{"id":37332,"date":"2021-11-21T13:00:27","date_gmt":"2021-11-21T12:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lelo.com\/blog\/?p=37332"},"modified":"2021-11-30T13:12:51","modified_gmt":"2021-11-30T12:12:51","slug":"nsfw-toxic-term","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lelo.com\/blog\/nsfw-toxic-term\/","title":{"rendered":"Is The Term \u2018NSFW\u2019 Actually Quite Toxic?"},"content":{"rendered":"

My initial research led me to a meme that read, <\/span>\u201cIf you work in a sex shop, is it still NSFW?\u201d<\/span><\/i> Well played, meme, well played!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"not<\/p>\n

But actually, the term \u2018NSFW\u2019 has been flung around for a good few years now. And if you haven\u2019t seen it yet (or searched to find out its meaning), are you even using the Internet right?<\/span><\/p>\n

More importantly, is this article (and website) NSFW? Hmm…<\/span><\/p>\n

Jokes aside, let\u2019s indulge in everything that\u2019s NSFW… in a SFW kind of manner. And if all of these acronyms are confusing the heck out of you, you\u2019ll get your \u2018ah-ha!\u2019 moment super soon.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Does NSFW Mean?<\/span><\/h1>\n

NSFW means \u201cNot Suitable for Work\u201d or \u201cNot Safe for Work\u201d. It\u2019s a term that\u2019s used as a kind of warning for content that\u2019s not suitable for viewing in <\/span>public spaces<\/span>, like the workplace (but equally as relevant for places such as public transport, at the supermarket, in front of children, etc. etc.).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The term is said to have been born in 2000, by the website <\/span>Fark<\/span><\/i>. Since, it\u2019s been popping up left, right and centre on websites and emails as a means to prevent you from any embarrassment or even trouble.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Kind of Content is NSFW?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Well, the most obvious NSFW content would be <\/span>pornography<\/span><\/a>. But there are a slew of other sites, like certain sub-Reddits, discussion forums, and other video content on various platforms that come with the label \u201cNSFW\u201d. People often associate the acronym with sexual content, but that isn\u2019t always so\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, looking at or sharing content at work or with friends and family that you deem funny could cause more harm than good. It could possibly marginalise, threaten, or discriminate. And as with everything in life, we all have our own taste, and that includes what we consider to be good ol\u2019 fashion fun or humour.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then again, when it comes to sending NSFW links and emails to work email addresses, aren\u2019t we actually negating the very meaning of NSFW? Why email someone to their work address with a label that reads \u2018NSFW\u2019? Is it simply a case of no common sense?<\/span><\/p>\n

But then let\u2019s go back to the aforementioned meme. What if you work in a place where NSFW doesn\u2019t really apply? Like sending a sex toy meme to someone who works at a <\/span>sex toy store<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And how do things work nowadays with so many people <\/span>working from home<\/span>? In the digital age, does NSFW really mean anything anymore? That\u2019s where the sender\u2019s discretion comes in\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s look at the example above: a sex toy meme to a sex toy company is almost 100 percent of the time, SFW (Safe for Work). Discretion, however, is important when it comes to the type of images and language used in the NSFW content. Just because one works in a sex shop, doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re looking to be bombarded with inappropriate imagery or foul language.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In another example, because much of the world has been working from home of late, NSFW takes on a whole different meaning. It\u2019s more so about: who\u2019s around you, are your children or partners nearby, do you have friends over etc. An interesting evolution!<\/span><\/p>\n

The Evolution of the Term \u2018NSFW\u2019<\/span><\/h2>\n

Physical space aside, we\u2019ve seen the term \u2018NSFW\u2019 transform in the last few years from a kind of red flag warning to an almost titillating teaser.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, those who come across the acronym may not tell themselves that the content they\u2019re about to see <\/span>is<\/span><\/i> actually NSFW, but instead are more inclined to think, <\/span>\u201cOhh, this content has something saucy or racy, let\u2019s see what it is\u201d.<\/span><\/i> NSFW has thus almost become a clickbait term used to lure people in\u2026 and it\u2019s working.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other side of the spectrum, is using the term \u2018NSFW\u2019 when it comes to sexual content actually quite toxic?<\/span><\/p>\n

NSFW: A Toxic Acronym?<\/span><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s no secret that anyone with a working Internet connection and a computer\/smartphone\/tablet can view <\/span>porn<\/span><\/a> or other sexual content with absolute ease. Sex sells, and this has been, and will continue to be, the forefront of marketing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, what happens when a teen stumbles across nudity that comes with the warning \u2018NSFW\u2019? Within reason, of course, if an impressionable teenager is led to believe that nudity or tasteful erotica is NSFW, it may actually reinforce toxic notions of sex as inherently bad or dangerous.<\/span><\/p>\n

And what about sex workers? Using the term \u2018NSFW\u2019 directly implies that sex and work are mutually exclusive. But what about the reality for some: sex<\/span> is<\/span><\/i> work? Doesn\u2019t that place a harmful label on them, even though they\u2019re constantly having to defend the legitimacy of their work?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And, as the aforementioned meme read, it\u2019s simply untrue to say that <\/span>sex and work<\/span> never mix. My job, for example, entails tons of research which includes text, images, videos, and sometimes even a gander at <\/span>PornHub<\/span><\/i>. NSFW? This <\/span>is <\/span><\/i>my work.<\/span><\/p>\n

NSFW: A Final Word<\/span><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s safe to say that both sides of the coin have been explored. And while NSFW is still \u2018a thing\u2019 I think that slapping it onto any piece of content for the sake of clickbait or malice is inappropriate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, I do believe that everything is circumstantial, and that taking into account one\u2019s personal situation, the relationship you have with the one you\u2019re emailing or sending links to, and other factors play a more important role.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I say, let\u2019s all proceed with caution, and be more mindful of the words we\u2019re using and things we\u2019re sharing so that NSFW can actually hold a meaning that\u2019s true as opposed to a marketing ploy for clicks.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My initial research led me to a meme that read, \u201cIf you work in a sex shop, is it still NSFW?\u201d Well played, meme, well played!\u00a0 But actually, the term \u2018NSFW\u2019 has been flung around for a good few years now. And if you haven\u2019t seen it yet (or searched to find out its meaning), are you even using the Internet right? More importantly, is this article (and website) NSFW? Hmm… Jokes aside, let\u2019s indulge in everything that\u2019s NSFW… in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":115,"featured_media":37333,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[669],"coauthors":[948],"class_list":["post-37332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sexual-health","tag-sexual-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat Does NSFW Mean? 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