Elon Musk’s social media platform X has revised its policies to officially permit adult content.
Under the new guidelines, the platform, previously known as Twitter, will permit users to share consensual and clearly labelled sexual content.
The updated policy, implemented over the weekend, asserts that “users should be able to create, distribute, and consume material related to sexual themes as long as it is consensually produced and distributed.”
The policy further states, “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.”
Access to explicit material will be limited for minors and adult users who opt out of viewing it. The policy also prohibits sharing content that “promotes exploitation, nonconsent, objectification, sexualization, or harm to minors, and obscene behaviors.”
This change, initially reported by TechCrunch, formalizes a permissive stance towards adult content that existed before Musk’s acquisition of Twitter in October 2022.
Unlike platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube, Twitter has never explicitly banned nudity and sexual content.
Since Musk took over, X has significantly reduced content moderation and reinstated previously banned accounts, including those of former US President Donald Trump and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
Musk claims he is upholding freedom of speech, but critics argue that the Tesla CEO is fostering hate speech and misinformation.