‘Disgusting’: Cotton On Body slammed for x-rated content

The underwear and sleepwear retailer was celebrating its latest collaboration, but followers believed the post should have been for adults only.

“Nothing says ‘good vibes’ like 30% off the Body x VUSH pop vibrator,” the Cotton On Body Instagram post reads.

Pictured is a lacy pink bralette and thong set in a flat-lay alongside a matching pink vibrator.

The post has caused controversy online, with many saying it's inappropriate content to post on a site that's available to children.

Cotton On Body’s target market is over 18, but many followers were shocked at the post, saying that younger teens not only shopped at the underwear and sleepwear retailer, but also followed its social media account.

“No Cotton On,” one person said. “Leave that adult stuff for Adult World Store. This is ridiculous.”

“Um why is this allowed,” said another.

“Hopefully sold with an age restriction policy,” a third person wrote. “Why would @cottononbody make it so easy for kids and teens to access adult toys. Sick!”

“I don’t think it’s right for an open social media platform which is accessible to children under 18 should be advertising sex toys,” a fourth person said.  

But many people pointed out that adult content was all over the internet, and it was up to parents, not Cotton On to look after their children.

“It should be parents’ responsibility to monitor the content their child is consuming,” one person said. “If they don’t want their child to see inappropriate content, their children should not be using social media unsupervised.”

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The Instagram post announced Cotton On Body's collaboration with sex toy maker Vush. Photo: Cotton On Body

Cotton On Body followers disagree with controversy over vibrator

But not everyone had a problem. Some believed people were overreacting while others didn’t even register the fact that kids under 18 might see the post.

“People need to calm the f down and grow up,” one person said. “If you don’t like it, scroll.”

“OMG I love this @cottononbody!” said another

“Need,” a third person wrote.

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Sex positive mum believes teens should have vibrators

If some people took issue with the possibility of kids seeing vibrators on the social media account of a fashion brand, some parents are at the other end of the spectrum, encouraging kids’ awareness of sex of sex toys.

Mum Emily Roach is on a mission to encourage parents to “speak openly and honestly about sex to their children”, according to Somerset Live.

Experts say on average, kids will see porn by age 11, so the only way to get out in front of it is to talk about it.

“We should have open conversations about such taboo subjects. If we don’t talk to our children about sex, they will just find answers elsewhere,” Emily said.

But Emily takes it a step farther.

“We should approach sex in a more positive way, self-pleasure is extremely normal and healthy. If my 13-year-old daughter came to me and asked me to buy her a vibrator, I would be happy she trusted me enough to ask the question.

Cotton On has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as ‘Disgusting’: Cotton On Body slammed for x-rated content