The estimated reading time for this post is 3 minutes
Twitter just added a new feature to make social media easier to view: content warnings for individual tweets. Now people who post tweets with an image or video that could be upsetting can use a content warning on that tweet.
Perhaps you mostly tweet engaging, inoffensive tweets Maybe you usually tweet stunning photos of breathtaking landscapes around the world. Or maybe you tweet delicious recipes or insightful sports analysis.
But if you’re inspired to tweet content that could be upsetting to others, you can now add a warning to that tweet. Previously, you had to use Twitter characters to add a content warning to a tweet, when you may not have characters to spare. Or you could add a content warning to your Twitter profile, but people may miss that warning if they don’t check out your profile before they see your tweet.
This new feature helps protect people who prefer to avoid sensitive content. It also helps protect those who want to tweet sensitive content from being blocked or unfollowed by people who view tweets that upset them.
Whether you’re tweeting about the horrors of war or a spoiler about a popular show, you should take a few minutes to add a content warning. It will help you and your followers.
What the Twitter Content Warning Does
Recently Twitter announced it was offering the ability to add content warnings to tweets. Now, you can add a warning to tweets using the Twitter app for Android and iPhone/iPad (iOS), as well as on the Twitter website.
The option to add one-time sensitive content warnings to photos and videos you Tweet is now available for everyone across Android, iOS, and web.
To add a content warning, tap the flag icon when editing the photo/video after you’ve attached it to your Tweet.
— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) February 25, 2022
The Twitter content warning alerts people that an image or video in the tweet contains sensitive content. The warning also indicates whether the media contains nudity, violence, or other sensitive subject matter.
If a tweet has a warning, the image or video in the tweet is blocked so you won’t accidentally view offensive content. You must click the Show button to view the media.
Interested in more Twitter features? Check out => Twitter Blue — Is It Best for You?
How to Add a Twitter Content Warning to a Tweet
If you’re going to post an image or video with sensitive content, you may want to take a few seconds to add a content warning. That way, you can avoid upsetting others unnecessarily and perhaps prevent getting blocked or unfollowed.
To add a content warning for an image or video you are adding to a tweet, compose the tweet using the Twitter website or app. Add the media to the tweet. Click or tap the Edit button.
Tap the flag icon.
Check the box for Nudity, Violence, and/or Sensitive. A warning will appear over the tweet.
Click or tap Save. Then click or tap Tweet to post your tweet with the content warning.
Discover an alternative to blocking Twitter accounts => Twitter Launches “Soft Block” — A New Way to Deal with Annoying Followers
What Else You Need to Know about Twitter Content Warnings
As of this writing, Twitter content warnings have some limitations. For example, content warnings aren’t available for tweets that contain only text but no image or video.
If you embed a tweet (such as the tweet from Twitter Support embedded above in this article), the content warning will not be displayed in the embedded tweet.
So far, if you use a third-party service (such as Buffer) to tweet, this content warning is not available.
Your Thoughts
Have you ever wished Twitter would add a content warning feature? Did you ever want to post a tweet with sensitive media but didn’t for fear of being blocked or losing followers? Have you ever seen a tweet with a video or photos you wish had a content warning on it?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
Hi Carolyn, I have NOT because I do not want to have my Twitter account suspended. I think all these new changes make Twitter very fragmented, like with Twitter communities. (similar to Facebook groups).
I used to love the freeer and openness of Twitter. Now only a select few left will see your tweets.
I could never understand why they wanted to be more like Facebook 🙁
Hi Lisa, I actually hope content warnings will make Twitter less fragmented. People who want to tweet sensitive or controversial topics can try to avoid being unfollowed, blocked, or reported by using content warnings. But perhaps I’m being optimistic…
Hi Carolyn,
I have seen such messages to individual posts on Instagram and I think now its twitters turn to switch on sensitive content warning.
Maybe I will never use it, but i can see how it can help many others.
Hi Praveen, Good point. Content warnings can help protect both the people who tweet and their followers. I hope people who tweet sensitive media will use this new Twitter feature.
This is the best option Twitter added so far as there is much content that is not relevant to some type of audience.
Hi Chetan, Yes, you don’t want to be blocked, or even banned from Twitter because you tweet something people might find offensive. Best to add a content warning to keep your account safe.
Yeah, today I shared a post from my blog.
It was related to football and I was shocked to see that warning.
I was like what is going on, is football a sensitive topic now.
Hello Hari, If you’re tweeting about a live match, people who are watching the game delayed might not appreciate spoilers. Of course, they might want to think about staying off of Twitter until they can watch the game, but some people like to blame others no matter what!
Hi Carolyn,
Facing these types of issues many times! Most of the people like to blame others.
Hi Sanjay, Good point. Now, with the ability to add content warnings, people will rightfully deserve blame if they don’t use them. These warnings don’t use up characters, so there really isn’t an excuse not to add them to tweets with sensitive or offensive media.