Are Facebook’s Community Standards a Reflection of Our World?

The Hypocrisy of Facebook Banning Gay People on It's Site
We saw a post on Towleroad about a pro-equality Facebook Fan Page Have a Gay Day being blocked and told they violated the Facebook Community Standards. Here’s the kicker: The photograph posted wasn’t pornographic, it wasn’t explicit, it’s actually quite hard to determine what specifically in Facebook standards it violated. It was a close-up of two men kissing and it specifically was addressing equality and what’s considered offensive.
The Hypocrisy of Facebook Banning Gay People on It's Site


Worst of all, this isn’t the first time. Curiously, this equality, anti-censorship image also got pulled. Meanwhile, heterosexual couples and women are allowed to be fairly suggestive on Facebook without repercussion. Worse yet, Facebook Fan pages like “Gay Marriage is Disgusting” still have images like this up despite them clearly breaking a few community standards outlined by Facebook.
The Hypocrisy of Facebook Banning Gay People on It's Site
I won’t deny that this really gets under our skin at QueerClick, because we have experienced the exact same things happen on our Facebook Fan Page. This page was initially intended for us to be able to communicate with QC Fans directly through Facebook. That’s not some bullshit excuse, we sincerely have been wanting to utilize Facebook’s audience as a place to develop more of a one-on-one community for our friends. (Anyone remember QueerClique?) And we saw amazing growth in 2013 on this page. We shared nothing explicit (yes, we know we’re a gay porn blog), but the intention of the fan page was always a place to share news and get to know our fans better. What happened was repeatedly being reported, harassed through messages, being blocked and being told that images were a direct violation of Facebook’s Community Standards.
The Hypocrisy of Facebook Banning Gay People on It's Site
Yeah, I know you’re thinking we posted something suggestive and erotic. Nope! The images that got banned in the past six months have been: 1) A shoulders-up photo of two men kissing; 2) Two shirtless guys (in shorts) with their arms around their shoulders smiling; 3) A shirtless guy with his arm exposing his armpit.
On the other hand, just a simple search today on Facebook pulled these images. All not censored. Will they ever be? Any equivalent with a guy would be immediately pulled would it not? Don’t believe me, try it.
These images are okay for Facebook, as they're not considered sexually explicit, offensive or suggestive.
Facebook’s Limited and Subjective Community Standards
So, clearly Facebook isn’t such a great place for QueerClick to develop a community of fans. Umm, the true meaning of a Fan Page, despite our page being downgraded to a place where we show a very limited, safe photo and link of a guy’s face or upper body. But what really bothers me about the whole thing is how subjective Facebook’s Community Standards are. Because they’re a private company and pretty much can follow whatever rules they want, you may never know why your photo was banned, reported or in violation. (We’re still scratching our heads of the two handsome men with their arms around their shoulders. This photo isn’t sexual in any way and doesn’t imply anything about these guy’s orientation.) What also bothers me is how much effort makes to have a zero-tolerance for bullying and harassment. But isn’t this subjective, silent and odd removal of pro equality opinions and pro-gay images harassment. My personal feeling is there is very little we can post or say on Facebook without being blocked (not just on our fan page, but my own personal page which has nothing to do with QueerClick) too. And so having this happen over and over, I begin to cringe knowing if hit my “Facebook” bookmark and am automatically logged out, something happened. Is this the time they delete my account forever? While QC fans will recover from the lose of their fan page, does that mean I should also have my own personal contact with friends, images and personal life moments removed? By the way, Facebook has informed me, I can get my account deleted just from having a fan post something inappropriate and if it gets reported, I am the one who gets punished.
Is this explicit or offensive? And if so, why?
Facebook as a Reflection of Equality
So, as my Facebook News Feed gets bombarded with opinions about Duck Dynasty and the decisions of its channel A&E, I realize the words about harassment and bullying are very nice on Facebook, but at this point just words. While LGBTT people have had wonderful acknowledgements of being recognized equally in the past year, it’s clear we have a long, long way to go. If Facebook is a general reflection of our cultural feelings, I’d say our equality is headed in the right direction, but still filled with a lot of people who feel threatened by our lives. Facebook is governing an imagined social nation and while they say there are protections, it’s clear there is a double-standard. (Look up hot chicks, girls tweaking or even girls and fitness). It’s all tits and ass and seems very much geared toward horny straight guys. Why is that okay?
Is this equality?
My Dilemma
There’s no denying Facebook is huge. And to just walk away from it is difficult in our world (because you’d lose the sharing and communication with your friends that we used to share with phone calls and letters). There’s also something about walking away from it that doesn’t feel right. In some ways it feels cowardly or that I am validating their bullshit Community Standards. So how much is it worth it to fight them? You never hear a response when you try to appeal a block or something that’s considered a violation. So, it seems like it would be best to write, contact them at a physical address. It also seems like it makes sense to be vocal about it. This article. The Towleroad article and hopefully more mainstream media can help by pressuring a better understanding of Facebook’s seemingly one-sided, hetero terms of use. I am not seeking porn on Facebook, but general equality. I’d like to have a little less fear that my account could get deleted for posting a photo of friends at a pool party with their arms around each other in speedos or (gasp) perhaps me kissing my boyfriend. Could I actually post a photo of my wedding kissing should that ever happen? I know that sounds dramatic, but after being blocked a couple of times, I worry that could be the photo that deletes my account forever.
We are looking beyond Facebook in 2014
Facebook is Losing Its Power?
There also are reports that Facebook is losing its grip on people. Teens aren’t joining Facebook as much (reports suggest because their parents are also on it) and enjoying such unregulated delights at SnapChat or even good ol’ Tumblr. I wonder how much of that is true.
The silly realization I have had in the past few months, is there was definitely life before Facebook and there will be after it fades. And while it’s great for keeping in touch with friends (particularly friends that are far away), life goes on pretty smoothly without it too. While I am not leaving Facebook, I am going to make a point to stay openly gay on it, and be prepared to have the utmost apathy, if I do get deleted.
I am good with posting whatever I want on Twitter, Tumblr, Vine and even damn Grindr or Scruff. Being social online doesn’t mean just Facebook, and I believe that more than ever. And at some point, I know Facebook will fade away, perhaps quicker than they wanted if they don’t change their policies and limitations and stay relevant to allowing people to use it however limited or open as they want. That’s not a threat, just how things play out.
Have You Encountered Censorship on Facebook?
Again, Facebook is private. It’s not required to provide freedom of speech to its users. But I am curious to know if you, too have encountered censorship or bullying on the site and what happened? Has anyone ever had a removed image placed back on the site? Has anyone ever received an apology? If so, let us know. We’d love to share your own story or experience.
In the meantime, we encourage you to enjoy QueerClick on the following social media sites and share your own thoughts, ideas and fun with other QueerClick fans:
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Dec 29, 2013 By redmonkey 17 Comments