500px banned my account after I uploaded a critical cover image. Obviously the new Chinese management/owners don’t appreciate criticism. I knwe it was time to say goodbye to 500px.com.
It was announced that VCG – the Getty Images of China – took over 100% of 500px shares for $17 million in cash. When I read that I asked myself if my photos should be with a Chinese stock photo company. I raised the question publicly (also on my cover image) and as a result in typical 500px manner I got banned.
During the followin weeks they cleaned out their user base and banned lots of paying and free members. Many well-known photographers are gone and now the quality (especially in the nude channel) is rather poor. Their moderation double-standards lead to confusion. Some photographers with dozens of nudes showing genitalia are still there while others got banned without warning for showing just one.
I have never had a paying membership and I did not participate in their marketplace. Now I am even more glad about my decision.
Have a look at this discussion:
https://disqus.com/home/discussion/petapixel/beware_500px8217s_8216flexible_pricing8217/newest/
Traffic was going down for months with most visitors coming from USA and China. The negative reports kept growing. There was an exodus of photographers. You don’t even have to ask yourself anymore: Does it make sense to support a Chinese stock photo company? The answer is clear, at least for me. I have not regretted that it was really time to say goodbye to 500px.com.
I guess, it was the right decision once again all these years. Not many photographers can say the same and celebrate their 20 years anniversary.
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