in order to answer your question more directly I asked AI the same question and here is what i got
Here's a breakdown based on available information:
Meta's Stated Policies and Approach:
Strict Rules: Meta has clear Community Standards that prohibit adult nudity and sexual activity, and even stricter rules against child nudity and sexual exploitation [Source 2, 3].
Three-pronged Approach for Teens: For content involving teens, Meta aims to prevent inappropriate content by:
- Removing content that breaks their rules completely.
- Hiding mature or sensitive content from teens.
- Having a stricter bar for what they recommend to this age group [Source 7].
- Technology and Review Teams: Meta uses a combination of AI technology and human reviewers to detect and take action on violating content and accounts [Source 2, 3]. For Facebook Reels, they use AI models to select relevant reels and apply "integrity processes" to reduce the distribution of problematic content [Source 6].
Challenges and Reported Failures:
- Pornographic Ads Evading Moderation: A report by AI Forensics in early 2025 revealed that thousands of pornographic images or videos, often disguised as ads for things like erectile dysfunction products, bypassed Meta's moderation on Facebook and Instagram [Source 1]. This suggests that even sponsored content, which might be expected to have higher scrutiny, can slip through.
- Flaws in Teen Safety Features: Research in late 2025 indicated that many of Instagram's (a Meta platform) safety features designed to protect teens were flawed or ineffective. For example, features meant to block self-harm content were easily circumvented, and anti-bullying filters failed to activate [Source 5].
- Harmful Content in Recommendations: A study in May 2025 found that on platforms like YouTube, a significant percentage of recommended videos to 13-year-old accounts during passive scrolling were assessed as harmful, appearing quickly without user-initiated searches. This points to weaknesses in algorithmic filtering systems [Source 8]. While this specific study wasn't about Meta, it highlights a broader challenge in content moderation across video platforms.
- Historical Issues: Even as far back as 2017, Facebook faced criticism for failing to remove sexualized images of children, raising questions about the effectiveness of their moderation, both human and automated [Source 9].
Why Does it Happen?
Sophistication of Violators: Those who create and distribute prohibited content are constantly trying to evade moderation systems, using new tactics and disguises.
Scale of Content: The sheer volume of content uploaded to platforms like Facebook and Instagram every second makes comprehensive human review impossible, and even advanced AI can be tricked.
Algorithmic Limitations: While AI is powerful, it can have limitations in understanding context, nuance, and evolving forms of harmful content.
Profit vs. Safety Concerns: Some reports suggest that companies may prioritize engagement and profits over youth well-being, leading to less effective safety measures
In essence, while Facebook has policies and systems in place to filter nudity and protect minors, these systems are not foolproof, and content can and does slip through due to a combination of factors including the scale of content, the ingenuity of those trying to bypass filters, and limitations in moderation technology.