Are platforms promoting death on demand?

Available for over a year

Why are we seeing more death on our feeds? From footage of an Ecuadorean priest being killed by a crucifix, to the man who was attacked by a tiger on camera, snuff content appears to be making a comeback. On this episode, Marianna and Matt examine how various platforms' responses to so-called trauma porn have evolved since an initial tightening of restrictions following the livestreamed Christchurch shootings in 2019. Also this week, Meta has been forced to explain the deactivation of an activist Instagram account by pointing the finger at its auto-moderation systems. The company was responding to anger from No Kings protest organisers, who cited their official profile going dark as evidence of censorship and political interference. We dissect Meta's defence, and consider the broader implications of AI-led moderation becoming more widespread. Plus - is France actually fake? Top Comment is hosted by Marianna Spring and Matt Shea. The series producer is Laurie Kalus. The assistant producer is Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The editor is Justine Lang. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to get in touch about something that's popped up on your feed, our email address is topcomment@bbc.co.uk or you can send us a WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.