Instagram flooded with disturbing, inappropriate content: Company apologises for ‘technical error’

Facebook parent Meta has issued an apology for sudden influx of disturbing content appearing in users' Instagram Reels feeds worldwide. The company clamed a technical glitch for exposing users to a barrage of short-form videos depicting violence, including killings and cartel activity, despite being labeled as “sensitive content.”
“We have fixed an error that caused some users to see content in their Instagram Reels feed that should not have been recommended,” a Meta spokesperson stated to Business Insider.

Instagram users worldwide reported the disturbing surge in violent and inappropriate content appearing in their feeds, raising concerns about potential issues with the platform’s algorithm and content moderation system.
Numerous users took to X (formerly Twitter) to sound an alarm, noting graphic videos depicting violence, gore, and other disturbing content, even with Sensitive Content Control settings enabled.
“Is anyone else noticing this on Instagram? My Reels feed suddenly started showing violent videos for no reason. Is this a glitch or some change in the algorithm?” one user questioned.
Others echoed similar concerns, with comments like “What's going on with Instagram? Every few scrolls, I see violent and sensitive content!” and “Has anyone of you noticed that Instagram is showing you weird reels or content today?”

The company’s content policies typically involve removing "particularly violent or graphic" material and adding warning labels to other sensitive content. Access to such content is also restricted for users under 18. However, the technical error apparently bypassed these safeguards, leading to widespread user complaints.
This incident follows recent changes to Meta’s content moderation practices, including the replacement of third-party fact-checkers with a community-driven flagging system and a simplification of content policies.