In an email, a Meta spokesperson told 404 Media “We have fixed an error that caused some users to see content in their Instagram Reels feed that should not have been recommended. We apologize for the mistake.” They said that the problem does not have anything to do with Meta’s recent announcement that it would loosen some content moderation rules.
To prove that this was actually happening, I sent Meta six links to graphic reels. These included two videos of people getting shot in the face, a video of a dead body with no context or obvious news value, a person getting lit on fire, the account called “PeopleDeadDaily,” and the tower of terror video. None of these videos have been deleted.
One of the many problems preventing people from actually holding Meta to account for any of this is that everyone’s feed is so incredibly personalized. Like I said, because we report on the darker corners of the internet, my Instagram feed is full of horrific things on a daily basis, which is probably not everyone’s experience.
Instagram 'Error' Turned Reels Into Neverending Scroll of Murder, Gore, and Violence
Submitted 5 weeks ago by misk@sopuli.xyz to technology@lemmy.world
Comments
pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 5 weeks ago
thesohoriots@lemmy.world 5 weeks ago
Yeah so funnily enough I just checked IG reels and saw one where about four people get shot. There was a “sensitive content” screen over it but that’s it. Postmodern complaint: I’m just glad it wasn’t someone getting sucked into an escalator, those are freaky.
Walk_blesseD@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 weeks ago
You’ve piqued my curiosity: how does one even get sucked into an escalator? What’s gotta happen to make that work???
thesohoriots@lemmy.world 5 weeks ago
It’s always at the bottom or top right where you’d step off and you just watch the person’s shoe suddenly disappear, and then they disappear. I believe it’s a shoelace or loose/flexible shoes that get pulled into the machinery and belts where the surface flattens out and goes back under the floor.
Rooty@lemmy.world 5 weeks ago
What a great day for not having mainstream social media.
EuCaue@lemmy.ml 5 weeks ago
Sometimes I really forget that Instagram exists.
palmtrees2309@lemm.ee 5 weeks ago
Waiting for a youtube iceberg video to mention this incident
Telorand@reddthat.com 5 weeks ago
Man, Meta sure is having a lot of “errors” lately…
muntedcrocodile@lemm.ee 5 weeks ago
U chose to click the show content button keep scrolling and shut the fuck up.
StarvingMartist@sh.itjust.works 5 weeks ago
Careful guys someone didn’t get their cheerios this morning, he’s extra cranky
Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee 5 weeks ago
They’re a journalist, it’s kinda their job to investigate.
Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee 5 weeks ago
And people fucking commented on them, rather than just closing the app and doing something else with their life?
What is wrong with people? Has Instagram really got people so well trained they will just sit there and watch people dying out of habit?
Snowclone@lemmy.world 5 weeks ago
It’s straight up weaponized dopamine loops, it’s REALLY hard to stop.
EndofLife@feddit.org 5 weeks ago
Have my 6376th up vote tonight.
desktop_user@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 weeks ago
not everyone is opposed to seeing gore on their racism app