TECHNOLOGY

Walking the Cyberbeat

To make Facebook advertiser-friendly, its 'porn cops' delete risqué content and enforce decorum.

By Nick Summers | NEWSWEEK
Published May 1, 2009
From the magazine issue dated May 18, 2009

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  • Posted By: mommaw @ 05/04/2009 6:44:40 PM

    I think it is discusting that a woman in her underwear and barely covering her breasts, or a man in only a thong are not considered obscene, but me breastfeeding my 6 month old is. What does that say about American values? Wait till the college student who started this site at Harvard becomes a dad...then perhaps it won't seem so "obscene."

    • Posted By: FLfunnyboy @ 05/04/2009 7:02:47 PM

      Maybe no-one wants to see you with your tittie in your baby's mouth. Even though its natural, youi don't want to see someone taking a poo, right?

      • Posted By: PageWraith @ 05/05/2009 12:35:57 AM

        it's not that hard to understand, you have an attraction level at work here. While your amazed at the fact that your feeding nutrients to your baby thru your breasts. The simple fact is your the only one who wants to see it. Yes it is a natural act but it does not mean that it is a public act. Trust me, most of the breasts that are out there look great. The reason people have problems with the way breast feeders act is the fact that you get self rightous and defensive. Girls that flash their rack don't. They may regret the picture later but not as much as your kid will when someone shows them going to town on their mom's breast. You might want to think what your kid will think later. Oh, and the Harvard dad probably won't feel ok with his wife whipping it out for junior, he's already upset that he has to share.

        • Posted By: irateredhead2008 @ 05/07/2009 1:01:07 PM

          Are you 19? Your comment reeks of inexperience with the real world and a serious sense of self-absorption. If everyone HONESTLY thought even 5 minutes "Gee, do other people *really* want to see/hear/put up with me doing this, or am I imposing obnoxiously on other people's peace and experiences just for the sake of vanity or attention?", we wouldn't be having this discussion. Just because frat boys pay money for women to make asses of themselves and allow themselves to be exploited (usually as soon as they're legal) doesn't mean it's morally or soclaily more OK than breastfeeding.

          If anything, I think it speaks volumes when breastfeeding causes a stink. It shows how off base we are as a culture. Boobs are OK if they're plastic or being tossed around for dollar bills, but ONLY. THAT. EW.

          • Posted By: twitchit @ 11/07/2009 10:05:42 PM

            I agree with all your comments irateredhead, thank you for posting something valuable. But I would change the ordering of your words from "it shows how off base we are as a culture" to "it shows off how base we are as a culture"!

        • Posted By: twitchit @ 11/07/2009 9:00:21 AM

          PageWraith, and it doesn't bother you that the "girls flashing their rack" will regret it later, when they are mature enough to know that they did it for misogynous creeps like yourself to abuse their naivety? You have no sense of ethics and you dare to be critical. Take a look at yourself.

      • Posted By: ketchbudda @ 05/05/2009 1:24:46 AM

        What thats like saying if your friend jumped off a bridge would you too.

      • Posted By: tjshibes @ 05/04/2009 11:54:43 PM

        yeh iI would think it would be discustedley funny

      • Posted By: tjshibes @ 05/04/2009 11:02:46 PM

        maybe we should not scratch our buts or cough or sneeze or fart or walk or talk or listen or do anything thats normal

      • Posted By: ktb8e @ 05/04/2009 10:48:41 PM

        it's interesting that you mention that. no, i don't want to see someone taking a poo, even if dong/muff isn't shown. i still know perfectly well what's going on under the seat. i'm not about to report pictures of people on toilets though (which do exist on facebook) because i figure, if they want people to know what that looks like, then that's fine. but i'm just not going to look at their pictures anymore. the same approach should be taken for breastfeeding, which personally i am not offended by like i am the toilet pictures. if you don't want to see someone breastfeeding, then don't look at the pictures. why are you friends with someone who posts pictures like that if it bothers you so much anyway? i can't help but think there are some people who go looking for things to report as inappropriate. it's funny, if people could find a way to make breastfeeding sexy, i'm sure it would be allowed to stay on just like the man in the thong or the bratz-doll girl barely covering her boobs.

      • Posted By: ktb8e @ 05/04/2009 10:43:51 PM

        it's interesting you bring that up. no, i don't want to see someone taking a poo. yet pictures of people with their pants down, sitting on toilets is still allowed. sure, dong and muff aren't always shown, but still, you know perfectly well what's going on. however, i'm not going to report those photos because if that person wants his/her friends to see what s/he looks like on the throne, fine by me. i'm just not going to look at his/her pictures anymore. personally i don't mind breastfeeding like i do bathroom pictures, but i think in both circumstances the same approach should be taken--don't like it? don't look at it!

    • Posted By: anonymous1980 @ 05/04/2009 6:58:03 PM

      it says that we find that repugant...I certainly do not want to see some cow nursing her kid...as do to most of the people I have actually asked...they may not say ANYTHING to your face or disagree to your face because they do not want to get into a debate....but Imost do find it revolting...have some class and either go to the ladies room..or out to your car...this is NOT a third world country ..we do have manners and respect for other people.....so in conclusion I have NO desire to see you whip out your tit..and attach your brat to it ......

      • Posted By: Patatedouce @ 11/07/2009 8:49:22 AM

        anonymous1980, it sounds like you are the one who needs to be fed only in the toilet. You obviously don't have the manners, respect or intelligence to live in society. And that's even without taking into consideration the possibility that you happily look at far more objectionable photographs of boobs than a mother innocently feeding her child, photos where the women/girls have been coerced if not forced into showing them so that idiotic creeps like yourself can objectify them in order to have a "sex life".

      • Posted By: LJSilver @ 05/04/2009 7:05:27 PM

        there is nothing wrong with a woman breast feeding her child. it is a natural thing, but you probably cant grasp what a truly wonderful thing it is a syou were probably bottle fe yourself. It is a simple fact that breastfed children are smarter and healthier. and id rather see some woman breastfeeding her child in public then see some anorexic bimbo in an outfit that is 2 sizes to small walking down the street with some guy that is wearing his pants around his knees because he thinks its cool.

        • Posted By: donnieboy43 @ 05/04/2009 7:27:29 PM

          i agree with funnyboy... as for natural so are things like taking a dump or a womans menstration cycle but i don't care to see them either...natural???? you must be one of those people who see a tampon in a tea cup and says its art...lol... natural... go eat a granola bar and keep your *** off my internet

          • Posted By: irateredhead2008 @ 05/07/2009 1:03:04 PM

            Always one extreme or the other. I don't care to see people's so called "natural" sex lives of sex toys, costumes, thongs and fake body parts. But they sure do make a point to publicize them everywhere possible. And then complain when their content isn't welcome in a few arenas. If everyone just got over themselves and the constant obsession with getting off at any cost no matter what, no matter the cost to anyone anywhere, this wouldn't be such a problem.

        • Posted By: SMBeaven68 @ 05/04/2009 11:45:44 PM

          Actually what you're saying has been scientifically proven to be incorrect.

      • Posted By: mcg1985 @ 05/04/2009 11:08:57 PM

        Dear anonymous1980: I guess your calling your mother who breastfed you a COW I presume??????

        • Posted By: SMBeaven68 @ 05/04/2009 11:38:58 PM

          Oh my god. Your his mother? And you're a cow? How are you even typing without fingers? Or are you dictating? Wait a minute...how can you even talk?

      • Posted By: joy57111 @ 05/04/2009 9:58:49 PM

        anonymous ? You sound like you were denied sustenance in your first year and are jealous. There is nothing more natural or more loving than breastfeeding. Or are you one of those idiots who believe the breast was created just for your enjoyment. And further if you call a woman "cow" because she is breastfeeding a baby, then you need better manners and a biology lesson.

      • Posted By: celenade @ 05/04/2009 8:50:36 PM

        Looks like you need to get some class. Everyone has to deal with people they don't agree with in public. For you to attack a mother who is breastfeeding...that's pathetic. You live in America where people are free to seek their own happiness, so if I have to put up with women in too-short skirts, and men in baggy pants, and bad grammar and spelling on the internet you can put up with a woman feeding her child.

    • Posted By: tjshibes @ 05/04/2009 11:24:17 PM

      I personaly don't see anyting wrong with it but what bothers me more than sexuality or nakedness or breast feeding is violence which we as a society seem not to have any problem with just look at almost any tv show! I would rather look at a tit than some ones head getting a hole blown through with a 44!!!!!!!!

    • Posted By: FLfunnyboy @ 05/04/2009 7:13:36 PM

      Maybe no-one wants to see you breast feed your baby. Yuck. Keep it behind closed doors please.

  • Posted By: twitchit @ 11/07/2009 8:20:17 AM

    Deleting innocent photos of mothers breastfeeding while allowing photos who's objective is sexual provocation just because nipples aren't showing makes no sense at all. This is sending out the wrong message to millions of kids using the website: that it is socially and ethically acceptable to sexually objectify a person, but that it's not to feed your baby! I think they really need to review the type of content they are deleting.

  • Posted By: tempnewsweeker @ 07/22/2009 8:08:27 PM

    Agree. Nipples = evil.

  • Posted By: tomdulaney @ 05/12/2009 5:45:16 PM

    Sounds good from the advertiser's point of view. From what I see, the cybercops have a big job ahead of them.

  • Posted By: tomdulaney @ 05/12/2009 5:40:56 PM

    Interesting story.;..thanks.

  • Posted By: irateredhead2008 @ 05/11/2009 1:35:59 PM

    People do get to make their own decisions and exercise their freedoms when they post on facebook or any other site. People can choose not to have a facebook if it is too OMG TOTALLY CENSORING them. Here's another point that so many brilliantly ignorant internet users always fails to remember before wailing on about censorship and "free speech" violations: Facebook is a site that you have to sign a user agreement for. They set the rules, you *agree* to them in order to get an account. If you don't agree with or like the rules, you don't have to join. But I give a hearty L-O-L to all these self-important morons who sign an agreement with rules that they never even read before going to find their first online buddies and then complain after they violate the very rules they were too lazy to know they were agreeing to!

    Lol. All over. At all of you who do this. Keep complaining, your accounts will keep getting deleted when you break rules that you agree to with your online accounts. Have fun posting artwork on some sites too... hopefully you aren't signing away copyright or anything else when you're too busy to look into the next trendy social site before you post.

  • Posted By: irateredhead2008 @ 05/11/2009 1:35:26 PM

    People do get to make their own decisions and exercise their freedoms when they post on facebook or any other site. People can choose not to have a facebook if it is too OMG TOTALLY CENSORING them. Here's another point that so many brilliantly ignorant internet users always fails to remember before wailing on about censorship and "free speech" violations: Facebook is a site that you have to sign a user agreement for. They set the rules, you *agree* to them in order to get an account. If you don't agree with or like the rules, you don't have to join. But I give a hearty L-O-L to all these self-important morons who sign an agreement with rules that they never even read before going to find their first online buddies and then complain after they violate the very rules they were too lazy to know they were agreeing to!

    Lol. All over. At all of you who do this. Keep complaining, your accounts will keep getting deleted when you break rules that you agree to with your online accounts. Have fun posting artwork on some sites too... hopefully you aren't signing away copyright or anything else when you're too busy to look into the next trendy social site before you post.

  • Posted By: bainzy @ 05/09/2009 1:31:42 PM

    Children and pornography on facebook - If this group in facebook starts to reach critical mass then facebook will have to acknowledge the fact that 150 people to police every 200 million + users grieviances is just not enough,especially when it comes to children and porn, you must admit that this is ground breaking in social networking sectors every where people want the platform but dont want to have to police it when there are solutions out there that can automatically sort it out http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=78046363797 Come on facebook pull your fingerout

  • Posted By: Qidisrupt @ 05/05/2009 1:15:13 AM

    deejay61992...you say you don't go to these sites to see the nudity...you say that you are digusted with pornography or nudity...then take a common sense approach and stay away from sites that contain material that you do not like. It sounds a little suspect when you rant how you hate it, but take no actions to avoid it....something is not right with that picture. As I have posted previously, I do not bother to waste my precious time on sites where I cannot trust the people who are on it. I am too busy living my life...not watching others' lives or trying to live my existence from untrustworthy computer websites. Another observation; a lack of disrespect is the equivalent of respect...please learn proper grammar and the meaning of words before you post. If you are so rabidly against indecency, QUIT GOING TO THE SITES WHERE THE CONTENT IS!!!

    • Posted By: irateredhead2008 @ 05/08/2009 12:23:37 PM

      What about all those awesomely mature internet people who go out of their way to post objectionable or offensive content where they know it isn't expected? You know, the same ones who post "shock" pictures like goatse, tubgirl and harequin babies wherever they can? I've had this happen so many times. People go out of their way to bother others and there is not much validity anymore to the "don't like it, don't look at it" mantra when this is the run of the mill antics of too many anonymous idiots. It has little to do with freedom of speech, just a lot of people who are getting away with harassment because the laws and social norms aren't able to grow as quickly as the technology we create.

      Anyone ever got a good ol' "EW! Gross!" pic texted to you by a friend for a laugh? Imagine that 10000 times over with strangers who aren't sending you things or posting things just to frustrate a good friend in good fun. Let's be serious about reality before we post drivel like "Don't like it, don't look at it", please.

  • Posted By: ispinyarn @ 05/07/2009 6:26:02 PM

    No mention here that some of the "porn" images that Facebook deletes are images of nursing infants.

  • Posted By: Timthorp57 @ 05/07/2009 3:24:55 PM

    Is "THIS" the level of commentary that Newsweek has sunk to? Have mercy on me. Why would anyone even want to post a comment if this is the level of (non)discussion here on this page. Sad. Irrelevant.

  • Posted By: ketchbudda @ 05/05/2009 12:48:22 AM

    First off LOSERS... There maybe a few small instances that I would agree but for the most part get an F-ing life. It's just boobs. Why is the American culture so concerned with the appearance of skin. By doing things like this it just makes the problem worse. When I was 18 I went to Austria as an exchange student for 1 year, and obviously it was a whole new culture. The 1st week I was there my host family took me to there house on the water. There was a large dock their that was shared by many families. The 1st day of being there my host mother walked the family down to the dock where we all jumped in. On the way down the dock there was about 5 or 6 topless women sunbathing chest up like it was no thing. BECAUSE IT ISN'T... and what do you know my host mom followed suit. Point being it was normal there and no one even noticed because it was so common. There were kids all running around swimming from the age of 1 to 16. Two of which being my twin 14 year old host sisters. They even have bra commercials during peak tv time with short clips of a nipple. Porn plays in the good clubs on huge 10ft x 10ft screens above the dance floors. And I tell ya Europe runs pretty smooth. All I wanna say is Facebook cops and and all you other prudes out there get a life.
    If you don't like my fire then don't come around. -Ben Harper

    • Posted By: misskittyami @ 05/05/2009 1:15:40 AM

      • Posted By: irateredhead2008 @ 05/07/2009 1:06:35 PM

        Sadly, the porn/sex industry is exactly one of the big players in keeping skin taboo. They PROFIT from it being off limits and "dirty." They BANK off people thinking that breasts and butt cheeks are scandelous and that sex is sooooo forbidden. If we stopped caring, they'd lose a lot of their business. Gee... can anyone think of an industry who might have it's best interest in keeping sex "dirty" even if the population doesn't think it should be? hmm... I'm looking your direction, Sex Industry. I cannot think of an industry who has less of their own customer's and employee's good interest in mind. It has nothing to do with sex or people, just money. Who cares whose cultures or lives are lessened in the process? Just go whack off some more. Oh, and please pay up front.

  • Posted By: tealady326 @ 05/05/2009 2:35:39 AM

    if you are going to use rules like the nipple rule it should apply to male or female nipples. the same with any rule other wise it becomes gender discrimination. The human body has been considered art for a long time to be reconsidered now as porn is stupid. Your porn cops need to have a clearer picture of what is porn and what is art. as for posting pictures of ones self breastfeeding or sitting on the toilet is a matter of moral value. lets face it if Mom couldn't put those values in place no social network will. These sites are used for comunication so why would you not allow people to comunicate for as long as they need to. sounds to me like the networks are trying to control the members freedom of speach.

    • Posted By: irateredhead2008 @ 05/07/2009 12:55:59 PM

      I know people hate to admit it, but there is a rather distinct difference between traditional art and porn. Seriously. I haven't seen many paintings in any traditional art museum (and I've been to tons of them) with exhibits for "18 yr old sluts get every hole filled" subject matter. Mainstream porn is so seriously off the base from art. The only ones who try to still pass it off as such are people who have exploitative agendas of their own to to try to slip through the legal system. Forget all the nonsense that some highly paid, plastic, bleack blonde superstar porno queen is paid to say. The business stinks, and it makes me furious to see something as wonderful and inspiring as "art" get dragged in the muck of the capitalist sex industry just so they can keep making bucks on the backs of those they exploit.

  • Posted By: Kirvi_Inci @ 05/06/2009 11:16:48 AM

    "Facebook, though stung by the bad publicity, says it's not too worried: users may join a protest group, but the fact that they haven't quit the site altogether shows how sticky Facebook can be."

    That is exactly what is wrong with facebook. They don't care what their users want and do not care to listen to them. All they care about is raking in the users and getting their pageviews higher. Hardly a good way to run a company.

    • Posted By: irateredhead2008 @ 05/07/2009 12:49:38 PM

      How about this: If you honestly CANNOT refrain from posting sexual or questionable material, and cannot stop posting pictures of yourself doing drugs or exposing yourself, maybe you should go to another site. There is no reason that every freaking social network site out there has to be plagued by everyones nasty cries for attention. If you really have to post that pic that you KNOW is in poor taste or pushing limits of a site that does cater to many if not mostly minors, then you're the one with the issues. Not everyone else who doesn't want to encounter your ass cheeks or some porn star's atrocious new boob job when they go online. Trust me, there are more than enough sites out there that cater just to people who need such validation and attention from strangers or whoever else.

      We should not be content to limit our personalities and identities strictly to sexuality. Unfortunately, lots of people put this on the front line with little else these days with little thought. Then they get upset and offended when they get called a whore or people start harassing them sexually online. Let's just think at least 5 minutes. Honestly. Just think before jumping on the I NEED ATTENTION NOW SO VALIDATE MY BARE ASS ship.

  • Posted By: kevingarapo @ 05/07/2009 3:24:54 AM

    great. there is just too much pornography on the net nowadays. i am sure something has to be done.

  • Posted By: Qidisrupt @ 05/06/2009 11:55:52 PM

    Ghicks...your statistics sound impressive, but they are inaccurate. Nice try, By the way, "speaches" is correctly spelled
    SPEECHES. Speeches is a simple word to spell...where did you get "edumicated frum"??? I realize you are attempting to sound LEGIT, not "ligit." The correct word usage for this very elementary word is LEGITIMATE Einstein!!! Please refrain from spewing false/misleading information and retrain in education so you are able to post a well thought out and truthful post. It is difficult to ignore your posting name...gHICKs...somehow the word HICK personifies you to a tee. If you have trouble understanding the meaning of the word PERSONIFIES...please look it up so you can understand what I am posting. You not only sound like an ignorant and gullible person...you are.

  • Posted By: ghicks @ 05/05/2009 1:59:13 AM

    Facebook is on it's way OUT. Twitter is being promoted extensively by the media because example: Tonight I posted 10 postings on my Facebook - The above ugly mean looking employees shut down my account. They will not give me any definate number I can post. I have 45 friends. Last night, I was talking back and forth to a guy in AZ. Well, Facbook ugly workers shut me down. I've eMailed for the CEO's name becuase we can't get an amount allowed to post. I did post a video about Obama spending millions to avoid providing his birth certificate and sure these young ugly Facebook employees who look like they worship the devil are Obama lovers. Well, they will be paying all the taxes for Obama's 22 trillion dollar debt and kneel to China since China is buying our debt from Obama. I'll contact the CEO in the next week. I printed everything out and kept track. I'm going to promote other sites many Facebook people have moved to. OOO = WE ARE NOT POSTING PORN - JUST TALKING LIGIT AND THESE SOCIALISTS ABOVE SHUT US DOWN.

    • Posted By: motherlovemelon @ 05/06/2009 11:55:44 AM

      I don't know, ghicks... I post more than 10 things in a day on a regular basis, and I've never been shut down. I believe there are 53 people on my friends' list. I don't think there's a content limit.

  • Posted By: dkaralek @ 05/06/2009 9:46:39 AM

    GAY!

    • Posted By: dkaralek @ 05/06/2009 10:17:32 AM

      • Posted By: dkaralek @ 05/06/2009 10:20:36 AM

        How can I delete comments on this site? I left myself signed in and a friend posted messing around... Please advise

  • Posted By: cire3742 @ 05/06/2009 9:41:34 AM

    Hello. I personally like the fact that Facebook has not been lead by what society wants, and what other social sites allow. Facebook is different, it allows you to be socialable, but at the sametime there is a line you can't cross. It keeps people safe from others that seek to harm people. Besides, anything that is private should be just that "private". There are to my sites that allow anything & everything to be placed on the user profiles. I am a parent of two and I have Facebook to keep in touch w/ my friends and family only. My final point is, if you are going to be a part of a social site, keep it clean, so we all can enjoy it. Do not pollute the site w/ un-appropriate pictures or discussions.

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