Social media giant X has announced that it will now officially permit users to share consensual adult content, provided it is clearly marked as such. This decision formalizes a policy that was already in effect during the platform's tenure as Twitter, prior to its acquisition by billionaire Elon Musk in 2022.
In a recent update on its website, the San Francisco-based company stated, "Users should have the ability to create, share, and consume content related to sexual themes as long as it is produced and distributed with consent. Sexual expression, whether visual or written, can be considered a legitimate form of artistic expression."
According to X, adult content was permissible on Twitter before Elon Musk's ownership, although there wasn't an official policy. X stated it is restricting adult content for children and for adult users who opt out of viewing it.
"We also prohibit content promoting exploitation, nonconsent, objectification, sexualization, or harm to minors, as well as obscene behaviors," X said. Additionally, sharing adult content in prominent areas like users' profile photos or banners is not allowed.
X's policy differs from other social media platforms, such as Meta's Instagram and Facebook, as well as TikTok and Google's YouTube.
"The decision by the platform to permit 'adult content' aligns with the company's marketing strategy following Elon Musk's ownership," stated Brooke Erin Duffy, an associate professor of communication at Cornell University. "X is deliberately provocative and aims to set itself apart from more 'brand safe' competitors."
The company seems to be attracting individuals, including creators and artists, who have felt marginalized by other social media platforms with stricter guidelines on nudity or sexual expression, she explained.
This policy applies to both real and artificially generated content.
X is urging users who frequently share adult content to adjust their media settings to place all their images and videos behind a content warning. This requires users to confirm that they wish to view the posted image before accessing it.
