The internet is full of things, and when it comes to goods, there a lot to be sold and many to be seen. As Facebook is steadily growing its e-commerce identity as part of its social network identity, the company is banning private and person-to-person gun sales on both its social media platform and photo-sharing Instagram.
Facebook already prohibits people from offering marijuana, pharmaceuticals and illegal drugs for sale. In 2014, the company started blocking children's access to pages advertising guns for sale. It also would send a message to people who posted gun ads to follow the law in their state and country.
But those did little affect on how guns exchange hands on the social network.
On January 29th, 2016, it's getting more strict for this matter and bans firearms sales from unlicensed dealers.
Facebook is increasingly evolving into an e-commerce site where online transaction could be facilitated. In December for example, the company introduced a project that directs users to local businesses and services that are well-reviewed on Facebook. Facebook can also store credit card information, and Messenger is able to send peer-to-peer payments.
With many possibilities for transaction, the company should keep an eye about what products should be allowed and which shouldn't.
With more than 1.5 billion monthly users and counting, Facebook becomes the center of many social debate concerning gun ownership. Some of which was discussions about firearms that flared when civilian mass shooting happened in some places. The company has also been pushed by gun safety groups where the groups have met the company's executives on several occasions over the last couple of years.
U.S. President Barack Obama also promised to tighten the enforcement of laws governing unlicensed gun sales. But in response, some individual sellers started to turn to Facebook which allowed them to market their goods.
On the social service, there are many people who post ads to buy or sell guns and meet in person to complete the transaction. These sellers are unlike licensed dealers that conduct background criminal checks in most states. This is why Facebook wants them off.
Licensed dealers and gun clubs can still maintain their Facebook pages and post on Instagram.
It's difficult to know how many of Facebook's posts that offer guns for sale or to buy at any given time. But it's estimated that Facebook was the second most popular site for guns in Nevada. Some guns sold on Facebook have been used for crimes, one of which was the 2014 shooting by Brian Harleman.
Facebook Is Depending On Its Users
Facebook is user-oriented in terms of growth. Without them, the social giant is nothing more than a sophisticated pieces of algorithms and codes running inside huge data servers. As it grows beyond what people have expected it to be, Facebook can't maintain itself without its users giving it a lending hand.
Facebook said that it relies on its vast network of users to report any violations that are included in its policy. Facebook would then remove any post that violates it, and could also ban users or severely limit what an individual could do on Facebook depending on his/her of past violations.
Furthermore, if the company sees someone's life in danger, Facebook would work with the law enforcement to settle the situation.
And as of gun sales, Facebook said that it has systems in place to detect private gun sales and that it will remove content that violates its new policy. But the company is also relying on its users to help by reporting any private gun sellers that occur in any of its services that include Facebook's main service, Messenger, Instagram and others.
Users are posting so many photos, ads, and other information on its services, and the company will struggle to take out all of them on its own.
As for Messenger, Facebook depends solely on its users because the company said that it doesn't scan any messages of contents within the service.
"Over the last two years, more and more people have been using Facebook to discover products and to buy and sell things to one another," said Monika Bickert, Facebook's Head of Product Policy. "We are continuing to develop, test and launch new products to make this experience even better for people and are updating our regulated goods policies to reflect this evolution."
New York's attorney general, Eric T. Schneiderman, who has pressed for restrictions on illegal gun sales on Facebook and other sites, praised Facebook's move.
Facebook's method to ban firearms should make it harder for people to acquire deadly weapons.
Other marketplace websites such as Craigslist and eBay have long banned gun sales. Facebook was a bit slower to adopt the policy in part because it came later to the world of person-to-person commerce.