As a lot as this may occasionally sound like a controversial shift in the direction of less-than-savory grownup content material on X (previously Twitter), evidently the story is much less salacious than it could have initially appeared.

Earlier at this time, Bloomberg reported that X is rolling out a brand new function that may allow customers to create communities round grownup content material, by including an “Grownup Content material” qualifier to their teams.

As per Bloomberg:

“Customers who create a neighborhood throughout the app can specify within the settings that their group “accommodates adult-sensitive content material”. The X teams will then function an “grownup content material” label. Customers who fail to label their neighborhood might see among the content material being filtered out or eliminated, based on the screenshots of the principles.”

That sparked hypothesis that X might really be trying to lean into grownup content material on the app, within the hopes of facilitating new income streams, probably through partnerships grownup content material creators who’re already extremely lively on the platform both manner.

However X has since clarified that this isn’t a brand new shift on this path, as such.

As per X:

“To be clear, this setting is about making Communities safer for everybody by routinely filtering out NSFW content material. Solely customers who’ve specified their age will be capable of search Communities with NSFW content material.”

So it’s a protecting measure, not a way of opening the gates to make grownup content material extra seen, and acceptable within the app. That may very well be a side-effect both manner, however evidently X isn’t making an even bigger leap to enchantment to grownup creators simply but.

Although it nonetheless would possibly.

Again in 2022, Twitter explored the potential for enabling grownup content material creators to promote subscriptions within the app, in an effort to faucet into OnlyFans’ $2.5b self-made content material market.

Grownup content material, as famous, is already very current on X, and readily accessible. As such, a logical step to make more cash for the platform could be to monetize this, by leaning into this factor, relatively than simply turning a blind eye to it.

Besides, Twitter administration ultimately determined that it couldn’t do it.

Why?

As reported by The Verge:

“Earlier than the ultimate go-ahead to launch, Twitter convened 84 workers to kind what it known as a “Crimson Group.” The aim was “to pressure-test the choice to permit grownup creators to monetize on the platform, by particularly specializing in what it might appear like for Twitter to do that safely and responsibly”. What the Crimson Group found derailed the challenge: Twitter couldn’t safely enable grownup creators to promote subscriptions as a result of the corporate was not – and nonetheless is just not – successfully policing dangerous sexual content material on the platform.”

Essentially the most regarding components raised because of this exploration have been baby sexual exploitation and non-consensual nudity, and because the platform couldn’t adequately police such, enabling the monetization of porn was a significant danger.

However X might nonetheless look on this path if it actually wants extra income streams.

Again in January, X introduced a plan to construct a brand new “Belief and Security heart of excellence” in Texas, to be able to enhance its responsiveness in addressing these particular components. Possibly, with that in place, X may very well be in a greater place to truly enact such a plan, although we’ve heard little extra about this “heart of excellence”, nor has a lot progress seemingly been made.

But.

I do suppose that settings like this may very well be a step in the direction of facilitating a separate, adults-only model of the app, which might additionally facilitate extra grownup content material, and probably offers with grownup performers, that might convey more cash to the app.

The opposite danger, in fact, is that advertisers would flee the app because of this. However actually, X doesn’t really need extra advertisers, as they’ll then impose restrictions on its moderation choices. Ideally, X would favor to make more cash from customers and creators as an alternative.

So whereas this particular story isn’t essentially an indicator of such intentions, it may very well be one other step on this path. If X wants it.

And with X’s advert income nonetheless down 50%, it could nicely want it, very quickly.