Elon Musk
Elon Musk is now allowing adult content on “X,” the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
In a statement, Twitter (does anyone call it X?) said that users may now share consensually produced and distributed adult nudity or sexual behavior, provided “it’s properly labeled and not prominently displayed and is not excessively gory or depicting sexual violence, but explicitly threatening, inciting, glorifying, or expressing desire for violence is not allowed.”
“We believe that users should be able to create, distribute, and consume material related to sexual themes as long as it is consensually produced and distributed,” explained Twitter. “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.”
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The company added that it is balancing this freedom by restricting exposure to Adult Content for children or adult users who choose not to see it. It will also prohibit content “promoting exploitation, non-consent, objectification, sexualization or harm to minors, and obscene behaviors.”
Twitter warned users that they may see media content warnings on posts that X has designated as containing Graphic Content (instead of a generic sensitive media label).
In 2022 Elon Musk acquired Twitter for $44 billion. Since then he made a number of significant changes to the service such as reversing the company’s policies on censoring hate speech and other hostile content. Twitter also removed the limit on the number of characters that can be shared in a post. And added an edit post feature that allows users to change/edit a post after it has been uploaded.
However, under Elon Musk’s control, Twitter lost more than 70% of its value and is not expected to recover anytime soon. As a result, some see this move to allow for adult content on the service as a ploy to increase use and thereby increase revenues.
On that note, Brooke Erin Duffy, associate professor of communication at Cornell University told AP, “The platform’s move to allow ‘adult content’ dovetails well with the company’s post-Musk marketing strategy. X is unapologetically provocative and has sought to distinguish itself from ‘brand safe’ competitors.”
