Meta apologizes after Instagram users flag flood of graphic and violent content

Core Points - Meta has introduced a new privacy setting for Instagram that automatically sets all new and existing underage accounts to private mode [1] - The company issued an apology for a mistake that led to users encountering inappropriate violent content in their Instagram Reels [2] - Users reported seeing graphic content despite having the "Sensitive Content Control" feature enabled [2] Privacy Settings - The new privacy setting aims to enhance the safety of underage users by defaulting their accounts to private [1] - This change reflects Meta's ongoing efforts to protect younger users on the platform [1] Content Moderation Issues - Meta acknowledged an error that caused inappropriate content to be recommended to users, which contradicted their content moderation policies [2][3] - The company has policies in place to remove particularly violent or graphic content, including depictions of dismemberment and suffering [3] - Despite these policies, Meta allows some graphic content if it serves to raise awareness about significant issues, albeit with warning labels [3] User Experience - Reports indicated that users encountered disturbing content labeled as "Sensitive Content" on their Instagram Reels, raising concerns about the effectiveness of content controls [4]