TikTok Sex Censorship Results in Rise of Euphemistic 'Algospeak'

TikTok Sex Censorship Results in Rise of Euphemistic 'Algospeak'

LOS ANGELES — Online trend watchers have been flagging a noticeable rise in the use of “algospeak,” euphemistic terms used to avoid sex-related censorship on popular platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

Much like in the era before the sexual revolution of the 20th century, when people got around blanket cultural prohibitions about mentioning sex by using terms like “Greek lessons” (anal sex) or “friend of Dorothy’s” (a gay man), 21st-century social media users are using esoteric and often absurd lingo to replace even basic sexual terms.

As tech culture site Lifehacker reported last week, algospeak comprises “coded words and emojis that aren’t immediately decipherable — but whose meaning you could infer alongside the right context clues.”

Lifehacker provided several examples of the trend, including:

Accountant: Sex worker or Only Fans creator. (Chosen because who’s going to ask more about your job after you say you’re an accountant? No one.)

Spicy [eggplant emoji]: Vibrator. Or, you know, the other thing that looks kind of like a flesh-colored eggplant.

P+[star emoji]: Porn star.

Leg booty: A phonetic reference to the LGBTQ community.

Seggs/Seggsytime: Stand-in for sex.

@nal: Anal.

[Corn emoji]: A stand-in for porn. This is unfortunate given that this kid went viral for being obsessed with actual corn.

Nip nops: Nipples.

Le dollar bean: Lesbian (a literal text-to-speech pronunciation of Le$bian, the precursor to “le dollar bean.”)

“While the inner machinations of algorithms are largely unknown,” Lifehacker noted, “being blackballed by one can suppress your content and seal your doom — and one of the quickest ways to do that is to use language that could be flagged as a violation of the platform’s content guidelines or terms of service. So internet content creators have developed a growing glossary of terms designed to circumvent automated brand safety filters.”

The rise of algospeak shows that while the century may have changed, people's need to resort to subterfuge in order to bypass self-appointed moralists and communicate about perfectly normal sexual behavior surely has not.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Arcom to Expand AV Enforcement to Smaller Adult Sites

The president of French media regulator Arcom revealed on Thursday that the agency plans to escalate its enforcement of age verification rules to include smaller adult sites, starting in late 2025 or early 2026.

AEBN Publishes Report on MILF, Cougar Trends

AEBN has published a report on MILF and Cougar categories from its straight theaters.

Pornhub to Shut Down Access in Arizona Over Age Verification

Aylo will geoblock Pornhub across Arizona starting Sept. 26, when the state’s age verification law, HB 2112, goes into effect.

Flirtback Launches Zcash Crypto Payment Solution

Creator platform Flirtback has launched its Zcash (ZEC) crypto payment solution.

Vixen Media Group Appoints Samuel Spencer as President, COO

Vixen Media Group (VMG) has named industry veteran Samuel Spencer as its new president and chief operating officer.

French Telecoms Mogul Ignites AV Firestorm With Free VPN, Sarcastic Tweet

French billionaire Xavier Niel, founder of telecommunications giant Iliad, sparked a heated debate this week when he appeared to admit that the company's Free Mobile wireless carrier integrated no-cost VPN into its service specifically to circumvent age verification restrictions on adult content.

UPDATED: Michigan Legislators Propose Online Porn Ban

Michigan lawmakers have introduced a bill that would make it illegal to distribute pornography via the internet in the state.

Taliban Restricts Access to Adult Content by Shutting Down Internet

The Taliban has shut down internet access across a large portion of Afghanistan in a move to prevent what it deems "immoral activities."

Go.cam Adds Video Spoofing Protection for AV

Go.cam has announced that its verification solution now features security against video spoofing.

SexLikeReal Releases 'VR Self-Care' Guide

SexLikeReal (SLR) has published a blog post spotlighting “VR Self-Care.”

Show More