
Facebook released on Tuesday (24) the «Community Standards», a document that reveals to users how the social network decides what is allowed and what is not allowed on the platform. All content – pages, groups, profiles, individual posts or comments – can be excluded, if it presents: physical, financial and emotional damages, such as violent and criminal behavior, hate speech, bullying, child nudity, sexual exploitation, spam, plagiarism, among others.
On the website dedicated to the set of policies, Facebook explains: «the goal is to encourage expression and create a safe community. We base our policies on the contribution of our community and experts in the fields of technology and public security, for example. These policies also are based on the following principles: Security, Voice and Equality «.
Facebook discloses Community Standards: know what is allowed or not allowed on the social network – Photo: Carolina Ochsendorf / dnetc
Complaints can be made by the users themselves and are analyzed by a team of technology and public safety specialists. After verifying the complaint, the platform removes the content that violates the rules.
The social network can also adopt other more stringent measures, such as limiting posts on Facebook and even deactivating the profile. There is also the possibility of notifying the authorities in cases of risk to life or direct threat to public security. The user also has the option to block, unfollow or hide people and publications. One of the main objectives of the initiative is to create a safe and respectful environment on the website.
Check out the «prohibited» subjects on Facebook below.
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In this category, all content that promotes intimidation and exclusion of users is addressed. Facebook considers hate speech to be a verbal attack on an individual based on their race, ethnicity, nationality, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, sex, gender, gender identity, illness or severe disability. This ban is justified by the social network for fear that threats will be realized outside the Internet.
2. Violent and criminal behavior
It encompasses themes considered violent or criminal before society, such as terrorist organizations or individuals, organized hatred, serial or mass murderers, human trafficking and organized violence or criminal activity. Facebook also prohibits the disclosure of violent crimes, thefts and fraud. On the other hand, the social network allows for a constructive and balanced dialogue on the subject. The platform also repudiates the sale of non-medicinal drugs, medicines and marijuana, in addition to the purchase, sale, donation, exchange and transfer of firearms, including parts of weapons and ammunition.
Facebook does not allow violent and criminal behavior on the social network – Photo: Disclosure / Pixabay
Here, these are more delicate issues, such as harassment, child nudity and sexual exploitation of children. When the publication fits these two issues, in particular, Facebook informs that it reports the content and its due user to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children). The social network also mentions that, despite good intentions, the site also advises parents not to post images of their children naked.
Community Standards also do not allow trafficking, coercion and sexual acts by adults without consent, such as nudes and filmed sexual activities. Facebook provides instructions on how to report or report any user on the network who behaves inappropriately with another participant. Another subject not tolerated on the social network is bullying, a practice characterized by disparaging and humiliating the user. Facebook has a Bullying Prevention Center, which aims to guide all parties involved in the case: aggressor, assaulted and responsible.
Social network repudiates content about child nudity and sexual exploitation of children – Photo: Pond5
4. Integrity and authenticity
The social network condemns the practice of spam to deceive users and get likes, followers or shares. In addition, the platform is constantly modifying the News Feed algorithm to reduce the spread of fake news and keep users informed as much as possible. Facebook also mandates that users use their real name in the profile to help make the social network more secure and reliable.
5. Intellectual property
Community Standards do not allow content that violates intellectual property, such as the unauthorized and unauthorized use of copyright and trademark, to promote your profile or Facebook page.
The Terms of Service that users agree to when registering also states that plagiarism is strictly prohibited on the social network. Facebook advises that the user, before posting content belonging to someone else, make sure that he / she has authorization to do so.
Intellectual property copyright violates Facebook guidelines – Photo: Pond5
I don’t agree with the rules: now what?
Along with Community Standards, Facebook has also launched an appeal feature. If the user disagrees with the removal of content taken off the air due to nudity, sexual activity, hate speech or explicit violence, he / she may contact the platform.
Below, Facebook’s explanation of how the process works:
- If your photo, video, or publication has been removed for violating our Community Standards, you will be notified and given the option to request an additional review
- This will lead to an analysis of our team, always a person, which usually takes 24 hours
- If we made a mistake, we will send you a notification and the content (photo, video or publication) will be restored.