Meta is expanding its “warning removal” feature that helps prevent users from receiving “Facebook penalties” against their accounts. Earlier in the year, the company began offering an in-app “training program” that gives Facebook content creators the chance to remove warnings from their accounts for their first rule violation. Now, this feature is available to all Facebook users and is also made accessible to Instagram content creators.
Meta’s feature gives users who violate a rule for the first time the chance to avoid warnings and related restrictions being added to their accounts by giving them the option to complete a short “training program” in the Facebook or Instagram app. In a way, this process can be likened to the “traffic school” application.
Users will only be able to use this feature once in a 12-month period for most first-time violations. Thanks to this process, all users on Facebook and creators on Instagram will have the opportunity to remove the warning from their accounts. According to the company’s statement, wider access on Instagram will be available “soon.” However, warnings will not be removed for more serious violations, such as posts involving sexual abuse or drug sales.
Meta tries to reduce complaints against the penalty system
Meta sees this feature as part of its effort to improve the penalty system, which its users have been complaining about for a long time. Users often report that penalties are confusing and disappointing, especially when they unintentionally violate the rules. The company stated in its blog post that this new system gave positive results. Meta stated that in the first trials conducted among Facebook content producers in the summer, people who successfully completed the training program and removed the warning understood Facebook’s rule decisions better and were less likely to violate the same policy again.
This new step by Meta aims to encourage users to better understand platform policies and comply with the rules. On the other hand, it appears that the platform will continue to set clear limits, especially when it comes to preventing serious violations.