Twitter (now X) is under fire again, this time for failing to properly verify the age of users accessing explicit content. Regulators across multiple countries, including Germany, Australia, and the EU, are demanding answers and threatening sanctions over what they call “systemic failures” to protect minors from adult content.
For spicy creators who rely on Twitter/X as a primary marketing channel, this isn’t just a policy issue, it’s a potential platform risk.
While X has long been one of the few mainstream social platforms that allowed adult content, this loose approach to moderation has also made it a target. Recent reports show that the platform is doing little to ensure that explicit content is restricted to users 18+, despite repeated warnings from regulators over the past year.
The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) is now being cited in legal threats, and Germany’s federal media regulators have opened formal proceedings. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner also issued a legal notice demanding a detailed explanation of X’s age verification processes. Fines and possible service restrictions could follow if X fails to comply.
So what does this mean for creators?
If pressure continues to mount, we could see Twitter/X crack down on adult content or roll out hasty and restrictive age verification measures both of which could make life harder for sex workers and NSFW creators already walking a tightrope.
Some creators are already reporting inconsistent visibility, shadowbans, or flagged content despite complying with the platform’s guidelines and this growing regulatory drama doesn’t help.
Bottom line: Stay alert. Have backup platforms and email lists in place. As governments close in on age verification policies across social media, your ability to reach and monetize your audience could be at risk.
Twitter/X might not shut the door on adult content overnight, but the days of “anything goes” seem to be clearly numbered.
We’ll keep you updated.
