payment partners and banks to secure underwriting carve-outs or tailored agreements that protect lawful, mature content. Additionally, Substack could provide legal and compliance assistance when processor actions harm compliant creators and offer immediate interim relief or transition support to anyone who loses income because of a payment partner’s decision.
5. Pilot solutions and iterate
Substack should launch a narrowly scoped pilot for creators flagged as higher risk with enhanced compliance controls and monitoring, then use pilot results to negotiate broader terms with banks and processors.
How Readers Can Help
Readers have real influence. The following actions will help creators immediately.
Ask Substack to act. Send a brief message requesting that Substack pursue payment options that align with its content policy and publish a timeline for fixes.
Support affected creators directly. Buy work through creators’ other channels, tip them, join their free tiers, or share their work with potential supporters.
Amplify the issue. Share posts and notes that explain the problem and demand action.
Demand transparency. When Substack issues notices about policy or payments, ask for plain explanations that identify when a payment partner or bank caused the restriction.
Why This Matters
This issue extends beyond a single content category. It concerns the relationship between a platform and the people who build audiences on it. If Substack permits work but the payment rails prevent creators from being paid, the platform’s promises are hollow. That outcome undermines trust, reduces content diversity, and destroys livelihoods.
I stand with creators who have lost income for work that complies with the rules.
Substack can fix this. Engaging with banks, processors, and developing compliance tools shows active support for writers. Readers can help by voicing support, backing creators, and demanding transparency.
Thank you for sharing a moment of your day with me. It really means the world to me! Every word on this site is crafted with love, curiosity, and a genuine desire to connect. I hope something here sparked a thought, a feeling, or even a smile.
I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to comment, share, or reach out. Together, let’s create a warm and inviting poetry community.