SAN FRANCISCO—X, the mainstream social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has formalized its adult content rules governing NSFW creators and accounts on the platform used by millions every day. According to a policy update posted over the weekend, X users can now post adult material in accordance with set guidelines to ensure that minors and users who don't wish to see pornography are not exposed to it on their for-you-pages and news feeds.
"You may share consensually produced and distributed adult nudity or sexual behavior, provided it's properly labeled and not prominently displayed," reads the policy. "We believe 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."
In the policy, X defines adult content as "full or partial nudity, including close-ups of genitals, buttocks, or breasts" or "explicit or implied sexual behavior or simulated acts such as sexual intercourse and other sexual acts." This definition also covers hentai, anime, cartoons, other animation and artificial intelligence-generated materials. There is no deeper clarification as to the definition of artificial intelligence-generated materials at this time.
"We believe in the autonomy of adults to engage with and create content that reflects their own beliefs, desires, and experiences, including those related to sexuality," continues the policy.
"We balance this freedom by restricting exposure to Adult Content for children or adult users who choose not to see it," it adds. "We also prohibit content promoting exploitation, nonconsent, objectification, sexualization or harm to minors, and obscene behaviors. We also do not allow sharing Adult Content in highly visible places such as profile photos or banners."
X urges users who post adult content to start using NSFW and adult content labels for all media they publish. Additionally, the policy encourages users to adjust their media and audience settings and place any post behind a content warning indicating that material might be age-restricted and of a sexual nature. Users who find content that isn't properly labeled and filtered can report the posts to X trust and safety teams for policy enforcement.
AVN previously reported on X testing NSFW communities and labels in a bid to separate age-restricted materials from other mainstream feeds. This policy change appears to be the end product of that testing. X remains one of the only mainstream social media networks that permit pornography. It has proven to be a vital marketing tool for adult content creators, producers, studios and sexual wellness brands.
Specifics of the enforcement policy are outlined below:
Restricted Reach
You’re allowed to post Adult Content provided it’s properly labeled with a content warning so users who do not wish to see it can avoid it. This also means children below the age of 18 are not exposed to it. If you post content that includes any of the following categories, you need to label your content.
Adult Nudity
visible genitals or anus exposed or focused on or when prominently featured;
visible female nipples;
fully nude butts.
Sexual Behavior
explicit sexual activity including vaginal, oral or anal sex, usage of sex toys or any form of sexual penetration;
implied sexual activity including clothed sexual simulation, states of sexual arousal such as erection or sexual activity that is pixelated, blurred, or strategically covered;
bodily fluids used in sexual context.
Allowed
The following content is not considered Adult Content and does not need a content warning:
educational content such as breast cancer awareness;
medical content such as post-surgery media of breast augmentation or mastectomy;
partial or digitally obscured nudity such as modeling or beach photos;
activist campaigns carried out with nudity;
artistic nudity or sexual behavior, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, or statues;
parody or satire to convey a political idea, or lobby criticism, such as caricatures or cartoons;
humor about certain phenomena or theme with no intent to cause sexual arousal such as memes.
Not Allowed
You can’t include Adult Content within areas that are highly visible on X, including in live video, profile pictures, headers, List banners, or Community cover photos. Such content must be removed and subsequent violations may result in the account being placed in read-only mode or suspended.
Adult Content must also comply with all X rules that result in content removal or account suspensions, including:
Non-consensual nudity
Promoting or soliciting sexual services
Child sexual exploitation
Violent sexual conduct
Unwanted sexual content & graphic objectification
Bestiality and necrophilia
