Elon Musk’s X allows adult content in new update to content policies
Elon Musk’s X allows adult content in new update to content policies
Elon Musk’s social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter), has updated its content policies to allow the uploading of pornographic material.
We have launched Adult Content and Violent Content policies to bring more clarity of our Rules and transparency into enforcement of these areas. These policies replace our former Sensitive Media and Violent Speech policies – but what we enforce against hasn’t changed.
— Safety (@Safety) June 3, 2024
Adult…
This shift, announced in the company’s new guidelines regarding “Adult Content and Violent Content,” replaces the former Sensitive Media and Violent Speech policies. The aim is to provide greater clarity and transparency regarding the rules governing content on the platform.
New Content Policies
The updated policies allow adult nudity and sexual content, including AI-generated, photographic, or animated projections. The company outlined that “Adult Content covers our approach to sharing consensual sexual content and adult nudity,” while “Violent Content covers violent speech and violent media to allow for a more holistic approach to combating violence in all forms.”
Guidelines for Sharing Adult Content
Users who share adult content on X are advised to adjust their media settings to ensure such images and videos are placed behind a content warning. There is also an option to add a one-time content warning to individual posts. The platform will continue to prohibit harmful content, including non-consensual pornography, content that promotes the objectification of people, or harm to minors. Additionally, adult content will not be allowed in profile pictures, banners, or other publicly visible areas.
Concerns About Availability in India
The decision to permit adult content on X has raised questions about its accessibility in India, where pornographic websites are banned. The Indian government’s stance on this matter remains a critical issue, as these new policies might conflict with local regulations. The company’s guidelines specify who can view pornographic content, but it remains unclear whether such content will be permitted in India.
Restrictions for Underage Users
To protect minors, users under 18 or those who haven’t provided their birth date on the platform will be unable to view posts marked as adult content. This measure aims to ensure that adult material is only accessible to appropriate audiences.
The implementation of these new policies by X has sparked a significant debate about the balance between free expression and legal constraints in different regions, especially in countries like India where pornography is restricted.
