My (personal) problems with the Furry community [TW - NSFW TOPICS]

Before I begin this, I want to point out that I DO NOT HATE FURRIES. While I DO find them a little... excentric, I do not have a hatred or dislike for them! The following analysis is done purely with publicly available information, anything involving personal experience or bias WILL BE LABELED AS SUCH. 

This is also a pure online analysis of the furry community. The internet is obviously way weirder than the real world, so do NOT use this post as an excuse to spread hate or bias towards furries. Those who are most active online are not the majority.

Before we begin, what even IS a furry?

Furries are members of a diverse subculture centered around an interest in anthropomorphic animal characters—animals with human traits like the ability to walk, talk, or wear clothing. This interest often manifests in various forms of creative expression, such as art, writing, roleplaying, and costuming. Many furries create "fursonas," which are personalized animal characters that represent themselves within the community. While some furries enjoy the fandom casually, others immerse themselves deeply, attending conventions, engaging in online communities, or creating custom fursuits. The furry community is known for its inclusivity and creativity, with a focus on self-expression and connecting with others who share similar interests.

Why am I writing this?

After spending countless years exploring the internet, I’ve finally reached a conclusion I feel confident sharing, as I consider myself at least somewhat informed on the topic. I’ve had a mix of experiences—both positive and negative—with furries, spanning real life, VRChat, Roblox, and other social games. The recurring patterns I’ve noticed across these interactions seem significant enough to highlight.

What are the main points you're trying to prove?

The furry community is undeniably vast, and while this brings a great deal of diversity, I’ve noticed certain trends that seem prevalent even within such a large group. NSFW content and issues like porn addiction appear to be widespread, and though they represent a minority, instances of zoophilia and similarly troubling behaviors do exist within the community—this cannot be ignored. I also find it important to question whether this community is a safe space for children and whether it’s appropriate to recommend that they become involved in it. 

Before diving in, I want to share the document that serves as my primary source for much of this blog. It’s important to note that this is a document created by members of the furry community. While this means it doesn’t carry any bias against furries, it’s possible that it leans towards a more favorable perspective of the community. 

NSFW Content and its inherent connection to the furry community.

I believe that the furry community and NSFW content are inherently interconnected. Based on 2016 estimates, furries are said to make up 1-2% of internet users in Western countries. Assuming this percentage still holds true, with 633.07 million internet users in these regions, there would be approximately 6.33 million furries in Western countries. Comparing this to the 1.8 million monthly Google searches for e621, a dedicated furry NSFW website, it means that around 28.44% of the entire furry population in Western countries are visiting this NSFW platform each month. This is more searches than the largest traditional furry platform, FurAffinity, which boasts a 1,000,000+ userbase.

[PERSONAL OPINION]
Keep in mind, this isn't just normal NSFW, this is furry style and related ONLY. Who knows how many of them consume traditional NSFW... it's a little weird.

This community is a horrible place to be as a child.

I firmly believe that the internet as a whole is somewhat unsafe for children, but I find the furry community to be particularly concerning in this regard. Consider the statistics mentioned earlier, along with the findings from Furscience's 2020 survey, which highlight specific trends within the community.

"59.2% of furries say their first interaction with the furry fandom was under the age of 18 (with 35.1% saying it was before the age of 16 and 11.3% saying it was before the age of 13.)"

In 2020, over half of furries reported that they first discovered or engaged with the community before turning 18. I strongly believe that a community where nearly 30% are consumers of furry NSFW content is not an appropriate space for children.

It’s important to note that this conclusion is based on a survey with a sample size of 599 participants, so whether you consider this sufficient to draw broad conclusions is ultimately up to you.

[PERSONAL OPINION]
I do think it's enough, and I find it incredibly weird.

Zoophilia has a connection to the furry community.

While I personally refuse to consume this type of content, the sheer volume of zoophilia and related artwork hosted on some furry NSFW sites is enough to make me concerned. It’s not just the amount, but the proportion of this content compared to other, more acceptable forms of furry NSFW artwork that stands out. While I can’t provide direct links to these sites (for obvious reasons), I encourage you to do your own research on the topic—it certainly gave me a new perspective. However, I completely understand if this statement isn't enough to convince you, as it is really just my word. 

[PERSONAL OPINION]
I often think about a question I heard from the YouTuber Turkey Tom, someone who has taken an unbiased approach to furries and even attended conventions to interview them:

"You can think of thousands of furries who aren’t zoophiles, but can you think of thousands of zoophiles who aren’t furries?"

This statement carries the important message that not all furries are zoophiles, which is absolutely true. However, it also highlights the unsettling reality that a significant number of zoophiles appear to be hiding within the furry community.

My personal issue with how Furries are treated online.

I find it incredibly strange and unique how furries are treated online. Criticism of other communities, like otakus, often goes unnoticed or is simply accepted. Yet, for some reason, furries seem to have a kind of protected status on the internet. Why is that? It’s one of the reasons I’ve been hesitant to write this blog—I genuinely fear the possibility of being banned for expressing my thoughts. Why does this community receive such protection? When people like Ruben Sim criticize the furry community, they are often met with attacks, threats, or even doxxing. What makes this community so untouchable compared to other, similar groups on the internet? I think it’s absurd, and this special treatment is part of why so much reprehensible behavior within the community goes unchecked.