Meta makes it a little easier for creators to escape the dreaded “Facebook Jail.” The company announced this will allow people with professional accounts to complete an in-app “training session” to avoid their account being struck for their first violation of the platform’s community standards.
In a blog post announcing the change, Meta notes that it can be frustrating for creators to navigate the company’s selection of apps. it restricts Facebook accounts from certain features, including monetization tools, after multiple violations. Under the new rules, creators who receive a warning for a violation for the first time will have the option to remove the warning if they view the in-app explanation of the rule they violated.
Particularly serious violations, such as “posting content containing sexual exploitation, the sale of high-risk drugs, or the glorification of dangerous organizations or individuals,” cannot be removed. Instead, the system is focused on helping creators fix “unintentional errors,” according to the company. “We believe that helping people understand why we’re removing their content will be more effective in preventing reoffending, giving us not only a fairer approach, but a more effective approach,” explains Meta.
This isn’t the first time Meta has been criticized by the Board of Control for reforming its punishment system, a frequent source of frustration for users who can get strikes for common comments taken out of context. Last year, the company said it was trying to focus more about its rules instead of restricting its placement possibilities. While the latest policy change only affects creators with professional accounts, the company said it plans to roll it out “more broadly in the coming months.”