Meta has issued an apology to Instagram users and confirmed that a “bug” affecting the platform has been fixed. The issue allowed inappropriate content to appear in the personalized recommendations of short vertical videos in the Reels section.
“We fixed a bug that caused some users to see content in their Instagram Reels feed that should not have been recommended. We apologize for the error,” a Meta representative told CNBC. Users had reported seeing “not safe for work” and violent content in their recommendations, even with the strictest moderation settings enabled. The content included depictions of physical details, violence, and related comments, often marked as “sensitive content.”
Meta’s Content Moderation Efforts
Meta claims to have over 15,000 specialists dedicated to identifying and removing inappropriate content across its platforms. They are supported by artificial intelligence tools designed to detect and remove the majority of prohibited content before users can report it. The company is also working to refine its recommendation algorithms to exclude low-quality, objectionable, or sensitive content, particularly for younger audiences.
In early January, Meta announced plans to relax its moderation policies to reduce errors that made its practices appear overly restrictive, reminds NIXSOLUTIONS. Despite the recent issue, Reels remains a key focus for Instagram. CEO Adam Mosseri recently informed employees that the platform is considering launching a standalone Reels app, according to Information. Additionally, Instagram introduced a separate video editor, Edits, in January, similar to TikTok’s CapCut.
Meta continues to refine its content moderation and recommendation systems, and we’ll keep you updated on further improvements.