The sensitive media flag on X: the restriction most accounts do not know about
If your profile or media is marked sensitive, many people see a warning instead of your content and your posts can drop out of their search. How to check and turn it off.
The sensitive media flag marks an account's media as potentially sensitive. Viewers who have not opted in see a warning screen instead of your images and video, logged-out visitors may see a caution page before your profile, and people with "Hide sensitive content" enabled can stop seeing your posts in search.
It is not a shadowban in the strict sense, so FSB reports it separately and lowers the visibility score only slightly (to 90/100) when it is the only finding. But it is common: a large share of accounts in FSB's live index carry it, many without knowing.
Two ways an account gets flagged
- Your own setting. Settings → Privacy and safety → Your posts → Mark media you post as having material that may be sensitive. If it is on, every image and video you post is flagged.
- X's classifiers or reports. X can flag an account or individual media after automatic review or reports. You cannot switch this off directly.
How to fix it
- Turn off the setting above if your media is not actually sensitive.
- If X flagged the account, post non-sensitive media for a while; the classification can be re-evaluated over time.
- If your content is adult or graphic, keep the flag on. X's rules require it, and removing it can lead to stronger restrictions.
Artists and photographers
Art with nudity, anatomy studies and some photography get flagged often. If you post both, consider a separate account for the sensitive work so your main account stays searchable. More in FSB for artists.
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