X updates policies to formally allow porn

The social media platform X has updated its policies to formally allow pornography on the site. 

“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,” the platform said in a recent update.  

“Sexual expression, whether visual or written, can be a legitimate form of artistic expression,” it added. “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.” 

The platform formerly known as Twitter has long permitted users to post and share such content. However, X’s safety team noted that the newly launched Adult Content and Violent Speech policies seek to “bring more clarity” about their rules and enforcement. 

“These policies replace our former Sensitive Media and Violent Speech policies — but what we enforce against hasn’t changed,” the safety team wrote in a post on X. 

Users are barred from sharing adult content in “highly visible places,” such as profile photos or banners, and are asked to update their media settings if regularly posting adult content in order to place their images and videos behind content warnings. 

X’s policies also apply to content generated with artificial intelligence, as well as photographic and animated content, it noted.