In a significant shift, Elon Musk’s X (formerly known as Twitter) has declared that consensual adult content may now be shared on its platform. However, there will be specific rules and regulations governing these materials. X is currently grappling with sexually explicit content being disseminated through accounts called pornbots, which link to sites like OnlyFans. It was reported earlier that around 13% of tweets consisted of pornographic content.
As per Variety, X has revised its terms of use to accommodate the distribution of adult content while maintaining user safety, especially protecting minors. Under the Adult Content Policy, users are authorized to publish adult nudity or erotic conduct; however, proper labeling is mandatory. Consistently producing and distributing adult content without appropriate warnings could lead to changes in your account settings imposed by X.
Professor Brooke Erin Duffy of Cornell University explains how this decision fits within X’s repositioning after Musk’s takeover. According to her analysis published in Variety, X has adopted a bold approach to distinguish itself from competitors like Meta, YouTube, and TikTok, welcoming back creators whose work had once been penalized due to strict community standards against nudity and sexual expressions.
Although X tolerated minimal levels of adult content prior to Musk’s ownership, it still faced challenges policing illegal activities such as child pornography. To maintain adherence to the new policy, X advises regular sharers of adult content to update their privacy preferences, hiding potentially sensitive imagery beyond a content warning screen. Minors and users failing to provide a verified age cannot access flagged adult content.
For enforcement, X provides avenues for users to submit complaints about mislabeled adult content. If necessary, appeals can be filed against moderation decisions.
Sure, what could go wrong?
