Abhay Singh
The prominence of explicit content on Twitter, particularly from OnlyFans creators, has sparked heated controversy. Some say that the rise of sexual content, which is frequently associated with accounts marketing content on platforms such as OnlyFans, has an influence on the Twitter user experience. Some people believe that OnlyFans creators are “ruining” Twitter.
Twitter is experiencing an increase in adult content
Twitter, which was originally established as a microblogging site for sharing news, ideas, and personal updates, is experiencing an increase in adult content. Accounts advertising OnlyFans use Twitter as their primary medium to attract a larger audience, resulting in a flood of explicit content.
Even users who don’t actively seek out adult content may find it appearing in their feeds due to retweets, hashtags, or Twitter’s algorithm pushing popular content. This saturation can detract from the platform’s other content categories.
Twitter’s algorithm is designed to show users content similar to what they engage with. However, the high engagement rates of adult content can result in these posts being disproportionately promoted, even to users who have no interest in such material. This can create an environment where non-pornographic content is harder to find.
Advertisers frequently avoid platforms that host explicit content. Twitter’s growing link with sexual content may repel advertisers, undermining the platform’s financial model and even causing changes that affect all users.
This can drive users away or force them to modify their behavior on the platform
For some users, the rising prevalence of explicit content makes browsing uncomfortable, particularly in professional or public environments. This can push users away or cause them to change their behavior on the site, such as unfollowing profiles or filtering content using third-party tools.
Twitter’s community was once centered around discourse, news, and entertainment. The influx of OnlyFans creators and their followers can shift the focus of discussions and interactions, leading to a fractured user base.
Twitter’s reputation is being tarnished by the increasing visibility of OnlyFans promotion, which may attract regulatory scrutiny and lead to stricter content policies or restrictions, potentially affecting all users. While Twitter has allowed adult content within certain guidelines, the increased visibility of adult content could harm the platform’s image.
Twitter has policies against certain adult content, but the sheer volume of content makes enforcement challenging. The platform must balance freedom of expression with a safe environment for all users. Content moderation teams may be stretched thin, diverting resources from other critical areas like hate speech, misinformation, and harassment.
X started experimenting with several levels of paid subscriptions
X began experimenting with several levels of paid subscriptions. Then, seven months later, X (previously known as Twitter) modified its adult content policy to be far more lenient, allowing users to freely exchange sexual photos. Elon Musk said earlier this month that the site would hide likes, deleting a mechanism that allowed users to observe others’ participation.
Adult content has been a significant feature on X, accounting for about 13% of posts on the platform, according to a 2022 internal report. Carolina Are, a content moderation researcher at Northumbria University’s Center for Digital Citizens, suggests that X was considering turning its subscription service into a platform for creators of adult content to monetize their work, as early as late 2022. This idea was introduced after Elon Musk took control of the company.
Are reports that X is undergoing incremental changes to welcome adult content creators, a move that comes amid accusations of strict policies on platforms like TikTok and Instagram for posting explicit content, such as lewd or nude content.
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