NSFW, Not suitable/safe for work is a tag used in interactive discussion areas (such as public hall, ping or private messages) to mark URLs or hyperlinks which may be sexually explicit or include audio containing profanity, helping the reader avoid potentially objectionable content.
For more info, see a whole definition, have a look at NSFW on the Urban dictionary.
It has particular relevance for individuals making personal use of the Internet at workplaces or schools which have policies prohibiting (even inadvertent) access to sexually explicit images. Companies and universities frequently adopt such policies because they regard the presence of sexually explicit images as a misuse of company property (or education resources) and, potentially, a violation of sexual harassment policy.
Determining a site to be NSFW is invariably subjective.
NSFW is also sometimes used to refer to any media that produces sound, such as a game or video file; the implication being that the noises may alert others in the vicinity that the user is viewing entertainment materials instead of working.
The opposite, SFW (safe for work) is sometimes used when the context or the URL itself would otherwise indicate that something is not worksafe; for example:
http://www.example.com/pussy.jpg (SFW) would probably link to a picture of a cat rather than that of a vagina ;-)
After reading our chart, and in case of doubt, a simple way is to mark NSFW any content you would not send to your mother, your kids or your boss :-)
Recent Comments