The internet thought Wattpad was coming for its Harry Styles smut. Here’s what actually happened
For some, One Direction is merely a British boy band that sang “What Makes You Beautiful” and introduced the world to Harry Styles. But for fanfic lovers in the mid-2010s, the band and its members were also their lovers, adoptive parents, and sometimes even their kidnappers. These fantasies often unfolded on Wattpad, an online platform where writers can publish their work directly for readers…
For many, the British boy band One Direction and its members were more than just musicians. In the mid-2010s, fanfiction enthusiasts saw them as their lovers, adoptive parents, and sometimes even kidnappers. These fantasies often resided on Wattpad, an online platform that has long captivated a cult-like following of users seeking niche original stories.
The platform was a space where readers could immerse themselves in the world of their favorite characters and even insert their own names into any world they desired, from Harry Potter to One Direction.
However, a recent online rumor has caused a rift between fans and the platform. Users spotted popular fanfiction genres being taken down from Wattpad, with the language in the platform's guidelines shifting to claim that explicit content or "smut" was now banned. Social media users took to X to express their outrage, with one user saying, "BEING SOLD TO ONE DIRECTION IS NOW AGAINST THE TERMS OF SERVICE ON WATTPAD??? this is the start of the end."
Other users echoed their frustration, saying that Wattpad was losing the "ancient texts" that fans cherished.
In reality, the platform had not changed its policies. Wattpad spokesperson clarified that the update to their Content Guidelines was merely for clarity and specificity. The company had to issue a blog post to address the widespread confusion. Wattpad had always been a place for steamy, complicated, romantic, weird, and emotional stories, and the platform's policies had not changed.
The rumor spread so widely that many users migrated to Archive of Our Own (AO3) as a result. AO3 is known for its liberal approach and less moderation than other platforms. However, this openness proved to be a double-edged sword. Many users found it frustrating to have their stories reported due to their personal preferences, leading to a clash between the two communities.
The incident highlights the long-standing tradition of fanfiction and its impact on the literary world. Popular Wattpad stories have even led to successful movies and shows, such as the After franchise and The Kissing Booth. For many writers, Wattpad was a place to share their work and create without fear of censorship. The migration to AO3 showed that some users were unwilling to accept the limitations of their preferred platform, even if it meant compromising the very essence of fanfiction.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
