Facebook and Instagram want to curb the use of sexually tinted emoji. They may no longer be used to offer or request sex, sex chat or nude images. According to Child Focus, this is a dangerous way to do prevention. “Banning will not stop people from sending sexually motivated messages. They will simply look for alternatives,” says Niels Van Paemel of Child Focus.
The eggplant and the peach are two emoji that are sometimes used in a sexual context. The eggplant then stands for a penis and the peach for buttocks. They can no longer be used in sexually explicit messages or to cover parts of nude photos.
It is generally forbidden to offer or ask for sex, sex chat or nude images on Facebook and Instagram. Also sharing filmed sexual acts, pornographic acts, erotic dances and massages is not allowed.
Facebook has sharpened its in richtlijnen recent months. “We draw a line when content facilitates, encourages or coordinates sexual contacts between adults,” it sounds. “We also limit sexually explicit language that may invite sexual contact, because some audiences within our global community may be sensitive to this type of content.”
Sexting
With the amended guideline, Facebook aims at the phenomenon of sexting. That is sending sexually tinted messages, nude photos or videos of themselves to someone, often via apps on the mobile phone.
According to Niels Van Paemel of Childfocus, the Facebook ban is not a good thing. “Banning will not stop people from sending sexually motivated messages. They will just look for alternatives,” he says.
“We should not focus on forbidding, but on preventing things from going wrong. What do young people do when they receive a photo from someone else? As long as it stays within the intimate sphere, there is no problem. For us, it is much more important that Facebook bears its responsibility within the distribution process. The company could ensure that those photos can no longer be distributed or that you receive a notification if someone takes a screenshot of it. “
NATWWA 