Meta Platforms has issued an apology after a technical error caused Instagram’s Reels feature to display violent and graphic videos to users, including minors.
The glitch led to personal Reels feeds being inundated with disturbing content, such as footage of individuals being killed or maimed, some without appropriate “sensitive content” warnings.
Users worldwide reported encountering these unsettling videos, prompting widespread concern. Meta has since resolved the issue and apologized for the mistake, though the company has not disclosed the specific cause of the error.
This incident has intensified scrutiny of Meta’s content moderation policies, especially following its recent decision to discontinue third-party fact-checking partnerships in the U.S., opting instead for a community-based content flagging system.
Despite these challenges, Meta’s stock has seen a nearly 40% increase over the past year.
