What Does CNC Mean In Texting? (Revealed!)

CNC usually stands for “consensual non-consent” in texting. This refers to the act of giving consent prior to a sexual encounter for performing any sexual act, without having to ask for explicit consent in the moment. This is primarily used in the world of BDSM, and is sometimes controversially referred to as “rape play”.

CNC is a rather specific idea, then, used within certain sexual subcultures.

The idea can seem deeply alien and even problematic to some people outside of these communities, but the issue is more than a little complicated.

There may also be one or two other things that this abbreviation is used for in texting, though they are not very common.

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What does CNC stand for in texting?

CNC stands for “consensual non-consent” when it is used in texting or in just about any scenario.

This is really the only widespread and common meaning of this particular abbreviation or initialism.

That said, it’s not the kind of thing you can expect to simply come across in your day-to-day life.

Most of the time, when this phrase is used, it is between two people who are already aware of its meaning.

As mentioned, it is an aspect of certain parts of the BDSM community, so let’s look into what “CNC” tends to actually involve.

The idea of “consensual non-consent” is, first of all, that you are of course giving consent in an actual sense, but that you are simulating or roleplaying the idea that you did not give consent.

The idea, then, is that two people will roleplay sexual assault as part of a sexual fantasy they may have.

You initially give your consent, but thereafter roleplay that the acts are not consensual.

Again, this is why some people refer to it as “rape play”.

It’s like simulating being raped, even though you have in fact given your consent to the act.

Of course, in BDSM in general, there is always a kind of underlying implied coercion.

But the focus is less on the apparent lack of consent, and more on the enjoyment of bondage or pain in itself.

You are not simulating sexual assault in that sense.

So, “CNC” is problematic even within its own community, but more on that later.

If someone is talking about “CNC” to you in texting, then you must both be absolutely clear that you are on the same page and understand one another.

In conversations like this, you must always make your intentions and desires explicitly known—so don’t discuss CNC with someone without this understanding.

Is CNC bad, then?

Is CNC bad?

The truth is that it’s a very contentious question.

For some people, the emphasis is rather on the actual consent rather than the “non-consent” aspect.

Whatever happens, consent has been given, and so there’s no reality to be problematic—everything that happens is purely roleplay and make-believe, so there’s no issue.

As long as two adults consent, no one else has any input on what they do in the privacy of their own bedrooms.

Others, though, even in the BDSM community, find the issue to be deeply problematic.

Rape fantasies are said by many to be not at all within the spirit of BDSM, and that they simply take it too far.

Rape is an enormous social issue that should not be downplayed by such fantasies.

It’s very important to understand that BDSM and rape fantasy are not synonymous.

The issue is of the lack of clear communication.

Again, two people looking to engage in CNC need to be absolutely, 100% clear about what they both want, what their boundaries are, and perhaps most importantly that a safe word be agreed on to ensure the act can be stopped at any time.

There’s no simple answer to this question.

What people do in the privacy of their own homes is no one else’s business, ultimately, but it’s nonetheless a very delicate issue and something that must be educated on.

Is CNC NSFW?

CNC is absolutely NSFW.

It is an explicit sex act, and indeed any such act would be considered NSFW.

You don’t want to be talking about sex in virtually any capacity in a work setting, and you’ve got to remember the taboos that exist around these kinds of things, for good or ill.

Many people do not understand these things.

What does CNC mean on SnapChat?

CNC usually has the same meaning on SnapChat.

SnapChat is thought by many to be one of the main ways that young people “hook up” today, and so it is often warned about in this context.

If you are unfamiliar with CNC or BDSM in general, or indeed if someone you don’t know is soliciting sexual conversations, then you’ve got to enforce your own boundaries.

If you are not interested, then you must either tell the person to stop or stop talking to them.

CNC might be a controversial topic among consenting adults, but if it is something someone is trying to coerce you into, then you need to be extremely careful of that person and even warn others.

It’s a complicated issue, then.

Many would say that such acts are problematic even among two consenting adults.

The issue many raise is that it reflects a broader social issue with people’s attitudes to sexual assault and actual non-consensual sex acts.

It’s really not the kind of thing you can expect to just come across, though, as usually the BDSM community in general tends to be very open about their intentions in this way—but in any case, this is what the abbreviation means.

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Founder - @PollyWebster

Polly Webster is the founder of Foreign Lingo and a seasoned traveler with a decade of exploration under her belt.

Over the past 10 years, she has journeyed to numerous countries around the globe, immersing herself in diverse cultures, traditions, and languages.

Drawing from her rich experiences, Polly now writes insightful articles about travel, languages, traditions, and cultures, sharing her unique perspectives and invaluable tips with her readers.

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