Facebook is hiding LGBT reactions in countries with homophobic laws
Facebook is hiding its LGBT Pride Month reacts from users in countries with anti-gay laws.
Facebook decided to embrace Pride Month by adding a rainbow flag to the standard panel of reactions.
Alongside Like, Love, Sad, Haha, Wow and Angry, a new Pride reaction was added to show your LGBT love.
It has now emerged that this reaction does not appear in some countries – most of which ban homosexuality.
Users in Egypt, Palestine, Bahrain, Lebanon, Singapore, Russia, among other countries, are unable to access to LGBT flag.
Facebook has not explained its reasoning for withholding the reaction in the countries.
Facebook had choice wording when it launched the reaction, stating: “People in major markets with Pride celebrations will be able to use a temporary rainbow reaction during Pride month.
“You can also like this page to access the reaction, however, because this is a new experience we’ve been testing, the rainbow reaction will not be available everywhere.”
Facebook users have condemned the decision.
One wrote on Facebook’s LGBTQ page: “It kind of feels like Facebook higher-ups are afraid of losing whatever percentage of their user base are hateful bigots so they hide it behind liking this page so that nobody who would get upset will accidentally see it.”
Another wrote: “Not everyone celebrates Halloween, but all the reactions were tweaked to reflect the whimsy of that holiday.
“What I’m seeing here is Facebook is trying to play both sides.
“‘Here’s a rainbow reaction if you’re not homophobic. If you are, no problem!
“It’s opt in only! You’ll never have to see it!’ So you get all the praise and little to no pushback.”
America has also had its own issues with LGBT issues being erased.
US President has ditched the possibility of holding any LGBT festivities inside the White House, leaving it to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to issue a statement instead.
