Facebook’s community standards have always been questionable. I mean who bans breastfeeding photos but allows pornographic images? It really baffles me. I was however absolutely gob smacked when I saw a series of REALLY disturbing images in my timeline. The photos, who had originally been shared by a guy from New York, had several thousand likes and shares and showed a dead baby covered in blood. The baby looked like it was a newborn, merely a couple of hours or days old, and it was dumped on the side of the road or in some sort of bush. It was the first thing I saw that day and the image didn’t leave me all day.
I was disturbed, disgusted and instantly reported the images thinking that they’d be removed within minutes of Facebook receiving my report. Wrong! A couple days after filing my report, I received the following message:
What on earth is wrong with Facebook? How can it be alright to spread images like that when children as young as 13 years old are allowed to have a Facebook account? Some parents let their children onto the website at an even younger age. I know I absolutely wouldn’t want Amy to see it: not now, not when she’s older. Not at all to be honest and I find it wrong that Facebook supports that these images get spread around the internet.
There was no escaping from them either. It wasn’t in a private photo album, no it just popped up in my timeline and it left me thinking about it all day. What I found even more disturbing is that until now over 200k people have shared the photos – without any reason. They weren’t connected to a news story that might have helped to raise awareness or educate. No, it was purely disturbing and wrong?
Have you had a similar experience? Do you think Facebook’s community rules work and what should and shouldn’t be shared online?
PS: I have decided not to share said images on my blog because I find it wrong to share something as graphic like that on my personal blog. If you really desperately want to see them, send me a message and I can share a link, but I won’t pop anything on the blog.
oh goodness I’m glad I didnt see this as I wouldnt want too. I love facebook but dislike some of its decisions.
Me too, they have to think of their responsibility, especially for younger users who could be seriously affected by images like that x
Thank you for not sharing the images. I think FB’s motives have been quesitonable for quite some time and their attitude to this is shocking – but that’s what they want – shares and shocks. Breastfeeding isn’t shocking enough – but lots of those other pics they allow are disgusting. I’m sorry you’ve been upset and it’s good to highlight this.
Yes, I hate their attitude and sensationalism. It’s so wrong!
Yup definitely. I reported a few offending images and nothing was done. it really annoys me….
Yes, it really makes you question their morals and values…
That’s disgusting – I find that Facebook can be quite unpleasant sometimes with some of the things that people share and it’s shocking that it seems to be allowed!
I know, I really can’t understand some of their decisions. They don’t make sense to me at all…
That is bloody awful. Good on you for flagging it with them and shame on them for not acting appropriately and taking it down. I’ve seen some pretty vile things on FB in the past but nothing as hideous as that. I find it extraordinary that anyone would want to post something like that in the first place or — worse — share it. But shame on Facebook for promoting it further and not removing it when questioned.
Don’t get me wrong, in the main, I love FB; I use it as an online address book for my favourite people. I don’t link it with my blog or Twitter — they are totally separate — and for me, Facebook is a great way of keeping up to date with my friends and what they’re up to. Especially the ones who live overseas. Sadly, it still doesn’t stop the odd, animal or human cruelty image or story popping up in my feed every now and then.
I completely agree with you: I mainly love Facebook and it’s a great place to mingle and stay in touch with people, but seeing images like that really puts me off and makes me question them and their values…
I am so glad I missed those images Carolin, it is sad what is deemed as acceptable nowadays. Mich x