Facebook just clarified its community policy to make 100% certain that people know what is and isn’t acceptable to post on the social media website. While their policies have not changed – hate speech and nudity, for example, are still not allowed – Facebook has taken it upon themselves to elaborate on the policies in detail.
We wager that some of these clarifications will be met with some pushback. For example, Facebook’s nudity policy: “We 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. We also allow photographs of paintings, sculptures, and other art that depicts nude figures.” We’re sure #FreetheNipple advocates won’t be too pleased about the no lady nipples policy, considering men are free to post as many shirtless photos as they please.
As far as hate speech, Facebook will remove anything that promotes hate against people based on their sexuality, gender, religion, race, nationality, ethnicity, disability or disease. It also notes that in any hate speech used or quoted to point raise awareness, the poster should make these intentions clear.
Facebook also addresses violent imagery, noting that people do share images of violent acts, often to raise awareness of their Facebook friends, which is totally OK. What isn’t OK, however, is sharing these pictures for one’s own pleasure. Also, you still can’t use Facebook to sell marijuana, but firearms, alcohol, tobacco and “adult products” are permitted. Facebook also has a provision for “dangerous organizations.” So if you were planning on making a Facebook page for your terrorist or organized crime group, just know that it’s going to be deleted. “We also remove content that expresses support for groups that are involved in the violent or criminal behavior mentioned above. Supporting or praising leaders of those same organizations, or condoning their violent activities, is not allowed.”
Head over to the Facebook to read their updated Community Standards in full.
