Social media platform X has announced its formal decision to permit the publication of consensual adult content, provided it is distinctly labelled as such. This move solidifies a policy that was already in practice during the platform’s tenure as Twitter, before its acquisition by billionaire Elon Musk in 2022.
In a recent update on its website, the San Francisco-based company asserted that users should have the freedom to create, distribute, and consume material related to sexual themes, emphasizing that such content must be consensually produced and shared. X stated that sexual expression, whether visual or written, can be considered a legitimate form of artistic expression.
Although adult material was permissible on Twitter before Musk’s acquisition, there was no official policy governing it. X clarified that it is regulating adult content to ensure it is not accessible to children or to adult users who opt out of viewing it.
“We also prohibit content that promotes exploitation, nonconsent, objectification, sexualization, or harm to minors, as well as obscene behaviors,” X stated. Additionally, it specified that adult content should not be shared in prominent areas such as users’ profile photos or banners.
X’s stance on adult content sets it apart from other social media platforms like Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, TikTok, and Google’s YouTube.
Brooke Erin Duffy, associate professor of communication at Cornell University, commented on X’s decision, noting that it aligns with the platform’s marketing strategy post-Musk. X aims to be provocative and distinct from its “brand safe” competitors, attracting creators and artists who may have felt marginalized by platforms with stricter guidelines on nudity and sexual expression.
The policy extends to both authentic and AI-generated content. X has urged users who frequently post adult content to adjust their media settings, requiring all images and videos to be placed behind a content warning. This necessitates user acknowledgement before viewing the posted content.
