X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, has officially become one of the few mainstream social media platforms to allow adult content. Over the weekend, Elon Musk’s X implemented new rules on its “adult content policy” page, explicitly permitting consensual adult content including full nudity and sexual acts. This move follows X’s earlier testing of an “adult content” label for NSFW communities on the platform.
X’s new policy defines adult content as “any consensually produced and distributed material depicting adult nudity or sexual behavior that is pornographic or intended to cause sexual arousal.” This definition applies to AI-generated adult content as well, regardless of whether it is photographic or animated. The platform encourages users to mark any adult material they post with a content warning to ensure that viewers give their consent before accessing the media. Users under 18 or those without a birth date attached to their account are unable to view flagged content. It remains unclear whether unmarked adult material violates X’s rules.
Interestingly, there don’t appear to be any repercussions for users who fail to mark their adult content. The policy states that if X finds a user consistently neglecting to flag such content, the platform will automatically adjust the user’s account settings and mark the content for them.
Although X’s decision to allow adult content may seem surprising, it is worth noting that the platform has unofficially permitted such content for quite some time. This leniency continued even after Musk acquired the platform in October 2022. In contrast to platforms like Facebook and Instagram, which strictly moderate and remove adult content, X has become a haven for sex workers and adult content creators.
However, Musk’s recent encouragement for users to post family photos on X seems ill-timed given the policy change. Musk later deleted the post, but his claim that X does more to fight child exploitation than any other platform was inaccurate. In fact, Twitter, as it was known before becoming X, didn’t have specific rules allowing adult content but didn’t take down or censor such content either. The platform also did not ban accounts posting NSFW content.
Under Musk’s ownership, X has faced challenges related to porn bots, such as the notorious “pussy in bio” spam. Additionally, Musk’s remarks about child exploitation were contradicted by evidence. Prior to Musk’s acquisition, Twitter had plans to launch its own OnlyFans competitor, but issues with child sexual abuse material (CSAM) halted those plans. Unfortunately, under Musk, CSAM issues have persisted to some extent. Last July, Musk personally intervened to unsuspend a far-right influencer who had posted “child-exploitation pictures.”
While X’s decision to allow adult content may be controversial, it aligns with the platform’s history and the freedom of expression it has provided to its users. However, the platform must also address concerns related to CSAM and find effective ways to tackle issues such as porn bots. As X continues to evolve under Musk’s leadership, it will be interesting to see how the platform navigates these challenges and maintains its unique position in the social media landscape.