SAY NO TO CENSORSHIP
Wattpad will take down any story containing adult content on the platform.
You read that right. I’m not the one saying it; these are the new guidelines.
Any narrative containing sex scenes—regardless of literary quality or plot relevance—could be, and very likely will be, removed from the platform. And according to the new guidelines, even stories flagged as containing adult or mature content could face this arbitrary censorship.
Yes, I am going to use the word CENSORSHIP, because there is no other term that accurately describes what is happening. Censorship is the act of suppressing, controlling, or prohibiting the expression of ideas, and that is exactly what Wattpad is doing.
Wattpad used to be a democratic app. A place where teenagers and adults could read and write their stories without constraints. A place where we could share tales, explore fantasies, and question reality through fiction. A place where imagination knew no bounds.
Now? Now, any story and any author could be taken down by a policy of rampant censorship. It is the beginning of a literary witch hunt.
They claim that if a story falls within the "new standards," it won't face penalties. But what exactly are these standards?
According to the platform's vague and conveniently ambiguous guideline, stories where the "plot doesn't involve sex" will be safe. But what does that mean in practice?
Any story they deem to lack sufficient development before the mature scenes occur will be taken down.
One-shots, "imagines," and short stories—formats that are legitimate and beloved by thousands of readers—are in the crosshairs.
Beginning authors, who are still developing their writing and learning the art of storytelling, face a double risk: their technical inexperience could be used as a justification to remove their work.
It is a vicious cycle: to be allowed to write about certain themes, you must already be an experienced writer. But how can one gain experience if one's voice can be silenced at the first misstep?
I cannot help but draw a parallel to the darkest periods of Brazil's history. During the military regime, prior censorship was a tool of social control—books were burned, songs were banned, and artists were exiled. The justification? "Protecting morals and good customs." The true objective? Silencing dissenting voices, controlling narratives, and keeping the population docile.
Today, Wattpad repeats this same pattern, albeit with a corporate veneer. The justification is "community safety" and "compliance with guidelines." The practical result is the same: authors silenced, stories deleted, and creativity stifled.
And don't give me the argument that "it's just a private platform; they can do whatever they want." When a platform becomes the primary medium of expression for millions of young writers around the world, it bears a social responsibility that transcends commercial interests.
To those who insist that "authors shouldn't get involved in politics," I say: what Wattpad is doing is politics. Censorship is a political act. Silencing voices is a political act. Determining what can or cannot be said in a public space is, by definition, political.
Censorship is a tool of control. It is the method those in power use to keep the people quiet. And a quiet populace causes no trouble. A quiet populace doesn't question. A quiet populace doesn't create.
And for anyone who still doesn't get it: this isn't just about sex scenes in stories. It is about:
Freedom of expression—the fundamental right to tell the stories we want to tell
Narrative diversity—the richness that comes from different perspectives and approaches
Creative autonomy—an author's ability to steer their own art
Representation—for many, stories with adult content are a way to explore sexuality, identity, and relationships safely
I am an author. My chapters may not have millions of votes, but every word I write is a piece of my soul. And now I’m told that this soul isn’t welcome if it dares to feel desire, if it dares to explore human intimacy with honesty.
This is a low blow. It is disrespectful to everyone who has dedicated hours to building universes, characters, and relationships. It is disrespectful to art.
So, what now?
What will we do? Will we silently accept having our freedom curtailed? Will we migrate to other platforms with our tails between our legs? Or will we raise our voices?
Let’s write. Let’s protest. Let’s expose the absurdity of what is happening. Because if Wattpad wants to silence us, we will speak even louder—on other platforms, on social media, in every corner where our voices can be heard.
Censorship is a tool of fear. And authors—at least the likes of us—are not afraid to tell stories.
