A Sex Toy Reviewer's Ethical Code of Conduct
Friends don’t let friends buy sketchy sex toys from Wish. And friends don’t let friends rely on fabricated sex toy reviews where the writer hasn’t actually fucked the toy.
My sex toy reviews are written for humans looking for detail and depth — not just robots wanting breadth.
We’ve all seen the extra AF, over-SEO’d titles in cookie-cutter shops selling white-label AliExpress stuff. I know you know what I’m talking about. Their titles are some keyword-stuffed shit like:
Silicone Realistic Dildo Ultra-Soft Huge Dildos for Women with Strong Suction Cup for Hands-Free, Flexible Lifelike Dong Sex Toy with Curved Shaft and Balls for Vaginal G‑spot and Anal Play.
Hooh, I need a sip of water after reading that aloud.
What does the current landscape of search engine optimization and social media mean for the reader?
You’ve probably seen the cookie-cutter blogs “reviewing” sex toys that the writers don’t actually all own.
Just a few telltale signs of fabricated review blogs include:
- Primarily posting summary listicles
- Only posting positive reviews or hiding drawbacks
- Odd repetition of headers and clickbaity keywords
- Using nothing but manufacturer stock images of the products
- Or worse, some steal smaller content creators’ work
These articles often only skim the surface and don’t say much (if anything) about the writer’s firsthand experience. They lack detail. What’s the point of a “review” where someone hasn’t used the product?
Or, for that matter, rave reviews from paid influencers who don’t have a frame of reference for what makes a sex toy stand out from the rest? (I’m looking at you, iobatoys OhMyG…)
You know the answer, and I know the answer: money.
Don’t get me wrong — I’m a hustler and dildo peddler, too. But...
There are principles I abide by in my mission to enhance orgasms around the world. Here’s where I stand regarding the sex toy review landscape.
1. I will never recommend a toxic, shower curtain-smelling jelly dong as one of the best huge dildos.
I care about bringing you quality, body-safe insertables that can be adequately sanitized and last a lifetime with proper care. (Read more about why I recommend silicone over any other soft material for dildos.)
2. I mainly promote independent shops run by lovely people who:
- Care about their customers
- Work with independent artisans, too
- Give a fuck about inclusive sex education
- Give back to the community
3. There’s no unnecessary gendering of sex toys as “for men” or “for women” on my blog.
Ah yes, the three genders: men, women, and couples. I do discuss the following:
- Gendered cultural perceptions of sex toys
- Why a sex toy without a flared base isn't safe for anal use
… but you won’t find me saying that only men or only women could use a product.
4. I’m passionate about my writing and am not just here to make money.
5. I care about bringing you the best sex toys for you and your body — and that includes being honest and authentic in my reviews.
If a product:
- Doesn't work for me
- Is overpriced for the quality you get
- Doesn't live up to the marketing hype
…then I’ll be blunt about it.
6. I own (or at least have owned or tried) the sex toys I rave-review and recommend.
7. My sex toy knowledge comes from my experiences (or my partners' and collaborators' experiences) and not just regurgitated copypastas I found elsewhere on Google.
8. I don’t use black hat SEO or unethical advertising methods.
Let’s just say that there are ways that websites can gain unfair advantages against or outright attack competitors behind the scenes.
Using aggressive SEO techniques to rank higher on Google search results doesn’t mean that their material offers more value to readers. Remember that when you’re looking up reviews.
9. No hate speech. It sounds obvious but needed to be said.
Members of the Alliance of Independent Sex Toy Testers abide by the above code of conduct
While sex bloggers have different specialties (I fucking love fisting and giant dildos), the overarching ethics apply to all in the Alliance of Independent Sex Toy Testers.
Who is currently in the Alliance?
I’ve arranged this list in reverse alphabetical order so that those of us near the end of the alphabet can get some extra love, too. <3
This list was last updated on May 4th, 2024.
- Witch of the Wands
- Tess Tesst
- Super Smash Cache — the blog you're reading now!
- Spices of Lust
- Queer Earthling
- Princess Previews
- On Her Back
- Obsession Rouge
- Nikki Nelson Writes
How other bloggers can join the Alliance of Independent Sex Toy Testers
If you’d like to join the Alliance of Independent Sex Toy Testers, please complete this form.
Applications to join will be submitted to an anonymous group vote open to all other members, and approval will only be granted after a majority vote in your favor. Upon acceptance, you will need to post the membership list on your own blog.
Here are the minimum standards again:
- All products recommended by the blog are body-safe.
- All shops recommended by the blog are safe.
- All blogs respect the diversity of gender and don’t gender sex toys as “male” or “female.”
- All blogs are written by people who are passionate about the subjects they cover, not by people who are only trying to make money. Many of us make some money, but it isn’t the main reason we write.
- All of the writers in our alliance show honesty and authenticity in their reviews.
- All of the writers of the blogs in our alliance can demonstrate that they genuinely own ALL the products that they review and recommend.
- All writers are genuinely knowledgeable in their subjects. They don’t copy their content from elsewhere or “regurgitate” external content.
- No blogs in the alliance contain discrimination, hate, or material intended to shame/exclude.
- No blogs in the alliance use questionable, unethical, or uncompetitive methods to build links and advertise their website. In short — we are genuine bloggers.
- There is a preference that the blogs have been up for at least 1 year and have at least 16 reviews published.
How can readers support Super Smash Cache?
- Buy sex toys via my links
- Share my posts on social media
- Main Instagram: @supersmashcache + backup: @smash.click)
- Leave me a tip via PayPal or Venmo
And, of course, keep checking back on my sex toy review blog regularly for updates!
New here? Overwhelmed?
- Read my “About” page to learn more about me and what I do.
- Check out my favorite posts list
PLEASURE PRINCESS. COMPACT, HIGH-CAPACITY HUMAN. CERVIX SORCERESS.
I've tested over 350 sex toys and love diving deep for cervical orgasms, A‑spot stimulation, and kinky odysseys into the subconscious.
Mesmerizing mindfucking or physical fisting? Blowing men or minds? Opening books or legs? Why not all of the above?
Read more about me, my philosophy, and my love for cervical orgasms and deep penetration.
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I think Phallophile Reviews should be added to the list. Her blog has introduced me to a lot of good toys and gave me new insights.
She's welcome to sign up for the voting process if she wants to.
Why is instagram crossed out as to how you can share your profile?
I've kinda always wanted to review toys. How did you start?
Instagram sometimes prompts users to log in before being allowed to see anything, which registers as a broken link. It's silly, but not important enough for me to fix.
I trust your blog. And love reading dislikes and likes of products. It’s sad that people will steal from smaller bloggers. Thanks for keeping it real