X has announced it will allow sexual and violent content to be posted on the platform under a move to encourage freedom of speech.
Bosses on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter have said it will allow users to post adult and graphic content on the site, on the condition that it is labelled as such.
Before, controversial posts were not banned, but if users posted graphic content, the platform had the right to take them down.
But, under new rules, the site will formally allow sexual and violent content as long as users follow guidelines. The site has added that there will be steps to stop under-18s from being able to see it.The new rules were posted on X’s help pages this week and asks users wanting to post explicit material to make sure the “content is prominently labelled”.
The new rules also cover AI-generated videos and images.
But users who post adult content are being told they must adjust media settings so that explicit images and videos are put behind a content warning before they can be viewed. Users under 18 or those who do not put a birthdate in their profile will also be unable to view this content.The updated guidance reads: “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.
“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.”
The site added that it had taken steps to try to prevent young people from accessing the material: “We balance this freedom by restricting exposure to Adult Content for children or adult users who choose not to see it. We also prohibit content promoting exploitation, nonconsent, objectification, sexualization or harm to minors, and obscene behaviors. We also do not allow sharing Adult Content in highly visible places such as profile photos or banners.”
They added users should be free to “express themselves, show and learn about what’s happening, and debate global issues, often sharing images and videos as part of the conversation”.
It adds that the content should not be “excessively gory or depicting sexual violence” and stressed that it will continue to ban content that explicitly threatens or incites violence.
X is currently embroiled in a legal fight over explicit posts on the other side of the world. The Australian eSafety commissioner has taken the platform to court over the posting of violent content after 65 tweets of a video of the stabbing attack of a Sydney bishop in April, which eSafety has ordered X to remove. The case will be heard in the federal court at the end of June.
X has made the tweets unavailable to users accessing the site in Australia but eSafety has argued in recent court filings that X should also prevent Australian users accessing the tweets via a virtual private network connection.
