Meta users have recently taken to social media to voice concerns over a disturbing issue on Instagram, where their feeds have been flooded with violent and sexually explicit Reels. Acknowledging the problem, Meta confirmed to CNBC that an algorithm error is responsible for showing users content that should not have been recommended. The company stated, “We are fixing an error that caused some users to see content in their Instagram Reels feed that should not have been recommended,” and issued an apology for the mistake.
Meta Users Report Flood of Inappropriate Reels
Users across platforms like Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) have reported seeing extreme content, including school shootings, murders, stabbings, and uncensored pornography. Even those who had enabled Instagram’s Sensitive Content Control found themselves subjected to graphic material. Some users noted that even after marking such videos as “Not Interested,” similar content continued to appear in their feeds.
Content Moderation Concerns
Despite Meta’s commitment to removing explicit and violent content under its policies, the error appears to have bypassed Instagram’s usual moderation systems. According to the company’s guidelines, real depictions of nudity, sexual activity, and extreme violence are prohibited, with certain graphic content either removed or labeled with warnings. However, this issue has raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of Instagram’s content filtering and user safety measures.
While Meta has assured users that it is actively working to resolve the glitch, the incident has intensified discussions around social media platforms’ responsibility in preventing harmful content exposure. Many Meta users are now demanding stronger safeguards to prevent similar mishaps in the future.
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