Curious whether you can cut down mature posts in your feed without losing access to useful conversations?
This guide gives direct, browser-first steps that marketing and tech pros can audit quickly.
You’ll set a few core settings in X’s web app that change visibility across your account and app experience.
Use a desktop browser because the main toggles live there: one controls display of media in the feed and another controls hidden results in search.
Labels and warnings explain why some posts are gated, and age data decides who sees adult material.
The walkthrough below is short, actionable, and built for repeatable team workflows.
Need troubleshooting or a quick checklist for brand accounts? See a focused guide at this practical resource for related account fixes and verification steps.
Key Takeaways
- Set core visibility toggles from the desktop web app; changes carry to iOS and Android.
- Two main levers: feed media display and search hiding options.
- Age and birthdate on file affect who can view adult-labeled posts.
- Labeling and warnings explain why some posts are blurred or blocked.
- Quick safety moves: mute keywords and block accounts for extra control.
- Team-ready steps make audits fast and repeatable across brand accounts.
Understand what “sensitive content” means on X today
Start by defining what the platform labels as restricted media and why those labels matter.
Sensitive content covers graphic or mature media such as nudity and violence. The platform bans certain categories entirely: sexual violence and assault, bestiality, and necrophilia cannot appear at all.
Adult media can appear in regular posts when creators flag it as sensitive content. When media is labeled, viewers see a warning overlay and must opt in before viewing. Users 18+ who have added a birth date can choose whether to view that material by changing settings.
- Profile banners, live video, and community covers cannot display sensitive material.
- The platform relies on creators to label posts; unlabeled explicit posts should be reported promptly by brands.
- Warnings explain why some posts blur while others show immediately.
| Item | Allowed | Prohibited |
|---|---|---|
| Flagged adult media | Yes in posts with warning | No in banners, live, covers |
| Sexual violence / bestiality / necrophilia | No | Removed / banned |
| Viewer control | Opt-in with age on file | Automatic reveal without label |
Turn off “Display media that may contain sensitive content” in your feed
The desktop web app holds the control you need. Use a browser and follow the left sidebar path: More → Settings and privacy → Privacy and safety → Content you see.
Desktop browser path
From More, open Settings and privacy, then Privacy and safety. Under Content you see, uncheck the box labeled Display media that may contain sensitive content.
What changes when this setting is off
When you switch this option off, posts with a sensitive warning no longer autoplay or display by default in your Home timeline. The feed will blur or hide labeled media, reducing unexpected exposure.
Your preference saves automatically. No extra button presses are required and the change syncs to the app on iOS and Android.
Troubleshooting and account limits
If the toggle is missing in the mobile app, use the desktop browser path above; the web view exposes full controls.
Accounts without a birthdate or with an age under 18 may see different behavior. In those cases, platform rules restrict certain media and related options might be hidden.
- Open X on a desktop browser and navigate the sidebar path described above.
- Uncheck the display media option to blur labeled posts in your feed.
- Reload the page if previews still appear; document the final state for compliance.
| Action | Effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Uncheck display media option | Labeled media blurred or hidden in Home | Changes save instantly and sync to app |
| Use desktop browser | Full access to settings privacy panel | Mobile may hide the toggle |
| Missing birthdate or age <18 | Media restricted by account rules | Some controls may not appear |
how to hide sensitive content on x search results
Use the search settings menu to filter out flagged previews in query results.
Enable “Hide sensitive content” under Search settings. Run any search, open the — menu near the search box, and pick Search settings. Find the toggle labeled Hide sensitive content and switch it on. This removes results that contain sensitive content flagged by the platform during searches.
Optionally check the Remove blocked and muted box. That strips out accounts and terms you’ve already blocked or muted. Together, these options tidy results and reduce exposure during research or audits.
- Use a desktop browser if the controls do not appear in the app; web changes sync across devices.
- Re-run a previous query to confirm explicit previews no longer surface in top results.
- This search filter is separate from the feed setting—enable both for full coverage.
| Action | Effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Enable Hide sensitive content | Filters flagged media in search results | Often visible first on web |
| Check Remove blocked and muted | Removes blocked accounts and muted terms | Helps keep results relevant |
| Confirm with a test query | Validates changes | Document for team SOPs |
Go further with privacy and safety controls
Extend your privacy controls with focused muting, reporting, and per-post flags.
Mute words, emojis, and hashtags
Quiet the noise that matters most.
Open Settings and privacy → Privacy and safety → Mute and block → Muted words.
Add keywords, emojis, and hashtags like OnlyFans, NSFW, or 🍆 to limit those posts in your Home timeline and notifications.
Note: muted terms reduce feed exposure but do not fully remove matches from search results. Keep search filters on for broader coverage.
Block and report accounts that aren’t labeled
When you see unlabeled explicit media, open the profile, tap the … menu, and choose Block or Report. Select the reason “Sensitive or disturbing media.”
Blocking removes that account’s tweets from your timeline. Reporting helps moderation and improves future detection.
Mark your own media as sensitive
To avoid accidental exposure or takedowns, set your account flag at Settings and privacy → Privacy and safety → Your posts and check Mark media you post as having material that may be sensitive.
For a single post, add media, tap Edit, then the flag icon and choose Nudity, Violence, or Sensitive. This applies a clear warning and preserves trust with your audience.
- Mute words at scale via the Muted words box in settings.
- Target creator callouts (e.g., “link in bio”) and trending emojis to cut noise.
- Standardize a keyword list for your team and review it monthly.
| Action | Effect | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Muted words | Reduces posts in Home and notifications | Scales filtering across accounts |
| Block / Report | Removes tweets and flags accounts | Improves safety and moderation |
| Mark media | Applies post-level warning | Prevents accidental exposure and takedowns |
Combine muting, blocking, and marking for layered protection. For team workflows, pair these steps with a documented checklist and consult a step-by-step guide or read about advanced scheduling tactics for coordinated posts and compliance.
What these settings can’t fully block
Even with every toggle set, some flagged posts may still slip through.
Creators must self-label, and that creates gaps. If a post lacks a label, your feed and search results can show explicit material despite privacy safety toggles. Moderation teams also work with delay; enforcement is not instant, so newly posted items may appear briefly before review.
Why sensitive media may still appear
The platform’s recommendation algorithm amplifies content you interact with. Likes, follows, replies, and even quick pauses can increase similar posts in recommendations. That makes avoiding engagement a practical control.
- Filters depend on creator labels; unlabeled items bypass warnings.
- Moderation is not real-time; some posts surface before removal.
- The algorithm learns from engagement signals and can boost explicit posts.
- There’s no global automatic block for all NSFW accounts — manual blocks and mutes are required.
- Search filters cut exposure but may miss uncategorized or brand-new results briefly.
| Limitation | Why it happens | Practical step |
|---|---|---|
| Unlabeled explicit posts | Relies on creator self-reporting | Report and block accounts; refine muted words |
| Delayed moderation | Human review and queued systems | Document incidents; re-run queries for audits |
| Algorithm amplification | Engagement-driven recommendations | Avoid reacting; use clean brand accounts |
Layer controls: combine feed settings, search filters, mutes, blocks, and reporting. For teams, enforce strict access rules and review settings after major platform updates. For further technical blockers and account tools, see this blocking guide and this article on algorithm issues that affect recommendations: algorithm behavior.
Stay in control: quick actions to keep your X experience safe
Make targeted adjustments now so your app shows fewer unwanted previews.
Turn off the Display media that may contain option in a desktop browser and enable the Hide sensitive content toggle in Search settings. Both changes sync to your mobile app and cut flagged previews in feed and results.
Build a living mute list, block or report unlabeled NSFW tweets, and mark your own media with the correct flag. Train your team, note which box and button to check, and keep a short audit checklist in Settings and privacy.
These steps reduce exposure but do not guarantee total removal. Recheck after product updates and separate brand accounts from personal browsing for safer operations.
