Facebook Lifts Ban On Posting Beheading Videos

[*crickets*]

Facebook lifted a ban on posting videos showing people being decapitated, sparking outrage from groups who argue the graphic images should be censored.

The social network site quietly began allowing users to post the bloody content after a months-long ban on the videos issued when the Family Online Safety Institute complained the images "crossed a line," the BBC reported. "Such content should be taken down," the British charity's chief executive, Will Gardner, told the station. "There is a need to raise issues happening around the world, there is that argument--but some content is horrific."

Facebook--which allows anyone over 13 years old to have an account--said they determined that users should be free to watch and condemn the videos as long as they don't promote violence.

The news station learned of the policy change after a reader reported a video showing a woman killed by a group of masked men in what appears to be Mexico was posted to the site and not removed.

The clip--titled, "Challenge: Anybody can watch this video"--generated a litany of comments that claimed the content was too graphic. "Remove this video too many young innocent minds out there shouldn't see this!!!" one person wrote. "This is absolutely horrible, distasteful and needs to be removed...there are too many young minds that can see this," another commenter wrote. "I'm 23 and I'm very disturbed after seeing a couple of seconds of it."

A spokeswoman for Facebook--which still keeps a strict policy against posting any nudity or sexually suggestive content--said the video was not removed because it did not condone the violence. "Facebook has long been a place where people turn to share their experiences, particularly when they're connected to controversial events on the ground, such as human rights abuses, acts of terrorism and other violent events," a spokeswoman told the BBC. "People are sharing this video on Facebook to condemn it. If the video were being celebrated, or the actions in it encouraged, our approach would be different."

The spokeswoman said the social network site is considering a warning system that would alert users of the graphic content before it is viewed.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/worl...#ixzz2iSgWfPxR

There are BEHEADING VIDEOS on Facebook??

I thought fb was just cute babies and vacation pics! Yikes!!

[HockeyGirl]

let the beheadings commence!!

[ryuzaki]

let the beheadings commence!!

Bye bye, Len Kagamine! (By the way, that is a reference to Story of Evil. I know that that's not really anything to joke about, and that Len's name is different in Story of Evil from what his name normally is, but I just had to)

[beli]

oh lord

[kevansvault]

I've never seen one on fb, only on sites we link to from here. I understand completely that people want that removed from fb, I don't want to see that shit either! But if they're gonna remove the beheading videos, perhaps they should remove something infinitely more dangerous - the hate and bullshit filled political propaganda from the party that lost the election. But that's just me. Imagine a world where people knew the truth about shit, how different it would be?

[bowieluva]

But tits are still out, guys. We don't want to be gross here.

[SuchAClassicGirl]

But tits are still out, guys. We don't want to be gross here.

that's right. No one wants to see breastfeeding women!!

[kevansvault]

that's right. No one wants to see breastfeeding women!!

I do goddamnit!

My feeling is that if you don't like breastfeeding women, you're wayyy insecure with your manhood. Oh, and that all that Bible banging conservativism has gone to your head. Oh, and you also need to shut the fuck up. I grow tired of people arguing how wrong it is...I just want to shake the shit out of them.

[Ron_NYC]

I do goddamnit!

My feeling is that if you don't like breastfeeding women, you're wayyy insecure with your manhood. Oh, and that all that Bible banging conservativism has gone to your head. Oh, and you also need to shut the fuck up. I grow tired of people arguing how wrong it is...I just want to shake the shit out of them.

Atheist here. It's wildly inappropriate to do in public.

[kevansvault]

Atheist here. It's wildly inappropriate to do in public.

Is not.

[HockeyGirl]

I feel like if you dont want to watch a beheading video...dont click on it......

[bowieluva]

Well, I also don't want my facebook feed to have some frozen image of it, but yes, obviously that's the way to go. However, the fact that they're being flexible about graphic violent images and still banning nude women?

[hamdinger125]

Well, I also don't want my facebook feed to have some frozen image of it

Exactly.

[beli]

its wrong on so many levels. I get that us here on this website may be desensitized by those types of images (i cannot watch videos of beheadings, though) but can you imagine younger people seeing those types of videos? I would think it would make them have little regard of human life. "What are you doing, John John?" "Oh nothing. Just watching this dude get his head chopped off. You know, the usual".

[bowieluva]

BUT AT LEAST HE'S NOT LOOKING AT BOOBIES.

[HockeyGirl]

I say just be conscious of who you follow and what kids are looking at online. But that should be a general guideline anyway. I dont think Facebook has a moral obligation, but that goes hand in hand with why they choose to censor one thing and not another, they cant have it both ways because then it just doesnt make sense.

[bowieluva]

Unfortunately, all it takes is Uncle Tony posting that shit without thinking.

[*crickets*]

Decapitation? No problem.

Breastfeeding mom? *gasp* NEVER!!

[bowieluva]

Yeah, you're wrong, ron. Team Kevinvault on this one.

Anyway, the fact that a boob is banned but a beheading is not is fucked.

[Ron_NYC]

If I ever see that shit (which I doubt) I'm going to make a point of telling that mommy she's gross. Then she can have a cool story.

Haha the mom butthurt on FB must be at epic levels right now.

[bowieluva]

Before you smirk, the ban is for all women's breasts, not just a woman breastfeeding.

The fact that boobs are considered more disgusting and disturbing than a beheading isn't just a 'hippy mom'issue. It's a repugnant notion.

[Ron_NYC]

Before you smirk, the ban is for all women's breasts, not just a woman breastfeeding.

The fact that boobs are considered more disgusting and disturbing than a beheading isn't just a 'hippy mom'issue. It's a repugnant notion.

There are boobs other places on the internet. Don't need FB. Totally worth it for their butthurt.

[kevansvault]

There are boobs other places on the internet. Don't need FB. Totally worth it for their butthurt.

Then again, Ron, we're men, and our opinion doesn't count for shit anyway.

But for women to have a problem with it? That makes me want to smack some bitches.

[Ron_NYC]

Then again, Ron, we're men, and our opinion doesn't count for shit anyway.

But for women to have a problem with it? That makes me want to smack some bitches.

That's the girl for me. It's a diner, not a peep show. Have some decency.

This has nothing to do with breastfeeding. It's hugely insulting to all women and in addition, it's a deeply disturbing statement about how women's bodies are viewed in this country.

I fail to see humor in that.

Those moms bellyaching makes me belly laugh.

I don't see the big deal about it. :shrugs:

[Nomad]

Before you smirk, the ban is for all women's breasts, not just a woman breastfeeding.

The fact that boobs are considered more disgusting and disturbing than a beheading isn't just a 'hippy mom'issue. It's a repugnant notion.

That's exactly right. Why is something natural like the human body considered more offensive to look at than a beheading? I don't get that.

I agree that women should be allowed to breast feed where and when they need to. Again, it's a natural part of life and is in no way offensive or gross. Look away of you don't want to see it. Then again, maybe you can call me a hypocrite because I'm all for restrooms and doors on stalls.