Facebook Algorithm Strikes Again as This Picture Gets Banned For Being ‘Sexual’

Facebook Bans Robin Picture for Being Sexual

What’s wrong with this picture? Aside from being the name of an excellent album by Andrew Gold, in this instance, it’s a serious question. Can you find anything wrong with this picture of a Robin?

Don’t worry, this isn’t one of those clickbaity ‘can you spot the X in this image’ questions. The short answer is simple. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it. It’s a Robin painted in a nice wintry scene.

Facebook, however, has other ideas. To them, this image is far too sexual to hold. Yes, the now infamous Facebook algorithm is at it again.

This is presumably the same algorithm that allowed specific target advertising to ‘Jew Haters’. Surely it’s about time that algorithm got the sack?

There is both a little irony and risk here…

The fact that Facebook has banned this image leaves me a little worried that this article may shortly not have a featured image. At which point I’ll have my editor shouting at me and I’ll cry.

Why Facebook decided to ban the image by artist Jackie Charley is unclear. In a statement via the Independent, she said: “Hilariously, Facebook has blocked my Christmas cards from becoming a product in my shop due to their shameful, sexual nature! It looks like we didn’t approve your item because we don’t allow the sale of adult items or services (e.g. sexual enhancement items or adult videos)”.

Whether it’s the ‘redbreast’ reference or not, I don’t know, but it’s another hilarious and embarrassing failure for the algorithm. Just bear this in mind as well, this is the same company that wants to manage your nude photographs. God help your nudes!

What do you think? Does Facebook need to scrap its algorithm? Do you think the Robin is sexual? Does Facebook have an evil plot against birds or Christmas? – Let us know in the comments!