Sensitive Content Indeed – Instagram Under Fire For Labelling This Gay Dad Picture “Graphic”
Liverpool couple Sam and David have had their photo with their newborn baby censored by Instagram. The image was shared by Men Having Babies, an LGBTQIA+ organisation which assists gay men in their journey to parenthood.
The image shows two new fathers lovingly embracing their child against a plain backdrop. Does this seem like the kind of image that contains: “graphic or violent content”?
“Excuse me, can I speak to a human please?”
Concerns about content and its widespread accessibility online have long plagued social media platforms. Instagram’s latest tool in shutting down problematic posts is to use an algorithm to help detect content which violates their guidelines.
The issue with this is a reliance on AI and algorithmic detection software takes away the element of human judgement and many creators are finding themselves on the pointy end of heavily enforced restrictions without merit.
This is something that Men Having Babies encountered when they attempted to post new fathers Sam and David. The couple are also on Instagram under a shared account (@scousedads) and shared their photo seamlessly to their feed. But on Men Having Babies, the post appears with a big warning sign that says: “Sensitive content: This photo may contain graphic or violent content.”
