Not suitable/safe for work (NSFW), not work-suitable/safe (NWS), not school-suitable (NSS) – or occasionally stronger versions such as not safe for humanity (NSFH) or not safe for life (NSFL) – is Internet slang or shorthand. Typically, the NSFW tag is used in e-mail, videos, and on interactive discussion areas (such as Internet forums, blogs, or community websites) to mark URLs or hyperlinks which contain material such as pornography or profanity, which the viewer may not want to be seen accessing in a public or formal setting such as at work.
NSFW has particular relevance for individuals making personal use of the Internet at workplaces or schools which have policies prohibiting (even inadvertent) access to sexually provocative content. Companies and schools frequently adopt such policies because they regard the presence of sexual content as a misuse of company property (or education resources) and, potentially, a violation of sexual harassment policy.
Determining a site to be NSFW is invariably subjective, and poses challenges for academics who study sexuality.
On November 28, 2007, Fark.com founder Drew Curtis filed an application to trademark the phrase, but registration was denied.
