Gird your loins boys. Facebook is quietly updating its content-moderation policies to crack down on implicit mentions of sex.
Facebook will now “restrict sexually explicit language”—because “some audiences within our global community may be sensitive to this type of content”—as well as talk about “partners who share sexual interests,” art featuring people posed provocatively, “sexualized slang,” and any “hints” or mentions of sexual “positions or fetish scenarios.”
Facebook added the new “sexual solicitation” policy on Oct. 15. But it was only on Wednesday when internet users began to take notice. and claims it was implemented because of “conversations with our content reviewers, who told us that the sexual exploitation policy did not adequately distinguish between exploitation.”
The newly added rules of what is forbidden are as follows:
Attempts to coordinate or recruit for adult sexual activities such as filmed sexual activities, pornographic activities and erotic dances or massages
Explicit sexual solicitation, which is defined as offering or asking for sex or sexual partners, sex chats or conversations and nude images
Implicit sexual solicitation, which is defined as mention of a sexual act along with at least one of the following suggestive elements:
> Vague suggestive statements such as “looking for a good time tonight”
> Sexualised slang
> Sexual hints such as mention of sexual roles, positions or fetish scenarios
> Content (hand-drawn, digital or real-world art) that may depict explicit sexual activity or suggestively posed person(s).Offers or requests for other adult activities, such as commercial pornography or partners who share sexual fetish interests.
Content that engages in explicit sexual solicitation by, including but not limited to the following, offering or asking for:
> Sex or sexual partners
> Sex chat or conversations
> Nude imagesContent that offers or asks for other adult activities such as:
> Commercial pornography
> Partners who share fetish or sexual interestsSexually explicit language that adds details and goes beyond mere naming or mentioning of:
> A state of sexual arousal (wetness or erection)
> An act of sexual intercourse (sexual penetration, self-pleasuring or exercising fetish scenarios.
The news comes after Tumblr’s recent decision to start banning pornography later this month.