Facebook bans photo of a plus-sized model.
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Facebook is in hot water after the social media giant initially banned a photo of a plus-sized model that it had deemed as depicting “a body or body part in an undesirable manner” and violating its “health and fitness policy.”
An Australian feminist group, Cherchez la Femme, wanted to use the image of plus-size model Tess Holliday wearing a bikini to advertise an event the group is holding next month on body positivity entitled “Feminism and Fat.”
Facebook then rejected the group’s ad request because they said the image “violates Facebook’s Ad Guidelines by promoting an idealized physical image.”
When the group complained, Facebook’s Ad Team said the photo was against Facebook’s “Health and Fitness Policy.”
Types of images that are not allowed under the Facebook “Health and Fitness” policy include “close-ups of ‘muffin tops’ where overhanging fat is visible,” “people with clothes that are too tight” and “people pinching their fat/cellulite,” it said, as these adverts “make viewers feel bad about themselves.” Its policy is designed to prevent unhealthy weight loss Facebook says.
“Instead we recommend using an image of a relevant activity, such as running of riding a bike,” Jenny wrote, according to the message displayed on Cherchez la Femme’s Facebook page.
The feminist group became enraged after the Facebook ban. “We’re raging pretty hard over here — both because Facebook seemingly has no idea that plus sized, self-describing fat women can feel great about themselves, and also because we haven’t been able to boost the original damn post,” said Cherchez La Femme producer Jessamy Gleeson on the group’s Facebook page. Many users pointed out that Facebook seemed to be “fat-shaming” and did not block or ban celebrities such as Kim Kardashian wearing “tight clothes”.
Following the backlash, Facebook issued an apology. “Our policies are in place to protect the community from offensive ads. This is not the case here and I’m sorry for our incorrect review.”
Facebook added that it “processes millions of ads per week, and there are instances that we incorrectly disapprove an image.”
It’s interesting to point out that Facebook is increasingly coming under fire for their control and manipulation of what is okay and what is not okay for their users to see. For example, Facebook admits that employees may have shown bias against conservatives and consequently, changing the algorithm to show more liberal news and information. And now reports of Facebook banning plus-size models. So it begs the question: How far would Facebook go in order to show you what they believe is acceptable? It’s hard to tell and until then, be careful what you post because the Facebook police is watching.
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Via CNBC
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