Instagram and Facebook will reportedly allowed trans and non-binary users to go topless on the platforms if they like, but not users who were born female. Meta’s Oversight Board declared for the social media platforms to take the ban off of topless photos for users who identify as trans and non-binary, according to the New York Post.
The board says
“the same image of female-presenting nipples would be prohibited if posted by a cisgender woman but permitted if posted by an individual self-identifying as non-binary.”
The board revealed a previous overturned decision they made, which was couple who posted a topless photo but concealed their nipples. The pair described themselves as non-binary and trans; however, the picture was reported by other users causing it to be taken down and banned by Meta. Although it was banned, the photo was later restored after the couple won their appeal.
According to the board, Meta will depend on
“human reviewers”
who will be assigned to
“quickly assess both a user’s sex, as this policy applies to ‘female nipples,’ and their gender identity.”
This change is the result of complaints against both platforms that allege the former rules discriminate against users who are gender-fluid. The board continued to say that they’ll be
“additional nipple-related exceptions based on contexts of protest, birth-giving, after birth, and breastfeeding which it did not examine here, but also must be assessed.”
A Meta spokesperson told The Post,
“We welcome the board’s decision in this case… We are constantly evaluating our policies to help make our platforms safer for everyone.”
“We know more can be done to support the LGBTQ+ community, and that means working with experts and LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations on a range of issues and product improvements,”
the spokesperson continued.
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
