Meta has announced the expansion of its revised penalty policy, which aims to educate rather than punish users who violate its Community Standards for the first time. The policy, initially launched for Facebook creators in August, will now be rolled out to all Facebook profiles and Facebook Pages worldwide, as well as to all creators on Instagram.

The revised policy is designed to help first-time violators avoid penalties, such as account suspension or "Facebook jail." Instead, users can opt to take an educational training course, which will wipe the strike from their account. This approach marks a significant shift in Meta's moderation strategy, prioritizing education over punishment for minor infractions.

The policy change follows Meta's admission that it has been over-moderating content, resulting in mistakes that impact creators. By providing an educational pathway, Meta aims to reduce the negative impact of its moderation efforts on users. The company has been working to reduce the severity of its penalty system, introducing more warnings before taking punitive action.

The revised policy has already shown promising results in its trial with Facebook creators. According to Meta, creators who participated in the program were more likely to say they wouldn't violate policies again, and 15% felt more confident in understanding its policies. While Meta did not share data on how the system reduced future violations, the expansion of the policy suggests that the company is committed to this more lenient approach.

Meta is not alone in rethinking its penalty system. YouTube introduced a similar program last year, allowing creators to remove warnings from their accounts. This trend towards more education-focused moderation strategies reflects a growing recognition of the need to balance online safety with user freedom and creativity.

The revised policy will not apply to more serious violations of Meta's Community Standards, such as those involving sexual exploitation, the sale of high-risk drugs, or the glorification of dangerous organizations and individuals. In these cases, Meta will continue to take a more stringent approach to moderation.

As the revised policy rolls out to a broader audience, it will be important to monitor its effectiveness in reducing the negative impact of moderation on users. With the expansion of this policy, Meta is taking a significant step towards creating a more inclusive and supportive online environment.

The rollout of this policy to Instagram users is expected to follow shortly, further expanding the reach of Meta's more lenient approach to moderation. As the company continues to refine its approach to online safety, it will be important to watch for further developments and their implications for users and the broader tech industry.