The issue of “Threads moderation errors” is increasingly gaining attention on the social media platform Threads. Users have expressed growing frustration over what they perceive as overly strict moderation. Some report their accounts being blocked or limited for posting links to controversial sites, sparking widespread dissatisfaction.
Confusion Over Account Suspensions
According to a report from The Verge, confusion reigns within the platform as many accounts are mistakenly deleted due to an assumption that the users are underage. This action has occurred despite the fact that many of the affected users are not minors. The system has also automatically restricted posts containing vital information about real-world events, such as hurricanes. Moreover, posts mentioning words like “crackers” or phrases such as “cracker jacks” are quickly removed. One notable case involves a journalist from The Verge, who was blocked after making a joke about wanting to “die” due to the heat.
In response to these issues, Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram and Threads, has personally addressed some of the complaints, stating that he is “looking into the situation.” For example, when social media consultant Matt Navarra had his Threads account demoted after sharing a story about Tom Brady falling victim to a Meta AI prank, Mosseri responded to Navarra’s public complaint by reiterating, “I’m looking into it…”
A Case of Mistaken Identity
In another incident, The Verge journalist Umar Shakir’s Instagram account was suspended earlier this week. Meta claimed the suspension was due to his age, mistakenly asserting that he was under 13, which is the minimum age required to use the platform. Meta gave Shakir 30 days to contest the decision, asking him to submit a copy of his ID as proof of his age. Despite submitting the requested documents, Meta continued to insist that Shakir was underage.
Meta sent a notice explaining, “Our systems detected that your account or activity did not comply with our policies. As a result, one of our employees took action.” The decision was final, with no possibility for further appeal. Consequently, all of Shakir’s publications and connections accumulated over years were lost. Although Meta allowed him to download his data before final deletion, the link provided for this was not functional.
Meta’s Moderation Failures
These incidents highlight the broader issue of Meta’s struggle to effectively moderate its platforms, concludes NIX Solutions. Regulators have long scrutinized Meta’s practices regarding underage users, prompting the company to take more aggressive measures to restrict the actions of these individuals. However, these algorithms appear to be malfunctioning, not only in identifying users’ ages but also in moderating the content they publish.
We’ll keep you updated as this situation develops, especially as Meta continues to face criticism and attempts to resolve these problems.