OkCupid launches anti-dick pic pledge to cut down on harassment. But, is it enough?

Unsolicited dick pics are the plague of the Tinder generation. So too are unwanted sexually explicit messages.

But, save giving lessons in the art of decorum, can we really stop people from sending unsought pics of their bits? OkCupid has decided to take decisive action and make all current and prospective users pledge that they won't send unwanted sexually explicit messages on the app.

In a blog entitled "Because You’re Better Than a Dick Pic," the dating app said the member pledge is designed to remind their community of "dating etiquette."

"Now, before our members can interact with the OkCupid community across the site and on the latest version of our app, they must first agree not to send any harassing or unwanted, sexually explicit messages," reads the blog post.

So, how exactly does this pledge work? Once existing users have updated to the most recent version of OkCupid, they'll receive a pop-up message informing users they'll be banned if they send "harassing or unwanted sexually explicit messages."

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

OkCupid CEO Elie Seidman says the app wants to remind users to talk to people online in the same manner they would do in person. "With the OkCupid Member Pledge, we're putting the power in our daters' hands. This new feature reminds our members that, if you wouldn't say it to someone you just met at a bar, you shouldn’t be saying it online," says Seidman.

OkCupid claims to be the first dating app to "incorporate a pledge" that "directly urges members to act courteously and kindly." But, is it really the first time dating apps have taken action regarding sexually explicit messaging?

Tinder's terms of service makes one mention of "sexually explicit" and "pornographic" content, stating that "by using the services" users agree not to post content containing "nudity." Similarly, Bumble's terms of service also forbids the posting of "content" that's "obscene, pornographic or otherwise may offend human dignity." It's unclear whether this term refers to photos posted on individual's profiles or messages sent within the apps themselves.

With research suggesting that 61 percent of women have received unsolicited dick pics, is a pop-up pledge on a dating app really enough to make a difference to such a widespread problem?

Tinder and Bumble already include anti-nudity clauses -- albeit rather nebulous ones -- in their terms of service, but the issue of unwanted sexually explicit messages doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon.

OKCupid users who do receive sexually explicit messages can report senders by tapping on the three dots at the top right of the message. We'll have to wait and see whether there are consequences for people who still since unwanted dick pics.