Instagram and Facebook ban ‘Sexual’ Emojis, Issue New Guideline

Facebook and Instagram have banned the use of ‘sexual emojis’ including the eggplant, peach and water drips.

The new guidelines state that the taboo emojis cannot be used to depict sexual activity and nude body parts can’t be covered up with the playful symbols.

However, the social media giants are being criticized for being overly concerned about the hidden meanings of emojis rather than the racism and propaganda that lurks on their sites.

WHAT DO THE NEW GUIDELINES SAY?

Criteria 1: Offer or Ask Content implicitly or indirectly* (typically through providing a method of contact) offers or asks for: Nude imagery, or Sex or sexual partners, or Sex chat conversations

The new guidelines state that the taboo emojis, like the water drip, cannot be used to mention or depiction sexual activity

Criteria 2: Suggestive Elements Content makes the aforementioned offer or ask using one of the following sexually suggestive elements: Contextually specific and commonly sexual emojis or emoji strings, or Regional sexualized slang, or Mentions or depictions of sexual activity (including hand drawn, digital, or real world art) such as: sexual roles, sex positions, fetish scenarios, state of arousal, act of sexual intercourse or activity (sexual penetration or self-pleasuring), or Imagery of real individuals with nudity covered by human parts, objects, or digital obstruction, including long shots of fully nude butts

Content must meet Criteria 1 (offer or ask) and be implicitly or indirectly offering or asking for sexual solicitation in order to be deemed violating.

For example, if content is a hand-drawn image depicting sexual activity but does not ask or offer sexual solicitation, it is not violating.

An offer or ask for pornographic material (including, but not limited to, sharing of links to external pornographic websites).

Credit: Daily Mail