X formally allowing users to post consensual adult content

[KARAH RUCKER]

SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM X NOW FORMALLY ALLOWS PEOPLE TO SHOW ADULT CONTENT—AS LONG AS IT’S CONSENSUAL AND CLEARLY LABELED. WHILE THE POLICY WAS ALREADY IN PLACE WELL BEFORE BILLIONAIRE ELON MUSK BOUGHT TWITTER IN 2022 AND CHANGES ITS NAME TO X, THIS MOVE MAKES THE POLICY OFFICIAL. 

IN A RECENT WEBSITE UPDATE, X SAID, “SEXUAL EXPRESSION, WHETHER VISUAL OR WRITTEN, CAN BE A LEGITIMATE FORM OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. WE BELIEVE IN THE AUTONOMY OF ADULTS TO ENGAGE WITH AND CREATE CONTENT THAT REFLECTS THEIR OWN BELIEFS, DESIRES, AND EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING THOSE RELATED TO SEXUALITY.” 

HOWEVER, THE COMPANY IS RESTRICTING ADULT CONTENT FOR CHILDREN AND FOR ADULT USERS WHO CHOOSE NOT TO SEE IT. IT ALSO WILL NOT ALLOW ADULT CONTENT TO BE SHARED IN “HIGHLY VISIBLE” PLACES SUCH AS USERS’ PROFILE PHOTOS OR BANNERS. THE POLICY APPLIES TO REAL AND AI-GENERATED MATERIAL. 

X IS ASKING USERS WHO POST ADULT CONTENT FREQUENTLY TO ADJUST THEIR MEDIA SETTINGS TO PLACE ALL THEIR IMAGES AND VIDEOS BEHIND A CONTENT WARNING. THAT WAY, USERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEY WANT TO SEE THE POSTED IMAGE BEFORE THEY CAN VIEW IT. USERS WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO ADD A ONE-TIME CONTENT WARNING ON INDIVIDUAL POSTS. 

X SAYS IF A USER CONTINUES TO FAIL MARKING POSTS CONTAINING ADULT CONTENT, IT WILL ADJUST THEIR ACCOUNT SETTINGS FOR THEM. 

X’S VIOLENT CONTENT RULES ALSO HAVE SIMILAR GUIDELINES; HOWEVER, X DOES NOT ALLOW THAT CONTENT BE “EXCESSIVELY GORY OR DEPICTING SEXUAL VIOLENCE.” THE PLATFORM ALSO DOES NOT ALLOW CONTENT THAT EXPLICITLY THREATENS OR INCITES/GLORIFIES VIOLENCE. 

X SAYS IT ALLOWS GRAPHIC CONTENT TO LET PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND THEM WHILE INCLUDING IMAGES AND VIDEOS. LIKE WITH ADULT CONTENT, X ALLOWS USERS TO MARK THEIR POSTS AS CONTAINING SENSITIVE MEDIA. IT ALSO DOESN’T ALLOW USERS UNDER 18 OR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT ENTERED THEIR BIRTH DATES ON THEIR PROFILE TO SEE SUCH POSTS.