NSFW is an odd, flexible internet acronym that’s found its way into internet guides and social media forums. But do you know it’s what NSFW stands for, where’d it come from, and how to use it? Don’t fret we are here for you. Ou guide is SFW for you.
NSFW – Not Safe for Work
Well, NSFW stands for “not safe for work.” When used correctly, ‘not safe for work’ is a warning that highlights a link to a video, webpage, photo, or audio clip contains unsuitable content. Although the word is usually linked with pornography. Also, it’s used as a warning indication for violent, foul, harsh, or also politically charged content.
Besides its literal meaning (not safe for work), the NSFW is used to save you from any sort of public embarrassment. You might view it in the title of a YouTube video, or else in the email header, etc.
In some situations, NSFW is used to highlight that a webpage might make you uncomfortable—that’s how broad of a word we’re dealing with. In these cases, NSFW is certainly accompanied by a “trigger word” or “TW” label. A video having brief images of war, for instance, maybe labeled “NSFW TW: War,” or something to that effect.
NSFW Etymology
Ignoring inappropriate or improper content used to be a relatively easy task. However, Movies carried an R rating, dirty magazines were labeled as such.
But after the internet, anyone can create its own content. And as you’d expect, people rarely feel the need to mark their videos, images, and webpages as inappropriate.
From this angle, ‘not safe for work’ seems like an advanced incarnation of “This show contains scenes that may offend some viewers.” And also that might be how it’s used now. Well, the word NSFW came about as a reaction to a very specific issue.
Someone claimed that NSFW extends from the culture of the Snopes.com’s forum. Look back in 1998, a woman said that the users should mark inappropriate posts as “NFBSK” — “not for British school kids.”
Anyway, this complaint considers as a Snopes in-joke, which was so gosh dang funny that Snopes plans to create an NFBSK forum.
NFBSK also popularized as a joke, but it addressed a major issue that other words failed to explain. With the passage of time, NFBSK slowly made its way into chatrooms.
When Do You Use NSFW?
Besides other internet users, using the word NSFW is quite easy. You can also use it as a label, or set it as a literal acronym in a sentence. That’s all there is to it.
As a label, the word is also essential if it comes before the improper content you’re sharing. However, it belongs to the email header or website. And although websites such as YouTube wants to autoplay videos, add “NSFW” to the title of dirty videos is still the best idea.
And yes, you should also do this for messages, too. Simply add the word to text links to dirty content. If you’re attaching images or videos to a message, ask the receiver if they can receive NSFW content before you press that send button.
As a literal acronym, you just use NSFW where it grammatically fits as “not safe for work.” If someone shares you a link, for instance, you just ask, “Is this NSFW?”
We add the phrase SFW (safe for work) previously in this guide. Just like, NSFW, the word SFW can also be used as a label. You can label texts, emails, or links as SFW, and you can ask your loved one’s questions like, “Is this SFW?”
Conclusion:
That’s all about it. Have you ever use this word? Is this guide helpful? What do you know more about it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
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