Kickstarter continues to support a wide range of creative work that features mature content, and creators in this space remain an important part of our community.
Over the past several months, we've seen a growing number of campaigns that had already been approved by Kickstarter get flagged by Stripe, our payment processor, during or after launch. Stripe operates under its own legal and compliance requirements, separate from Kickstarter's rules, and can review projects at any point, before launch, while a campaign is live, or after it ends while a creator is still collecting pledges via Pledge Over Time or Late Pledges.
When those situations arise, Kickstarter advocates directly for creators and works with Stripe to request an additional review whenever possible. In some cases, those decisions have been reversed; in others, they have not.
This guide is intended to help creators better understand the kinds of content and presentation approaches that may trigger additional review from Stripe. While we can’t guarantee or control how Stripe enforces its rules, we've outlined examples and tips below to help you present your Kickstarter project in a way that reduces the risk of disruption.
If you have questions about a specific project before launch, we’re here to help. You can reach us via our contact form.
Stripe Adult Content Guidelines & Common Review Triggers
Kickstarter’s rules prohibit pornography and illegal content. Projects are also subject to review by payment processors like Stripe, which operates under its own policies and compliance requirements. Here’s a link to Stripe’s Adult Content Guidelines so creators have visibility into the broader set of rules that may impact a project before launch.
The most common reasons we’ve seen projects flagged by Stripe include:
- Censored or obscured versions of explicit nudity & sex acts, such as blurred or blocked images. If the underlying image includes sex acts or explicit nudity, it is not permitted.
- Sample pages or previews of rewards that contain explicit nudity or sex acts
- Changes made to a project after approval or launch that introduce content that may fall outside Kickstarter or Stripe policies
Can I use words like "NSFW," "adult," or "explicit" to describe my project or reward tiers on my campaign page?
Generally, yes. You can be transparent with backers about the nature of your project, including labeling tiers or add-ons as mature, explicit, or NSFW. However, because Stripe may review projects differently depending on presentation, creators should be thoughtful about how projects are framed publicly.
What to do If Stripe Flags Your Project
If Stripe flags your project, you’ll receive a communication from Kickstarter’s Trust & Safety team outlining the issue and any available next steps.
Read the communication carefully. It will outline the specific issue Stripe identified.
From there, you have two options:
- Make updates to bring the project into compliance. Review your project page, imagery, preview content, and reward descriptions for content that may fall outside Stripe's policies, make any updates you believe are appropriate, and reply directly once changes have been completed so the project can be reviewed again.
- Request an exception. If you believe the project was flagged in error or could still be supportable under Stripe’s policies, Kickstarter may request a second review or exception from Stripe to allow the campaign to continue as-is. Exceptions are determined by Stripe and cannot be guaranteed.
Please respond within the timeframe noted in the communication so we can continue working with you on next steps. If we don't hear back, we may need to take action and suspend your project.
If Stripe ultimately determines that a project is not supportable under its policies, the project may be suspended.
We know these situations can be disruptive and frustrating. Kickstarter will continue working directly with creators to navigate Stripe’s policies and push for reconsideration when possible. Please reach out to us if you have any questions.