NSFW is an abbreviation of the English term "Not Safe for Work" which means "Not safe for work". Is slang used on the internet as an alert indication for inappropriate content to be viewed in public places or not workplace (eg pornographic content).
The abbreviation NSFW can be found together with emails, images, videos or other files with inappropriate content where caution is recommended on the part of the user when opening the file. There are cases of people who were fired from the company for viewing content of a sexual nature in the workplace. NSFW slang prevents a person from opening a particular inappropriate link, being hindered in their work or causing an inconvenient situation in a public place.
The concept of SFW or NSFW (safe or unsafe for work) is relative, as it depends on the work environment and freedom conferred by each worker's employer. There are websites that act as tools that determine whether a given content is SFW or NSFW.
There are other similar abbreviations that are used for the same type of alert:
- PNSFW (Probably Not Safe for Work): Probably Not Safe for Work
- PNFO (Probably Not for the Office): Probably Not Safe for the Office
- LSFW (Less Safe for Work): Unsafe for Work
Conversely, the abbreviation SFW "Safe for Work" stands for "Safe for Work" and is used to designate a file that can be opened and viewed in public without any fear.