Published by NewsPR Today | July 2025
If you’ve ever used Google’s ad settings to control what types of ads appear on your website, this change is something you’ll want to know about.
Google is officially retiring a long-standing ad-blocking category known as “Significant Skin Exposure.” This was the setting many site owners relied on to prevent ads from showing people in swimsuits, underwear, or any content that featured a lot of bare skin, even if the ads weren’t sexual.
Starting July 30, 2025, this option will be labeled as “Deprecated,” and by September 30, it will stop working entirely. That means if you’re using this filter, ads it used to block might start showing again—unless you update your ad settings.
Let’s break it all down in plain terms.
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What’s Going Away?
The “Significant Skin Exposure” category was part of Google’s sensitive ad controls. You could enable it to block ads with images showing lots of skin, like beachwear, lingerie, or ads from dating services.
Google has decided to phase it out completely.
- From July 30, 2025, it will be marked as deprecated.
- From September 30, 2025, it won’t do anything at all—even if you leave it turned on.
After that, it disappears from the dashboard for everyone who’s not actively using it.
Why Is Google Doing This?
Google says it wants to give publishers more precise tools to control ad content. Instead of having one broad category that blocks a wide range of images, they want publishers to use narrower, more specific filters that better reflect their needs.
So, rather than just blocking any ad that shows skin, you can now choose whether to block swimwear, dating ads, or anything involving sexual references. This way, you get more control, and you’re less likely to accidentally block ads that are actually OK for your audience.
What Should You Do?
If you’re currently using the “Significant Skin Exposure” block, you’ll need to replace it. Otherwise, after September 30, your site might start showing ads you didn’t intend to allow.
Here’s what you can do:
- Log in to your AdSense or Ad Manager account
- Go to the Blocking controls
- Look for any active blocks under the “Significant Skin Exposure” category
- Replace them with a mix of other sensitive and general categories (see suggestions below)
This isn’t something you want to ignore. If you run a family-friendly blog, a professional news site, or a school-related platform, you might not want certain visuals popping up in your ads.
What Categories Should You Use Instead?
There isn’t a one-click replacement for the “Significant Skin Exposure” category, but here are a few that can help you achieve similar results.
Under Sensitive Categories:
- Dating
- Sexual & Reproductive Health
- References to Sex
These cover ads are more likely to feature suggestive images or adult-orientated themes.
Under General Categories:
- Swimwear (under Apparel)
- Underwear (also under Apparel)
These will help you block ads that show models wearing minimal clothing—even if the ads themselves aren’t inappropriate.
By combining these, you can fine-tune your ad filters to match your site’s values.
Do I Need to Worry About Inappropriate Ads Showing?
Not necessarily.
Even though this specific category is going away, Google still has strict rules about the types of ads that can appear. Anything that violates their ad policies—such as adult content, sexually explicit material, or misleading advertising—will still be blocked automatically.
This change only affects content that used to fall in a kind of “gray area”—like clothing ads that show models in swimsuits or lingerie but aren’t explicit or against policy.
What If I Never Used This Setting?
Good news—you don’t need to do anything.
If you never turned on the “Significant Skin Exposure” block in your settings, the change won’t affect you. Google will quietly remove it from your dashboard, and you won’t notice any difference in the way ads behave on your site.
Why This Change Matters
Ad controls are important for visitor trust and brand safety in addition to revenue.
Whether you manage a news platform, a personal finance website, or a parenting blog, the advertisements that show up on your pages can affect how people perceive you. One inappropriate advertisement has the power to unnerve or, worse, alienate readers.
You can maintain your content in line with what your audience expects by regularly updating your ad-blocking filters.
What Happens If You Do Nothing?
On September 30, it will cease to function if you continue to use the deprecated setting. Depending on your audience and the advertisers bidding on your inventory, your website may then begin displaying advertisements with more exposed skin.
Make time right now to review your blocking controls and switch in the more recent, accurate categories to prevent surprises.
Final Thoughts
The elimination of the “Significant Skin Exposure” category by Google is a component of a larger initiative to update the way publishers handle advertisements. Furthermore, even though it might appear to be a small adjustment, it has significant ramifications, particularly for websites that seek to foster a polite and safe atmosphere.
Now is the moment to take action if you’re serious about controlling what shows up on your website.
Verify that you still have control by going into your dashboard and going over your settings.
It’s a simple task, but it will help safeguard your audience, your brand, and your mental health.
