Facebook has new rules for nudity, lot more

Using Facebook? Be prepared to for changes to what you post and see on your timeline. Facebook has released a 2,500 word Community Standards document on the social networking website which reads out a few new rules, out loud.

The BBC reported that Facebook has released a 2,500 word Community Standards, which is longer than the earlier released one, focuses on safety, respectful behavior privacy, security and intellectual property.

The ‘Encouraging respectful behavior’ section on Facebook’s Community Standards page explains it all. The subsection ‘Nudity’ explains ‘We restrict the display of nudity because some audiences within our global community may be sensitive to this type of content - particularly because of their cultural background or age’. So in short, nude images from posts will be taken down without notice. If the images are for educational or satirical purposes, you may get lucky, but not always.

“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. Restrictions on the display of both nudity and sexual activity also apply to digitally created content unless the content is posted for educational, humorous, or satirical purposes. Explicit images of sexual intercourse are prohibited. Descriptions of sexual acts that go into vivid detail may also be removed,” say the nudity guidelines.

Child porn is also strictly under screening. Sexual violence and exploitation will be seriously scanned and content will be immediately removed. “We remove content that threatens or promotes sexual violence or exploitation. This includes the sexual exploitation of minors, and sexual assault. To protect victims and survivors, we also remove photographs or videos depicting incidents of sexual violence and images shared in revenge or without permissions from the people in the images.”

“Our definition of sexual exploitation includes solicitation of sexual material, any sexual content involving minors, threats to share intimate images, and offers of sexual services. Where appropriate, we refer this content to law enforcement. Offers of sexual services include prostitution, escort services, sexual massages, and filmed sexual activity,” continues the sexual violence and exploitation rules.

Apart from nudity, hate speech is another targeted area.

“Facebook removes hate speech, which includes content that directly attacks people based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, sex, gender, or gender identity, or serious disabilities or diseases.”

“Organizations and people dedicated to promoting hatred against these protected groups are not allowed a presence on Facebook,” it says further.

Well, the list is pretty long. If you want to read the entire Community Standards, click here.