Description du cas
The Board has selected a case involving discussion of prescription drugs used in pregnancy and childbirth to examine Meta’s policies and enforcement practices around such content and the implications for women's ability to share reproductive and maternal health information on Meta's platforms.
In February 2026, a user posted a video on Instagram with a caption explaining the side effects she experienced from several types of prescription drugs used to treat nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. She also described her experience with fentanyl, which she said was clinically administered during her labor. She stated that an epidural was the only intervention that brought her relief. The video features imagery with memes and short clips representing how each medication affected the user during her pregnancy.
Following automated detection and multiple human reviews, Meta removed the post under its Restricted Goods and Services Community Standard, which prohibits content that admits to personal use of “high-risk drugs,” including fentanyl. Following removal of the content, Meta applied a strike and time-based feature limit to the user’s account. The user appealed the content removal decision to Meta, and following human review, Meta upheld its original decision to take it down.
The user appealed Meta's decision to the Board, stating that the purpose of her post was to share her personal experience with commonly prescribed medications used in pregnancy and labor, and that she did not promote or encourage the use of any specific drug. She stated that open conversations about pain management options and real-life experiences are essential for informed decision-making. She added that her goal was to reduce stigma around discussing pain management and support women to advocate for themselves in medical settings.
When the Board brought the case to Meta's attention, the company determined that its original decision to remove the post was an error. It stated that its policy permits content containing admission of use of prescription drugs, with visibility restricted to adults age 18 years or older and the content ineligible for recommendation to other users. Meta restored the post in line with this policy and reversed the strike.
The Board would appreciate public comments that address:
- The impact of putting age and recommendation restrictions on content of this nature, including implications for access to health information.
- The prevalence and impact of overenforcement against reproductive and maternal health content on Meta's platforms.
- How Meta should evaluate content referencing high-risk or controlled substances, such as fentanyl, when described in a documented, clinical context such as childbirth.
- How best to ensure due process and fairness to users whose accounts are penalized.
In its decisions, the Board can issue policy recommendations to Meta. While recommendations are not binding, Meta must respond to them within 60 days. As such, the Board welcomes public comments proposing recommendations that are relevant to this case.
