If your content was rejected with "Content and/or metadata contains potentially objectionable, explicit, or inappropriate themes. This could include nudity, overly sexual content and/or depictions of violence,” it is most likely because of one of the following issues:
Content Related to Geopolitical Events
Shutterstock content review policies do not assume sides in geopolitical conflicts and we will accept commercial, documentary editorial, and illustrative editorial content as long as it meets all technical, metadata, and legal requirements and does not violate Shutterstock’s policies on:
Here are some examples of reasons for which content related to geopolitical events would be rejected by Shutterstock:
Contains defamatory or derogatory statements (in the depiction of the subject matter or in the metadata) that were directed towards a political leader or country.
Contains obscene language or gestures that were directed towards a political leader and/or country.
Depicts the desecration of a country’s flag.
Depicts Nazi symbols or references.
Depicts “Z”, “V”, and “O” Russian military symbols.
In light of the 2022 war in Ukraine, Shutterstock will only accept the “Z”, “V”, and “O” Russian military symbols in documentary editorial content.
Nudity or Sexual Material
Content contains explicit nudity, such as exposed genitalia, or explicit or implicit sexual intercourse/acts, or masturbation.
Content contains X-rated content or content deemed as illegal under US law.
For commercial submissions with models over the age of 18, the following types of content will be acceptable only if a mature content model release¹ is provided and the “Mature Content” designation is selected:
WARNING: THE LINKS BELOW CONTAIN IMAGES WITH NUDITY
¹ A mature content model release is an adult model release with a copy of the model's government-issued photo ID attached in the visual reference area. The entire ID must be visible and the information on it must be legible as it is used to confirm that the model is over 18 years of age.
Documentary Editorial content that contains nudity or sexual material is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Content with nudity will be rejected if the model appears to be unaware of being on camera or appears to object to being photographed or filmed. Illustrative Editorial content with nudity will not be accepted.
Objectionable or Offensive Material
This includes, but is not limited to:
Content that:
Targets a person or group in a hateful, defamatory, derogatory, degrading, or offensive manner.
Is racially or ethnically insensitive.
Contains offensive language or outdated terminology that has become offensive over time.
Portrays people of different backgrounds in a disrespectful way.
Dehumanizes or reduces a person’s identity.
Expresses disgust or contempt towards a person or group of people.
Incites violence towards a particular group of people.
Makes generalizations or stereotypes.
Advocates for discrimination.
References terrorist or hate groups.
Depicts blackface, brownface, or any coloring of skin that is intended to imitate the skin color of another racial or ethnic group. This can include fashion concepts and other creative concepts where a model’s skin is darkened for a stylistic effect. Concepts like this will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may be rejected even if the intent is not to imitate a racial/ethnic group.
Depicts a person mimicking the eye shape characteristic of persons from central and eastern Asia.
Language in content and/or metadata that is intended to hurt, upset, insult, or express a negative connotation or a low opinion of a person/group of people on the basis of race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, gender, or disability.
E.g., racial slurs, hateful or derogatory language, terms that are used to compare a person to an animal, expressions of disgust or contempt towards a person or group of people, etc.
Child abuse concepts depicting harmful or dangerous acts or injuries sustained as a result of abuse.
Explicit animal abuse.
The destruction or desecration of a flag.
Overly graphic surgeries, wounds, or injuries.
Commercial submissions and Illustrative Editorial, Editorial Vector, Editorial Illustration, and Editorial Animation submissions of this nature are prohibited. Documentary Editorial content will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Profanity and Vulgar Language
Mature language in content, titles, and keywords requires the “Mature Content” designation. Some terms may be rejected for Objectionable or Explicit depending on how the term is used in context.
If you don’t understand the reason for the rejection of your content or if you need additional clarification, you can always contact contributor support.