Instagram has been limiting LGBTQ+ content on its search and explore pages, thanks to an error in its sensitive content filter. The setting is meant to give users a way to restrict potentially "offensive or upsetting" posts from their feeds, but the filter erroneously included a number of popular LGBTQ-related hashtags and search terms.
Anyone with sensitive content control turned on was limited from seeing LGBTQ+ posts and videos -- including all teenagers on the platform, for whom Instagram automatically enables this setting. Instagram's parent company Meta told CNET on Monday that these search terms and hashtags were "mistakenly restricted" and that the error is now fixed. Despite the incident, a Meta spokesperson said that the company does not consider LGBTQ+ content to be sensitive under its policies.
On Tuesday, one day after Meta admitted to the error, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced new changes to the company's content moderation policies, loosening restrictions around political content. The company is also ending its years-long fact-checking program and will implement a community notes model similar to the one used by Elon Musk's X. The news leaves big questions about the future of content moderation on Meta platforms, including Instagram.
What is sensitive content?
Sensitive content is a designation social media companies like Instagram use to refer to posts that could contain "offensive or upsetting" topics. Users who choose to limit or restrict sensitive content aren't able to see those posts in their Explore feeds, search results or other recommendations.
The LGBTQ+ content was restricted under a provision in the sensitive content filter that limits "sexually explicit or suggestive" posts. The affected hashtags and search terms were very broad, including #gay, #lesbian, #trans, #queer, #bisexual, #nonbinary and #transwomen among others, according to User Mag, which first reported on the news Monday.
This is one example of what it looks like when Instagram flags sensitive content.
Read More: Instagram's Teen Accounts: What Parents and Kids Need to Know
When did Instagram introduce sensitive content restrictions?
Instagram first introduced the sensitive content filter in 2021. During the lead-up to the 2024 US presidential election, Instagram automatically restricted political content from everyone's feeds unless they deliberately opted out. Later in the year, Instagram launched teen accounts and announced it would be rolling over all accounts belonging to teens 13 to 17 years old. These teen accounts were designed to include a number of restrictions and protections, including automatically enabling the sensitive content setting. It's unclear whether these specific LGBTQ+ search terms have been restricted since the teen account rollout in September.