X Makes a Bold Move, Allowing Consensual Adult Content
The social media platform formerly known as Twitter, now simply X, has undergone a significant policy change. Over the weekend, X updated its terms of service to explicitly permit users to post consensually produced adult content. This marks a shift from the platform’s previous grey area approach, where such content wasn’t officially allowed but existed nonetheless.
Freedom with Responsibility: Labeling and Filtering
X’s updated guidelines emphasize user autonomy and the freedom to share content reflecting individual beliefs and experiences, including sexuality. However, to ensure user safety, content creators will be required to clearly label adult content on their profiles. This will trigger X’s filtering system to place warnings before users encounter such material. The new policy extends to AI-generated nude content as well.
A Business Model in Evolution: From Paid Subscriptions to Open Forum
While X never openly allowed adult content, an increase was observed following the launch of its paid service, X Premium (formerly Twitter Blue). This service allowed creators, including adult entertainers, to charge for exclusive content behind a paywall, similar to the popular platform OnlyFans. The recent policy change suggests X might be aiming to emulate OnlyFans’ model of fostering stronger commercial connections between creators and subscribers. However, it’s important to note that OnlyFans itself is actively trying to diversify its content beyond pornography, aiming to be a platform for all sorts of creators.
Musk’s Vision: Diversifying Revenue Streams
Since acquiring X in 2022, Elon Musk has been vocal about the need to expand the platform’s revenue sources beyond advertising. This vision led to the creation of X Premium, an early attempt at a porn-friendly platform. However, concerns around effectively filtering illegal content caused the project to be shelved in Spring 2023 as reported by The Verge.
Subscription Ambitions and User Exodus
Musk’s goals for X’s subscription service are significant. A pitch deck presented to investors outlined a plan to reduce the platform’s advertising dependence, dropping its share from 90% to 45% by 2028. This ambitious target would necessitate subscription revenue reaching $10 billion annually by the same year, doubling X’s pre-acquisition revenue.
However, measuring progress towards these goals has been challenging. Early reports from Musk’s first year at the helm suggest a struggle to retain both users and advertisers. In October 2023, a year into Musk’s ownership, X reported a 15% decline in monthly users and a staggering 54% drop in advertising revenue. This trend appears to be continuing, with user numbers dropping further in February 2024, reaching a 24% decrease year-over-year.
Challenges Remain: User Experience and Bot Proliferation
These declines can be partially attributed to Musk’s own behavior, which has alienated both users and advertisers. Additionally, X has faced a worsening user experience due to a proliferation of bots promoting sexual content. These automated accounts frequently leave suggestive comments across the platform, becoming a defining and unwelcome feature. Ironically, the new policy allowing explicit content might drown out these bots – replaced by actual users openly sharing similar material.
The Future of X: Will it be a Haven for Adult Content?
Only time will tell how X’s embrace of adult content will affect its future. While some users might be drawn to this openness, others may be further alienated by the potential shift in user base and platform culture. X’s ability to navigate this change while addressing user experience and safety concerns will determine its success in this new chapter.
