Google is looking to curb most of the sexually explicit content on its microblogging website Blogger, following a surge in adult content on the service over the past few years.

On March 23, a new rule will be added to Blogger enforcing stricter rules on adult content. This doesn't mean all nudity is banned. Google will still allow nudity if it features an artistic, educational, documentary or scientific context.

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Slapping the term 'artistic' could be Google's undoing in handling specific cases since the term is extremely broad and different to every individual.

Google will not delete any content from Blogger but any adult content will be marked as private, meaning only the admin and invited users will be allowed to view the content.

It's a smart way for Google to remove a lot of the built-up smut on Blogger without removing a hefty chunk of its user-base in the process. Google may reduce the rate at which people are heading to Blogger to view adult content.

The move has not pleased everyone. Several adult filmmakers using Blogger claim it will remove a large proportion of the user-base, especially since the blog owner has to send out the invites and users cannot request one.

"Set to private and by 'invitation only', our websites will be all but destroyed," wrote Derren Grathy, the owner of a popular adult blog. "The fact that you haven't deleted our content is of grim consolation when you kill off our entire user base!"

It's an interesting development considering the decline in Blogger's traffic over the past few years. It almost seemed like Google was finished with Blogger, but perhaps it wants to integrate the blogging service better with the fall of Google+.

Google recently launched YouTube Kids, a child-friendly version of YouTube offering educational content and kids' shows. It's clear Google thinks the under 18 segment of its audience is crucial even on a service like Blogger.

Other blogging and image boards like Tumblr and Reddit don't regulate nudity as heavily as long as the user knows they're heading into an adult blog. But Facebook and Twitter have started monitoring content more heavily and seeding some of the adult content.

TagsBlogger, blogging, adult content