Facebook faces backlash after removing video meant to inspire mums

Facebook is facing some backlash after it removed footage of mums from across the globe meeting their newborns for the first time.

The video, created by birth photographer Monet Nicole Moutrie, is called Birth Becomes Her.  After being posted on Facebook on Mother's Day last year, the clip was viewed more than 100 million times. According to Moutrie, the aim of the video is to keep parents-to-be from fearing childbirth and show the "beauty" of labour. A little more than seven months later, and with no notice, the social media platform has removed the video for "violating the social network's community standards". The standards state that Facebook "restrict the display of nudity because some audiences within our global community may be sensitive to this type of content– particularly because of their cultural background or age." They further say that "photographs of people displaying genitals or focusing in on fully exposed buttocks" will be taken down. They continue:

"We also restrict some images of female breasts if they include the nipple, but our intent is to allow images that are shared for medical or health purposes."

Moutrie told how she was left disheartened by the website's decision, insisting the the footage didn't violate any community standards. She said in a blog post on her website:

"I'm saddened and quite honestly scared that the important work we're doing will be stifled and hidden behind false statements like 'community'. "Because there is nothing more antithetical to community than the restriction and censorship of birth, family and life. "Have we reached a point in our obsession with apps and usernames that we've forgotten that behind our pixelated screens are real bodies that breathe and beat and love and birth and eventually die? "Facebook, LIFE should never be against your community standards."

She finished off the heartfelt post by pleading with Facebook to "rise to the occasion", put the video back up and re-instate her account. She added that she was "scared but hopeful" over the situation.