By Akinsuroju Olubunmi
X permits explicit content
Elon Musk’s X, formerly known as Twitter, has revised its rules to formally allow adult and graphic content on the platform.
Adult content and nudity have been present on Twitter for years and were never explicitly banned even before Musk took over in late 2022.
The updated guidelines, reported by Tech Crunch on Monday, now explicitly allow users to share adult content “as long as it is consensually produced and distributed adult nudity or sexual behavior.”
Over the weekend, X updated its guidelines to state that “sexual expression, visual or written, can be a legitimate form of artistic expression.”
Under this new policy, posting adult content is officially permitted as long as it is appropriately labeled and not prominently displayed in profile pictures or account banners.
Accounts that regularly post adult content must automatically mark their image and video posts as sensitive content.
Adult content is also restricted for users identified as children or adult users who choose not to view it. The policy extends to AI-generated content, animations, cartoons, hentai, and anime.
X’s safety team tweeted that the new guidelines would “bring more clarity to our rules and transparency into enforcement of these areas.”
Since acquiring Twitter in 2022 with the goal of promoting free speech, Musk has faced criticism for reducing content moderation teams.
Under his ownership, the platform has experienced technical issues and reinstated accounts of right-wing conspiracy theorists and former US President Donald Trump.
Musk also aims to expand X’s revenue base beyond advertising and transform it into a “super app” similar to China’s WeChat, which integrates messaging, voice and video calling, social media, mobile payments, and online booking services.
content, guidelines
X permits explicit content