Popular original and fanfiction platform Wattpad has updated its terms of service, leading to widespread reader concern that the platform is implementing a ban on "smut." While Wattpad maintains its stance on explicit content has not fundamentally changed, new wording in the terms of service has been interpreted by many users as a significant restriction on sexually explicit material, particularly fanfiction that focuses on such content.
Clarifying the New Terms
The updated terms specify that explicit scenes are permissible under certain conditions: they must involve characters aged 18 or older, and the sexual content must "support the story" without being its "main purpose." The prohibition of explicit stories featuring characters under 18 is understandable, as such content can be classified as child sexual abuse material (CSAM), regardless of whether the characters are real or fictional. This effectively means fanfiction exploring themes of underage sexuality will no longer be permitted.
However, the phrase "sexual content that supports the story [and is] not the main purpose" has drawn considerable criticism. Many in the fanfiction community interpret this as a direct threat to "porn-without-plot" fics, a popular category where explicit scenes are the primary focus. The ambiguity of how Wattpad will determine what constitutes sufficient plot to "support" explicit content has become a major point of contention.
Broader Restrictions
Further complicating matters, Wattpad's new terms also prohibit "sexual exploitation, coercion, or non-consensual acts that are glorified." While these rules aim to prevent the glorification of harmful themes, particularly non-consensual acts, they also have the potential to impact a wide range of genres. Romances involving themes like mafia bosses, stalkers, or power imbalances, which are common in fanfiction, could fall under these new prohibitions, according to some interpretations.
Business Considerations
Wattpad's policy changes are understood by some to stem from business necessities. As a platform that generates revenue through a subscription service and partnerships with book publishers and TV producers, Wattpad is subject to the policies of payment processors. These processors often have stringent rules regarding explicit content, similar to issues previously faced by platforms like itch.io and Steam. This suggests that Wattpad's financial interests and its relationships with these third-party services may be influencing its content moderation policies, potentially superseding the creative or therapeutic expression of its users.