UK online safety: SFW vs NSFW guidelines

This guide explains the practical difference between Safe For Work (SFW) and Not Safe For Work (NSFW) content for public profile areas.

Safe For Work (SFW)

SFW content is the type of material that can usually stay visible in public areas because it does not clearly present explicit sexual content or obvious nudity.

• Clothed portraits, headshots, and everyday lifestyle photos.
• Swimwear, sportswear, or lingerie when the image is not framed as explicit sexual content.
• Suggestive but non-explicit poses, with no visible genitals, nipples, or exposed intimate detail.
• Short, playful text that is flirtatious without graphically describing sexual acts.

Not Safe For Work (NSFW)

NSFW content should be age restricted and not shown openly in public profile areas. On GoYOLO, restricted content should stay behind the blurred locked preview until the viewer is allowed through the age gate.

• Visible genital nudity, exposed nipples, exposed buttocks, or close-ups of intimate areas.
• Real or simulated sex acts, masturbation, oral sex, penetration, or intercourse.
• Fetish-focused scenes, explicit sex toys, domination scenarios, or imagery built around sexual arousal.
• Text that graphically describes sexual acts, body fluids, explicit requests, or content clearly written to arouse.
• Sexually explicit AI-generated or cartoon imagery.

Simple rule of thumb

If a reasonable person would see the image or text as mainly created to cause sexual arousal, treat it as NSFW and gate it behind age verification.

Best practice for GoYOLO profiles

• Keep the main public profile photo SFW.
• Place more explicit images into gallery slots and mark them age restricted.
• Keep public descriptions clear and non-graphic.
• When in doubt, classify the content as NSFW and restrict it.

If you want the background on why this is required, read Why do I need to age verify?.