Facebook has announced that it is updating its penalty system for violating content. The new system will focus on helping people understand why their content has been removed, rather than simply restricting their ability to post.

Under the old system, users would receive a strike for each violation of Facebook’s community standards. After three strikes, their account would be disabled. However, the Oversight Board, an independent body that reviews Facebook’s content moderation decisions, found that the old system was not fair or effective.

The Oversight Board found that the old system disproportionately penalized users who made minor violations. For example, a user who posted a meme that violated Facebook’s hate speech policy would receive the same penalty as a user who posted a video of child sexual abuse.

The Oversight Board also found that the old system was not effective at preventing users from re-offending. In fact, the Board found that nearly 80% of users with a low number of strikes did not go on to violate Facebook’s policies again in the next 60 days.

The new penalty system is designed to address these problems. Under the new system, users will still receive a strike for each violation of Facebook’s community standards. However, the severity of the penalty will depend on the nature of the violation.

For minor violations, users will receive a warning. For more serious violations, users may be restricted from posting in groups or using certain features. In the most serious cases, users may have their accounts disabled.

The new penalty system also includes a new educational component. When a user’s content is removed, they will receive an explanation of why their content was removed and how they can avoid violating Facebook’s policies in the future.

Facebook hopes that the new penalty system will be more fair and effective at preventing users from violating its community standards. The company believes that the new system will help to create a more positive and safe experience for everyone on Facebook.