What Does NSFW Stand for on Discord

The infamous NSFW tag exists to warn minors and sensitive users that there are adult-themed images and videos ahead. Also, it is used to denote content that contains graphic displays of violence, blood, gore, strong language, and other stuff people might find inappropriate or offensive.

Let’s take a closer look at Discord’s relationship with the NSFW acronym.

Discord and NSFW Content

Discord has an interesting relationship with NSFW content. While this type of content is allowed on the platform, it is not allowed everywhere. Only channels designated NSFW can post adult content without getting in trouble with Discord. Others, depending on the severity of their offense, might get punished with anything from a warning to account deletion.

So if you’d like to chat about adult themes and post such pictures and videos on your channel, according to the Guidelines, you are required to put a NSFW label on your account. When you do this, every user that tries to access your channel will be prompted by Discord to confirm they’re 18 years or older. Those under 18 will be denied access.

Have in mind that when you set your channel to NSFW status, your channel name will look something like this – “nsfw-yourchannelname.” Discord devised this solution in a bid to make a compromise between keeping adult users interested in sharing and posting NSFW content onboard and protecting those under the age of 18.

Discord’s Definition of NSFW

While the acronym NSFW stands for the same stuff on Discord as it does on other sites and servers across the internet – adult and sexually suggestive and explicit content, Discord’s acronym is made up of different words. The standard definition is “Not Safe for Work,” but Discord’s acronym stands for “Not Suitable for Wumpus.”

Wumpus is a cute little creature, endemic to Discord’s servers, and it is highly sensitive to adult images and videos. So, to protect him, because they can’t stop him from roaming the servers, Discord team has devised the NSFW labels for channels. Once he sees the “Not Suitable for Wumpus” label on your channel, he will promptly leave.

How to Set Your Channel to NSFW

To set your channel as “Not Suitable for Wumpus,” you will have to visit your channel settings. Here’s how to make the switch:

1. Launch your favorite browser and navigate to the Discord homepage, or download and open the Discord app for iOS or Android.
2. If you’re not already logged in, now is the time to do it.
3. Navigate to your chat group.
4. Click or tap, depending on the device and platform you’re on, on the little cog icon next to the channel you’d like to keep away from Wumpus.
5. Next, navigate to the Overview tab of the channel.
   
6. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click or tap on the NSFW Channel on/off slider.

After that, when someone tries to access your channel, they will get a warning message informing them that they’re about to tread into NSFW territory.

Rules of Conduct

It is worth noting that the Guidelines also specify types of adult content forbidden even for channels with the infamous tag. Also, the NSFW tag doesn’t let users break other rules of conduct on Discord servers.

We’ll now take a brief look at minor offenses that might result in warnings and content removal, as well as the offenses that are punishable by both content and account deletion.

Minor Offenses

Posting adult content on a channel that’s not labeled as “Not Suitable for Wumpus” is not tolerated. The content will be deleted and you will be issued a warning. However, should you continue to post inappropriate images, GIFs, and videos, Discord might delete your account.

Images and videos depicting animal cruelty and gore are also a no-no. Discord doesn’t want torture and sadism on its servers.

Sharing digitally altered porn images or videos that feature minors are forbidden on Discord. Shotacon, lolicon, and cub themes are also unwanted. Repeat offenders will lose their accounts. Depending on the severity, you might lose your account right away. This goes for all accounts.

You shouldn’t post anything that promotes suicide or self-harm. Also, posts promoting bulimia, anorexia, and other disorders, will be struck down.

Harassment is not allowed on Discord servers. Likewise, it is not allowed to raid users. You should refrain from posting things that might be interpreted as harassment or encouragement thereof. Discord encourages people to report bullies.

Like their “Suitable for Wumpus” counterparts, NSFW channels are not allowed to repeatedly send unwanted messages and friend requests to other users. Disguising and impersonating others so that you can get on someone’s friend list is also forbidden.

It is also forbidden to spam Discord’s support service. False reporters are running the risk of being punished because Discord investigates each report.

Discord strongly discourages posts that violate the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act). To get more info on this, go through Discord’s Terms of Service. On the same note, you should refrain from posting anything that violates other users’ rights, IP, or other contractual and personal rights.

Major Offenses

It is strictly forbidden to do stuff and post content that’s prohibited by law on a Discord server. That will result in a prompt deletion of the content and the deletion of your account. You will also get kicked out for encouraging people to do such things.

Threatening or compromising someone’s safety results in account deletion. It is also forbidden to share people’s personal info, such as physical address, email, social security number, etc. Posts deemed as an attempt to shame and degrade people will also get deleted, as will the poster’s account.

Content that depicts minors in sexually suggestive or violent situations is not tolerated. Also, you or any other user should refrain from linking to or posting content that contains minors in other shameful and inappropriate contexts.

Sharing content corrupted with viruses and other types of malware is a capital offense on Discord, as are hacking, cracking, and posting of pirated material. Encouraging people to post any of these will cost you your account, as well.

Finally, all attempts to steal accounts of other users will result in the deletion of the culprit’s own account.

Stay Safe on the NSFW Side

Going NSFW on Discord is not a crime in itself and won’t harm you or your channel in any way. However, breaching the Terms of Service and the Community Guidelines might get you in serious trouble. Major offenses might result in you losing your channel.

Are you OK with NSFW content on Discord and would you switch your channel to the NSFW camp? What are your thoughts on the Community Guidelines and would you change anything about them? Let us know in the comments section below.