Facebook and (Facebook-owned) Instagram have both updated their policy on the sale of firearms, by banning users from advertising and selling firearms to avoid background checks.
The gun crackdown only applies to public posts and won’t scan private messages. It only applies to private, person-to-person sales of guns. Licensed gun dealers and clubs can still maintain a Facebook and Instagram page.
The new rules have been added to Facebook’s Community Standards page, under the Regulated Goods category. The restriction brings gun sales under the same ban as advertising prescription drugs, illegal drugs, alcohol and tobacco on Facebook.
“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,” Monika Bickert, Facebook’s head of product policy, said in a statement.
“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.”
Licensed retailers will be able to advertise, so long as the transaction takes place outside of Facebook and Instagram.
