Loopholes on X Give Children Easy Access to Porn

X, formerly known as Twitter, is one of the few major platforms that openly permits explicit sexual content and pornography. While the company says such material is restricted to adults, its age verification system is minimal, leaving major loopholes that expose children to pornography and other harmful content.

To create an account, users only need to enter a birthdate claiming they are over 18. No ID or proof is required. Children can easily bypass the restriction simply by adjusting their age. Some states have passed age verification laws in order to restrict this, but minors can bypass these safeguards by using a virtual private network (VPN) and entering an older age when signing up.

This means protections exist largely in name only. In reality, children can and do access explicit spaces on X, where they are exposed to material that research shows can be addictive and damaging to developing minds.

X could close these loopholes by requiring meaningful identity verification or limiting adult content more aggressively. But such steps would likely reduce user numbers and revenue. Back in 2022, Twitter considered monetizing adult content, and since Musk’s takeover, the platform has continued to explore that approach. 

Musk has chosen to lean on pornographic and NSFW content as a way to boost engagement and expand X’s audience. This move is not entirely without precedent—platforms like OnlyFans and Reddit have openly allowed adult content, attracting millions of users and substantial revenue. The rationale is clear: adult material has a proven track record of driving high levels of interaction, and by permitting it on X, Musk is tapping into a market that reliably delivers both attention and activity.

While explicit content itself isn’t monetized through ads, it keeps users active — which indirectly boosts the platform’s bottom line. The result is a system where profits are safeguarded, but children are not — leaving parents, educators, and policymakers to address the consequences of exposure that could have been prevented.