Violent Content
What is violent content?
This could include graphic content including gore content, such as beheading videos or scenes which glorify animal abuse. Most of which will be against various platform's community standards.
However, while some images you see online may be brutal, graphic, and disturbing, sometimes there is a need for these images which means they will not always be removed as a breach of violation on social media. Examples include:
Animal abuse. Often very graphic images are used to raise awareness of animal cruelty, whether domestically or industrially (animal welfare in the food industry). Some of these images do need to be age-gated, and you can find out how to report that here.
Images of war and casualties of war. In cases where images are used to raise awareness or for campaigning purposes.
Images of self-harm. Some platforms will remove this content but most will not as these images can be used as part of people's stories and recovery. They can sometimes be used by campaigners to raise awareness.
Can Report Harmful Content remove violent content on social media?
When it comes to harmful content which is not obviously criminal (e.g. non-extreme pornography or mild gore content), Report Harmful Content can help escalate this material when it is on large social media platforms. Unfortunately, we are unable to take action when it appears on independently owned sites. This is because these sites do not have the same community standards as the larger social media platforms, which commonly do not allow gore or pornographic content.
You can find more information on independent sites, and why we can't help here.
We are often asked if this type of content can be reported to law enforcement. Unfortunately, in many cases, it cannot. Although this type of content can be disturbing, non-extreme pornography and mild gore content often sit within the boundaries of the law.
If you have come across any forms of violent content, then you might find the following advice helpful:
- Be mindful of visiting a website if you are unsure of the content.
- Use a safe search feature on your web browser to avoid inadvertently viewing harmful content.
- Think twice before sharing harmful content to avoid upsetting others.
- If you view something distressing, seek support from friends and family or a service such as the Samaritans.
- Remember that it is against the law to view or share intimate image abuse and child sexual abuse material. You can find out more about reporting child sexual abuse material here.
- If you are concerned about your own inappropriate internet use, thoughts or behaviour, seek support from Stop It Now.
