Facebook Finally Removes Graphic Beheading Video

Well, it seems as if people can post just about anything on Facebook these days, and as a result, Facebook is catching some flack – especially in the UK. Earlier in 2013, a user posted a video that graphically showed a man beheading a woman. It is believed that the beheading took place in Mexico. Since Facebook allows anyone over the age of 13 to have an account, it is theoretically possible for anyone 13 and older to watch the video. Would you want your young teen(s) to watch a video of someone being beheaded? Censorship issues aside, should Facebook allow users to watch people being killed?

Just What Should Be Allowed On Facebook?

The video of the beheading has captured a lot of attention lately and has caused some major questions to be raised as to what all content should be allowed to be posted to Facebook. Some parents think the video should be permanently removed from the site, while others believe that there is a certain educational quality to the video that concerns human rights. Just how much information should be allowed on Facebook?

John Carr, who is on the board of the Council on Child Internet Safety in the UK had this to say: “Facebook has taken leave of its senses. Those videos will fuel countless nightmares among the young and the sensitive.”

As of 11/26/13, Facebook has removed the video, but it is not clear if it will allow other similar videos to ever be posted again in the future. This is a change of tune for Facebook, who earlier stated that they would not be removing the video.

Should Facebook restrict certain content for users who are between the ages of 13-17, or should all users, regardless of their age, be allowed to view the same content? I am all for human rights exposure, but I would not want my child to view killings on their news feed. I guess parents have something else to watch out for now when it comes to their children and their Facebook accounts.

[Image via Independent]

SOURCE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24998833