X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has officially announced that it will allow users to post consensual adult content on the platform, as long as it is clearly labeled as such.
This move formalizes a policy that was already in place before billionaire Elon Musk acquired the company in 2022.
In a recent update on its website, the San Francisco-based company stated that users “should be able to create, distribute, and consume material related to sexual themes as long as it is consensually produced and distributed. Sexual expression, whether visual or written, can be a legitimate form of artistic expression.” This means that users will be able to post adult content, including images and videos, as long as it is created and shared with the consent of all parties involved.
While adult material was allowed on the platform before Musk’s acquisition, there was no official policy in place. X has now clarified its stance, stating that it will restrict adult content for children and adult users who choose not to see it. The company also prohibits content that promotes exploitation, non-consent, objectification, sexualization or harm to minors, and obscene behaviors. Additionally, users are not allowed to share adult content in highly visible places, such as profile photos or banners.
X’s policy stands out among other social media platforms, such as Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, TikTok, and Google’s YouTube, which have stricter guidelines regarding nudity and sexual expression. According to Brooke Erin Duffy, an associate professor of communication at Cornell University, “The platform’s move to allow ‘adult content’ dovetails well with the company’s post-Musk marketing strategy. X is unapologetically provocative and has sought to distinguish itself from ‘brand safe’ competitors.”
By allowing adult content, X appears to be targeting creators and artists who have been marginalized by other social media platforms due to their restrictive guidelines on nudity and sexual expression. This move could attract a new user base to the platform, as well as encourage existing users to express themselves more freely.
The policy applies to both real and artificial-intelligence-generated material, which means that users can post content created by AI as long as it adheres to the platform’s guidelines. To ensure that adult content is not easily accessible to all users, X is asking those who regularly post such material to adjust their media settings. This will place all their images and videos behind a content warning, requiring users to acknowledge that they want to view the content before they can access it.
As X continues to evolve under Musk’s leadership, it will be interesting to see how this new policy impacts the platform’s user base and overall content. While some may appreciate the freedom to express themselves more openly, others may be concerned about the potential for inappropriate or offensive material to be shared.
Ultimately, the success of this policy will depend on how well X can balance the needs and preferences of its diverse user base while maintaining a safe and respectful online environment.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.