Elon Musk's X (previously Twitter) has updated its policy to officially allow adult content, which must be properly labeled for filtering before sharing on the platform.
Users can adjust their account settings to label all adult content to warn viewers, and individuals can choose to label specific posts as sensitive for occasional adult content sharing.
X's Adult Content Policy restricts exposure to adult content for children or users who choose not to see it and prohibits content promoting exploitation, nonconsent, objectification, sexualization, or harm to minors. Users under 18 or without a birth date on their account can't view flagged adult content on X, ensuring underage users cannot access adult content.
It remains unclear if X can effectively detect and moderate nonconsensual sex images at scale, and content moderation on X has been challenging, particularly with the spread of explicit AI-generated images.
X's new policies formalize the platform's stance on adult content, which was already unofficially in place before Musk's acquisition.
X says in its statements and published materials it believes that users should have the freedom to create, distribute, and consume material related to sexual themes, considering it a form of artistic expression.
The platform's shift towards allowing adult content aligns with its post-Musk marketing strategy, aiming to set itself apart from "brand safe" competitors like Meta, TikTok, and YouTube.
Teenagers report seeing more pornographic material on X than on dedicated adult sites, raising concerns about the platform's impact on minors.
Under Musk's ownership, X faced challenges with porn bots and issues regarding child exploitation remarks, which were inaccurate, and the platform dealt with CSAM issues.
X is in a legal battle with the Australian eSafety commissioner over violent content on its platform, and has made certain tweets unavailable to users in Australia.
Sources: The Guardian, AP News, Newsweek, Mashable SEA, Ars Technica, PC Mag UK, Times of India, Fortune, Quartz, The Daily Beast, Variety, and TechCrunch.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
