X, formerly known as Twitter, has updated its guidelines to permit the sharing of consensually produced and distributed adult content. This is allowed as long as the content is labeled appropriately and not displayed in prominent places like profile pictures or banners.
After this change, the @Safety account tweeted, “We have launched Adult Content and Violent Content policies to bring more clarity of our Rules and transparency into enforcement of these areas. These policies replace our former Sensitive Media and Violent Speech policies – but what we enforce against hasn’t changed.”
Previously, X did not explicitly ban pornographic content, and it became a platform for some NSFW (Not Safe For Work) creators, especially after the launch of Twitter Blue (now X Premium), which allowed creators to charge followers for access to their content, similar to OnlyFans. This shift could represent a new revenue stream for X, which has experienced a decline in ad sales since Elon Musk’s acquisition.
Users who frequently post NSFW content are now required to mark their posts as sensitive. These rules apply to all adult content, including AI-generated, photographic, or animated material. By default, users under 18 or those who haven’t provided their birth date cannot view NSFW content. The new guidelines also prohibit content that promotes exploitation, non-consent, objectification, sexualization, harm to minors, and obscene behaviors.
In March, X announced that NSFW communities could apply an “Adult Content” label to prevent their posts from being automatically filtered. The platform also began hiding likes on profiles to prevent exposing accounts for liking adult or controversial content.
Despite these changes, enforcing the new rules will be challenging. For example, in January, explicit AI-generated images of Taylor Swift spread on X, and the platform struggled to contain them promptly.
Other social platforms have also faced difficulties managing NSFW content. Tumblr banned adult content in 2018 after being removed from the App Store due to child sexual abuse material, which led to a significant drop in traffic. Payment processors like Mastercard and Visa have discontinued services to sites like Pornhub and placed bans on other platforms, prompting sites like Patreon, eBay, and OnlyFans to implement stricter rules regarding adult content.
The changes at X reflect ongoing challenges and evolving strategies in managing and monetizing adult content on social media.
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