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Not safe for work

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This article is about the Internet slang. For the 2014 film, see Not Safe For Work (film). For the 2015 television series, see Not Safe For Work (TV series).
"NSFW" redirects here. For other uses, see NSFW (disambiguation).
"Work safe" redirects here. For work safety, see Occupational safety and health.

Not safe for work (NSFW) is Internet slang or shorthand used to mark links to content, videos, or website pages the viewer may not wish to be seen viewing in a public, formal, or controlled environment.[1][2] The marked content may contain graphic violence, pornography, profanity, nudity, slurs, or other potentially disturbing subject matter. Environments that may be problematic include workplaces, schools, and family settings.[3][4] NSFW has particular relevance for people trying to make personal use of the Internet at workplaces or schools that have policies prohibiting access to sexual and graphic subject matter.[5] Conversely, safe for work (SFW) is used for links that do not contain such material,[6] especially where the title might otherwise lead people to think that the content is NSFW.[7]

The similar expression not safe for life (NSFL) is also used,[8][9][10] referring to content which is so nauseating or disturbing that it might be emotionally scarring to view. Links marked NSFL may contain fetish pornography, gore, or murder.[11]

Some websites, such as Reddit and OnlyFans, give users the option to designate their content as NSFW, in order to warn others of its explicit nature before they access it.[12]

History

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It has been speculated that the term evolved from an earlier form originating on message boards, not for British school kids (NFBSK), which appears online as early as the year 2000.[2] "NSFW" itself has been used in online communities since the early 2000s, with a definition being posted to Urban Dictionary in 2003.[2] In 2009, it was suggested that a future version of HTML could include "NSFW" as a standardized tag for adult material on websites that could be automatically hidden depending on user settings.[13]

By 2011, the term was common enough to be added to Oxford Dictionaries Online,[14] with Merriam-Webster adding the abbreviation to its dictionary in 2015.[15][16] The Oxford English Dictionary added the term in 2016, citing earliest evidence of usage from 2002.[17]

See also

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  • Internet filter – Software used to restrict access to unsuitable content
  • Internet pornography – Any pornography that is accessible over the Internet
  • Shock site – Website intended to offend and/or disgust its viewers
  • Rule 34 – Internet slang regarding pornography

References

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  1. ^ Paasonen, Susanna; Jarrett, Kylie; Light, Ben (2019). NSFW: Sex, Humor, and Risk in Social Media. Cambridge: The MIT Press. ISBN 9780262355230.
  2. ^ a b c Brown, Jessica (2017-08-09). "A Brief History of 'NSFW'". VICE. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
  3. ^ "The Meaning of NSFW and How to Use It". Lifewire. Archived from the original on 2018-10-21. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  4. ^ "NSFW Meaning. What does NSFW mean?". MyEnglishTeacher.eu Blog. 2017-12-29. Archived from the original on 2018-10-21. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  5. ^ "How Not To Get Caught Looking at NSFW Content on the Job". Complex. Archived from the original on 2018-10-21. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  6. ^ What is SFW (Safe for Work) from Computer Hope
  7. ^ "Check out this Reddit thread dedicated to the hottest sex stories". Happy Mag. 2021-01-19. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  8. ^ "How to watch NSFW/NSFL content safely and discreetly". Mindanao Times. February 14, 2024. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  9. ^ Pullen, John Patrick; Citizen, Jessica (June 17, 2016) [May 3, 2012]. "116 Teen Text Terms Decoded for Confused Parents". Time. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  10. ^ Martinez, Fidel (June 1, 2021). "The shock and aww of Reddit's 50/50". The Daily Dot. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  11. ^ "Reddit Basics". reddit.zendesk.com. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  12. ^ "Reddiquette". Reddit Help. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  13. ^ Zeldman, L. Jeffrey (2009-06-08). "NSFW tag in HTML 5". Jeffrey Zeldman Presents. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
  14. ^ "'NSFW,' 'ZOMG,' and 'Twittersphere' added to dictionary". TODAY.com. 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
  15. ^ Steinmetz, Katy (2015-05-26). "Merriam-Webster Defines 'Jeggings,' 'NSFW' and 'Meme'". TIME. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
  16. ^ ""Emoji," "Photobomb," "WTF" and More Hip Internet Phrases Officially Added to Merriam-Webster Dictionary". E! Online. 2015-05-26. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
  17. ^ Oxford English Dictionary. "NSFW (adj.)". Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved 2025-04-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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