Meta Apologizes for Instagram Glitch Flooding Feeds with Graphic Content

Meta issues apology after Instagram started flooding people's feed with obscene content - SiliconANGLE

Meta issues apology after Instagram started flooding people's feed with obscene content Meta Platforms Inc. today had to apologize after a glitch caused its Instagram Reels feature to inundate users with videos of real-life horror. "We have fixed an error that caused some users to see content in their Instagram Reels feed that should not have been recommended," a Meta spokesperson said in a statement. "We apologize for the mistake." For a reason Meta hasn't explained, people started seeing videos of fights in the street, school shootings, murders and accidents that produced deadly injuries that users described as "gore." Users on Reddit who experienced this rather unpleasant influx of content said even despite enabling the Sensitive Content Control feature, they saw pornography, castration, beheadings and people being raped. It's shocking enough that this kind of content is being shared on Instagram in the first place, but why the algorithm started flooding people's accounts with it is confounding. In some cases, people reported clicking the "not interested" button, but the algorithm persisted. According to Meta's policy, users should be protected from seeing such violent imagery. The company's platforms might allow some amount of violence, but only if it raises awareness of issues such as war, human rights abuses, or acts of terrorism. This kind of content will usually come with a graphic warning label. The company uses machine learning artificial intelligence to pick up violent content before it gets to the user, with Meta saying "the vast majority of violating content" will be taken down before it even reaches users. There is also a 15,000-strong team of human reviewers to protect consumers from such content. As TikTok fights for survival in the U.S., Meta has been trying to push its short video content. At the same time, the company saw huge layoffs in 2022 that included losing some of the people working in trust and safety. Moreover, Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg recently announced major changes to its fact-checking systems, deciding to take a laxer approach to content using community notes rather than third parties. At the time, Zuckerberg said his companies would use "safety filters for 'illegal and high-severity' violations of its content policies," adding, "For lower-severity violations, we're going to rely on someone reporting an issue before we take action." He admitted, "We're going to catch less bad stuff, but we'll also reduce the number of innocent people's posts and accounts that we accidentally take down." However, a spokesperson for the company told CNN that this recent mishap is not related to any of the changes in content moderation.

Meta Issues Apology After Instagram's 'Sensitive Content' Filter Fails to Block Graphic Reels

Meta apologized for showing Instagram users violent and explicit Reels, even when they had the sensitive content filter switched on. Credit: Matt Cardy, Getty Images. Meta has been forced to apologize after a technical glitch resulted in some Instagram users being shown graphic and violent Reels. According to user reports, the error even affected accounts that had enabled Instagram's sensitive conten t filter, which was introduced in 2021. Instagram Users Shown Graphic Content Starting on Thursday, Instagram users across social media reported that their Reels feed had been inundated with unusually violent or explicit content. Commenting on the change, one user said, "Suddenly it's very graphic," adding that they had been shown "extreme fights and even blatant murder." Another user reported that even after adjusting their settings to see less sensitive material, "within a few swipes my feed is back to either showing me gore or porn." Meta Apologizes, Blames 'Error' for Inappropriate Reels Responding to the influx of violent and explicit Reels, Meta issued a statement shared with CNBC apologizing. "We have fixed an error that caused some users to see content in their Instagram Reels feed that should not have been recommended," a Meta spokesperson said. "We apologize for the mistake," they added. Content Moderation Changes The latest Instagram controversy comes a month after Meta announced a major overhaul of its content moderation strategy. Even before the latest changes, Meta has transitioned from employing large teams of content moderators to a more automated system. TikTok and other social media platforms have taken a similar approach. Content moderation tools include "artificial intelligence algorithms that proactively search for harmful content." "Our technology proactively detects and removes the vast majority of violating content before anyone reports it," the company states .

Why Instagram Reels are showing more sensitive content?

Instagram Reels Sensitive Content: Instagram users worldwide are raising concerns after their feeds were unexpectedly flooded with violent and NSFW content. Despite enabling Sensitive Content Control, many report seeing disturbing videos, including gory footage. Social media is buzzing with complaints, with users questioning whether it's a glitch or a change in Instagram's algorithm. While Meta has yet to respond, experts suggest a malfunction in the content moderation system or an unintended algorithm shift could be to blame.Instagram users across the globe are reporting a sudden and disturbing shift in their feeds, with violent and NSFW content appearing frequently -- even for those with Sensitive Content Control enabled. The complaints, which have flooded X (formerly Twitter), suggest that graphic videos, including fights and censored bodycam footage of shootings, are being pushed to the forefront of Instagram Reels. A user posted, "Anyone else noticing this on Instagram? In the past few hours, my IG Reels feed has suddenly started showing violent or disturbing videos out of nowhere. Feels random. Is anyone else experiencing this? Or is it just me? Wondering if it's a glitch or some weird algorithm change." Another wrote, "What is happening to Instagram?? All I'm seeing is sensitive and violent content every few scrolls????" One user, disturbed by the sudden change, shared, "Is it just me or is Instagram Reels violent as f--k right now?? I am only getting fight videos and couples cheating on each other." The situation has sparked outrage among users, many of whom have taken to social media to demand answers from Meta and Instagram. One frustrated user tweeted, "Wtf @Meta, My Instagram feed is full of sensitive contents today more in the last 8 hours, is everyone having same issue?? @MarkZuckss Not only me, the whole Instagram is facing the same situation." Another added, "Bro, what the FUCK is this new Instagram Reels feed... 6 sensitive content vids in a row is insane." The concern isn't limited to adult users. Parents and safety advocates are also weighing in, urging immediate action. "Highly recommend parents remove Instagram off their kid's phones right now... reels are straight up trying to de-sensitise users over the past 24hrs. Myself and everyone I know has had sensitive content pushed to the top of their feeds. Most content without warnings. #Instagram," one user warned. As the complaints pile up, speculation is growing about what could be causing this wave of violent and NSFW content on Instagram. While Meta has yet to release an official statement, experts suggest two possible explanations: a glitch in Instagram's content moderation system or an unintended algorithm shift. According to Vocal Media, Instagram's AI scans posts for sensitive material and restricts their visibility. If this system malfunctions, it could fail to filter inappropriate content, leading to its widespread appearance in users' feeds. Another possibility is that a recent algorithm update may have mistakenly prioritised violent or sensitive posts, inadvertently amplifying their reach. If true, this could explain why so many users are suddenly seeing distressing content in their feeds. This is not the first time Instagram has faced scrutiny over its content moderation. A previous investigation by The Wall Street Journal revealed that Instagram Reels had been recommending adult-themed videos to users following teen influencers, cheerleaders, and other young content creators. The report stated, "The platform served a mix of adult pornography and child-sexualising material." Further analysis of Meta's AI tracking suggested that older adults engaging with young content creators were being directed towards inappropriate content. In 2023, experts concluded that the system was automatically leading users to highly problematic material, raising significant concerns about Instagram's content recommendation algorithms. With no official response from Meta, Instagram users are left wondering whether this surge in violent and NSFW content is a temporary glitch or a deeper issue with the platform's algorithm. Until a fix is implemented, many are calling for stronger safeguards, especially for younger users. For now, the mystery remains unsolved, leaving millions questioning the safety and reliability of their Instagram experience.