Porn obtains a new domain

The porn industry is a multi-billion dollar moneymaker that will soon embrace a big change, which will act as an answered prayer for the daily porn consumer. On March 14, 2011 the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) stamped its approval of a new domain name change with "Triple X" for online porn websites.

For the frequent pornography watcher, this will make it easier to track down online sites when searching for something to create a spark in their online sexual adventures.

Yet to the online porn industry isn't pleased with ICANN's decision, mainly due to existing porn sites with the common domain name .com or .net. Existing sites will be forced to register their sister domain names ending in .xxx to prevent other businesses from using them.

According to the Los Angeles Times, since the approval, thousands of businesses have requested to reserve more than 20,000 domain names ending in the new suffix. The Florida–based corporation ICM Registry will sell the domain names to adult–content websites.

The business selling the domain names is in fact the corporation that proposed the domain name in 2004.

"For the first time, there will be a clearly defined web address for adult entertainment, out of the reach of minors and as free as possible from fraud or malicious computer viruses," said ICM Chief Executive Stuart Lawle in a statement.

In addition, online porn industries fear that censorship will occur in the future. Since the Triple X domain name will be used for all websites that reach various parts of the world, they believe there's a possibility that countries can set block access to the Triple X domain sites.

"With the new domain name, it makes it easier to monitor because when people see Triple X, they associate it with sexual material, something on the realm of pornographic," said accounting major Kenneth Collins. "It's a smart idea because it distinguishes porn sites from others, which decreases children's access to view the content."

Even though the law doesn't require websites with sexual content to use the new suffix, it just makes it easier for pornographic lovers to find their favorite porn sites with ease. It prevents children from having easy access to right click on the wrong website and see naked bodies displayed in provocative situations across the entire screen. And yet, it's a big shift to the online porn industry.

"I guess it's not really a big deal besides that fact that you can't really hide nor lie about the site not being porn," said Jamie Armstrong, a graphic design major.

Whether it provides a positive impact or negative one, it is clearly evident that the porn industry is about to have a big change.