Until the advent of the World Wide Web, Jeeves was best known as the starched, arch butler bailing Bertie Wooster out of one after another mess in the P.G. Wodehouse novels and stories. But AskJeeves, one of the most popular Internet search queries, is now mulling whether to loosen up its image and make a deeper step into the online sex world.
Carry on, Jeeves?
The query service confirms to CNET that it's evaluating several options to address the large amount of sex and porn-related queries it receives. They're considering plans for separate sexually-themed search results, perhaps under a different character, site, and brand entirely.
AskJeeves, in fact, has registered asksex.com and askadult.com, among other domain names.
CNET says issues surrounding sexual material are not exactly new to AskJeeves - like other search engines and directories, AskJeeves "has long returned results for sexually explicit queries." But a very visible project focusing on sexual content could prove a different problem, CNET says.
AskJeeves, after all, cultivated a wholesome image, both by way of associating with the Wodehouse character and with its sites for children's queries and a presence in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.
"We're aware of the amount of adult content on the Internet and that historically it's one of the highest in terms of usage," AskJeeves senior vice president Ted Briscoe tells CNET. "Our site has certainly mirrored a lot of the general demographics, so what we need to do is balance the needs of our users looking for that kind of material with those of others who find it offensive, without being judgmental."
For now, apparently, despite the domain registrations, nothing is set, with the company still looking at options and discussing plans. But Briscoe says a decision will come by early spring. The company also is said to have had discussions on the matter with potential sex industry partners during ia2000 earlier this month in Las Vegas.
"We're not certain which way we would go, but our goal is to create an environment that's safe, friendly and accessible for those interested in adult content--but to do it in a way that users are not exposed who don't want to see that," he tells CNET.
Jupiter Communications analyst David Cord says the move could prove a hazard because of the company's so-far clean image. "This is a company with a balloon in the parade and a kids' site," he tells CNET. "They have to be careful. What you get online is hard-core. It's not Playboy."
