Facebook Still Hates You. Also, They Are Huge Liars

It sucks to be right. OK, not always, but in this case, it really extra fucking sucks to be right.

This page exists on Facebook. I think we can all agree that it’s pretty obviously bullying. These girls, or at least girls who look like them are being named and linked to in the comments. It’s the most common type of bullying against females; taking anything even remotely provocative or sexual we do and calling us sluts.

It’s amateur. It’s easy. It’s the kind of thing that young women face every day. It’s what is used to justify further abuse, verbal, cyber and sometimes physical attacks and it’s perfectly acceptable to Facebook.

Their Bullying and Harassment policy states:

Facebook does not tolerate bullying or harassment. We allow users to speak freely on matters and people of public interest, but take action on all reports of abusive behavior directed at private individuals.

Their Hate Speech policy states:

Facebook does not permit hate speech, but distinguishes between serious and humorous speech. While we encourage you to challenge ideas, institutions, events, and practices, we do not permit individuals or groups to attack others based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability or medical condition. (emphasis mine)

It appears to me that posting pictures of girls specifically to mock and belittle them falls well within the bounds of what any rational person would consider bullying. It further appears that linking to their names and profiles sets them up for harassment even if it is not considered harassment itself, which it bloody well should be.

I reported this page as did pretty much everyone else I know who has seen it. Within a minute I received this:

In other words, “thanks for letting us know that women and girls, some of whom are very likely underage are being targeted by a bully. We think that kind of behavior is fine. Move along.”

Does everyone recall when I wrote this post which contained these words?

As I’ve been typing this Facebook promised to take action but…um…how can I say this? I think they’re full of shit. this isn’t a problem with an algorithm. It clearly a problem with the entire corporate atmosphere and policy structure and the way they view women.

That’s a problem that can’t be solved by a couple of sensitivity classes.

So…I was right and I’m not even a little bit happy about it.

They admitted that what they were doing was wrong. They promised that they would improve their policies.

We need to do better – and we will.

This is not better. This is identical to the behavior that caused them so many problems before. Clearly, nothing has changed as far as Facebook policy regarding actual action in the face of gendered bullying and hate speech.

We need to get active again and this time we need to stay active until Facebook institutes an actual change in their policies. Until Facebook can treat women with respect, women, and everyone who is concerned about the welfare of women and pretty much any right thinking person with a functional moral compass, should help Facebook revisit the hot seat.

Get sharing. Get vocal. Let’s make this happen.