Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Associated Press
NEW YORK
Facebook is trying to clarify what posts, images and other content it allows on its site and why.
In an update to its community-standards page, the world’s largest online social network gave users more guidance on why, for example, it might take down a post that featured sexual violence and exploitation, hate speech, criminal activity or bullying.
It also explained why it not only bans terrorist and organized-crime groups, but it also removes content supporting them.
The Menlo Park, Calif.-based company said it isn’t changing how it regulates the content of posts, and that while some of the guidance for users is new, “it is consistent with how we’ve applied our standards in the past.”
In a blog post Monday, Facebook said it is a challenge to maintain one set of standards that meet the needs of its entire community. More than 80 percent of Facebook users are outside the U.S. and Canada.
Facebook users who believe that a particular page or content violates the site’s standards can click a “report” link to notify Facebook. The company then considers whether to take it down.