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Will Twitter’s New Safety Policy Actually Ban Violent Content?

Photo by Alexander Shatov via Unsplash

Will Twitter’s New Safety Policy Actually Ban Violent Content?

By Movieguide® Contributor

Twitter implemented a new safety policy last week, updating its rules on violent content.

“Twitter has a zero-tolerance approach towards Violent Speech, and in most cases, we will suspend any account violating this policy. For less severe violations, we may require you to delete the content before you can access your account again,” the Twitter Safety account tweeted.

The complete policy update states, “You may not threaten to inflict physical harm on others, which includes (but is not limited to) threatening to kill, torture, sexually assault, or otherwise hurt someone. This also includes threatening to damage civilian homes and shelters.”

The updated policy also prohibits users from wishing, hoping or expressing a desire for harm. “This includes (but is not limited to) hoping for others to die, suffer illnesses, tragic incidents, or experience other physically harmful consequences.”

The policy also restricts users from glorifying violent acts. “You may not glorify, praise, or celebrate acts of violence where harm occurred, which includes (but is not limited to) expressing gratitude that someone experienced physical harm or praising violent entities and perpetrators of violent attacks.” This policy extends to animal abuse as well.

Finally, the new policy also forbids users from inciting violence. This “includes (but is not limited to) encouraging others to hurt themselves or inciting others to commit atrocity crimes including crimes against humanity, war crimes or genocide. This also includes coded language to indirectly incite violence.”

Twitter has also clarified that expressions of violence are allowed “when there is no clear abusive or violent context,” such as discussions of video games or sporting events, or when the expression is a figure of speech, satire or artistic expression. 

In most cases, violation of this policy will result in a permanent ban or, at the very least, will require users to delete their violent content before access to their account is restored.

Movieguide® previously reported on Twitter: 

After months and months of a legal battle between Twitter and Elon Musk, the SpaceX founder agreed to buy the company.

As Tesla CEO Elon Musk plans to move forward with his $44 billion acquisition of the popular social media platform, he assured users that he would seek to protect free speech but not let it become a “free-for-all hellscape.”

In the past, Musk had made his stance clear on allowing previously banned accounts—such as former U.S. President Donald Trump—back on Twitter.

However, Musk recently made it clear that he wants to encourage dialogue between users with different beliefs.

“The reason I acquired Twitter is because it is important to the future of civilization to have a common digital town square where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner, without resorting to violence,” Musk wrote in a Tweet. “There is currently great danger that social media will splinter into far right wing and far left wing echo chambers that generate more hate and divide our society.”

“That said, Twitter obviously cannot become a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences! In addition to adhering to the laws of the land, our platform must be warm and welcoming to all, where you can choose your desired experience according to your preference, just as you can choose, for example, to see movies or play video games ranging from all ages to mature,” he added.


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