Facebook removes fitness instructor’s workout massage video for pensioners to get them through lockdown after mistaking it for sexual content
- John Molyneux, 41, runs daily workout training programmes aimed at over-65s
- But his tutorial on how to massage leg muscles after a workout was removed from his Facebook page, Molyfit, last Wednesday by the social media giant
- Facebook initially deemed the video as going ‘against community standards on nudity and sexual activity’
A fitness instructor was left shocked when his tutorial video for OAPS on how to massage leg muscles after a workout was removed by Facebook – for showing ‘sexual content’.
John Molyneux, 41, runs daily workout training programmes aimed at over-65s, which he has been uploading to his Facebook page, MolyFit, during the lockdown.
The sports therapist was shocked when, last Wednesday (April 15), one of his home workout videos was taken down by social media giant Facebook.
The 11-minute long video showed John sitting on a stool, and teaching people how to properly massage their leg muscles with massage oil after a workout.
John Molyneux was left shocked when his fitness video for OAPS was removed by Facebook for showing ‘sexual content’
But the video, which mainly showed John massaging his thigh muscles with his thumbs and elbows, was deemed by Facebook to ‘go against community standards on nudity and sexual activity’.
John, from St Albans, Hertfordshire, said: ‘It was quite shocking, really.
‘I got this notification through that said the video goes against Facebook’s community standards, and underneath it said that nobody could see my video.
‘It was a bit troubling, because you don’t want to get in trouble with the Facebook police, but also because there’s a fair few people who watch my videos.
‘Each video gets around 500-1000 views. My whole career is essentially building a reputation.
‘I wouldn’t want to be involved in some Facebook scandal about sexual content, when I’m trying to build a reputation with over-65s,’ he added.
John said that there was ‘no obvious way’ to appeal – but about three or four hours after reporting the mistake, Facebook acknowledged their error and reinstated the video.
The sports therapist saw one of his home workout videos explaining to over-65s how to massage leg muscles after a workout was taken down by Facebook
He said: ‘There’s obviously some algorithm they use.
‘But I’m a sports therapist, so my career and all my videos are about muscles, and how to deal with muscles.
‘This is not the first massage video I’ve done and put on Facebook – I’ve shown people how to massage their neck, and their chests.
The video was initially posted on his MolyFit Facebook page, which he has been regularly using during the lockdown period
‘I don’t really understand why this one got picked out.’
But John added: ‘I can see the funny side of it now that it’s sorted – and it’s put a smile on a few people’s faces, which is good during these stressful times.’
A Facebook spokesperson said: ‘This content was removed in error and has now been restored. We hope people can get back to enjoying keeping fit.’