View source for Social:Not safe for work

{{short description|Internet slang term}}
{{hatnote group|
[[File:WikipediaNSFW.png|alt=nsfw caption|thumb|150x150px|NSFW logo]]
'''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. The marked content may contain [[Social:Graphic violence|graphic violence]], pornography, profanity, [[Biology:Nudity|nudity]], slurs or other potentially disturbing subject matter. Environments that may be problematic include workplaces, schools, and [[Social:Family-friendly|family settings]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.lifewire.com/what-does-nsfw-mean-2483431|title=The Meaning of NSFW and How to Use It|work=Lifewire|access-date=2018-10-21|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021234703/https://www.lifewire.com/what-does-nsfw-mean-2483431|archive-date=2018-10-21|url-status=unfit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.myenglishteacher.eu/blog/nsfw-meaning/|title=NSFW Meaning. What does NSFW mean?|date=2017-12-29|work=MyEnglishTeacher.eu Blog|access-date=2018-10-21|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021232320/https://www.myenglishteacher.eu/blog/nsfw-meaning/|archive-date=2018-10-21|url-status=live}}</ref> NSFW has particular relevance for people trying to make personal use of the [[Internet]] at workplaces or schools which have policies prohibiting access to sexual and graphic subject matter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/08/looking-at-nsfw-content-job-work/|title=How Not To Get Caught Looking at NSFW Content on the Job|website=Complex|language=en|access-date=2018-10-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021232633/https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/08/looking-at-nsfw-content-job-work/|archive-date=2018-10-21|url-status=live}}</ref> Conversely, '''safe for work''' ('''SFW''') is used for links that do not contain such material,<ref>[https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/s/sfw.htm What is SFW (Safe for Work)] from Computer Hope</ref> especially where the title might otherwise lead people to think that content is NSFW.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-19|title=Check out this Reddit thread dedicated to the hottest sex stories|url=https://happymag.tv/sex-stories/|access-date=2021-01-19|website=Happy Mag|language=en-US}}</ref>

{{Anchor|Not safe for life|NSFL}}The similar expression '''not safe for life''' ('''NSFL''') is also used, referring to content which is so nauseating or disturbing that it might be [[Medicine:Psychological trauma|emotionally scarring]] to view. Links marked NSFL may contain [[Medicine:Sexual fetishism|fetish pornography]], [[Social:Graphic violence|gore]] or [[Social:Murder|murder]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddithelp.com/en/categories/reddit-101/reddit-basics/what-do-all-these-acronyms-mean|title=Reddit Basics|website=reddit.zendesk.com|access-date=17 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210125102/https://www.reddithelp.com/en/categories/reddit-101/reddit-basics/what-do-all-these-acronyms-mean|archive-date=10 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> 

Some websites, such as [[Company:Reddit|Reddit]] and [[Company:OnlyFans|OnlyFans]] give users the option to designate their content as NSFW in order to warn others of its inappropriate nature.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reddiquette |url=https://reddit.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/205926439-Reddiquette |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=Reddit Help |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Social:Internet filter|Internet filter]] – software used to restrict access to unsuitable content.
* {{Annotated link |Internet pornography}}
* {{Annotated link |Shock site}}
* {{Annotated link |Rule 34}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

{{internet slang}}

[[Category:Internet censorship]]
[[Category:Internet culture]]
[[Category:Internet terminology]]
[[Category:Internet trolling]]

{{Sourceattribution|Not safe for work}}