Facebook have released a fairly hefty document outlining new “Community Standards” setting out their policies which “will help you understand what type of sharing is allowed on Facebook, and what type of content may be reported and removed“.
As an example Facebook say that they will “remove photographs of people displaying genitals or focusing in on fully exposed buttocks. We also restrict some images of female breasts if they include the nipple, but we always allow photos of women actively engaged in breastfeeding or showing breasts with post-mastectomy scarring“.
Facebook explain the new policies saying “In order to treat people fairly and respond to reports quickly, it is essential that we have policies in place that our global teams can apply uniformly and easily when reviewing content“. They go on to add “As a result, our policies can sometimes be more blunt than we would like and restrict content shared for legitimate purposes. We apologise for any inconvenience. We are continually re-evaluating how to balance people’s interest in expression with the needs of our diverse, global community“.
This has already prompted a question from one reader who asked “I sell adult novelties and Lingerie on eBay and never had a problem up to Christmas. Recently I have tried to do the same without being allowed as it is now against their rules of adult material, sexual innuendo and pornography! Today I wanted to promote Nurses Tunics but was refused because, and I quote: ‘Your post can’t be boosted because it violates Facebook’s advertising guidelines by advertising adult products or services, including toys, videos or sexual enhancement products.’”
Facebook are tightening up across the board and whilst in the past certain types of content have slipped through the net, they’re now going to be stricter as regards the type of content which can be posted in the first place and then they types of content which can be promoted.
