Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Social media platforms are increasing efforts to moderate content, as misinformation spreads on the internet regarding the conflict between the Hamas group and Israel in Gaza.
Unfortunately, content moderation carried out by social media giants is considered not to be neutral. Many users reported that accurate pro-Palestinian content was blocked.
In fact, comment columns and accounts displaying the Palestinian flag symbol were also wiped clean from social media, quoted from InsiderMonday (13/11/2023).
Instagram users reported that the Meta service was hiding comments containing Palestinian flag emojis. In fact, according to a report by the non-profit organization ‘7amleh’ from Palestine, the country’s flag emoji is translated with the word ‘terrorist’.
A Meta spokesperson told The Intercept that the company does not have a specific policy regarding the Palestinian flag emoji. The hidden comments, he said, contained the context of using emojis that were offensive and violated Meta rules.
Because a lot of pro-Palestinian content was blocked on social media, netizens ended up using the watermelon emoji as a form of support for the country.
The watermelon emoji is used as a symbol of solidarity and spreading the latest information regarding the conflict that has killed more than 11,000 Palestinians in Gaza.
Artist Jourdan Louise last week created a ‘Filter for Good I” which displays an image of a watermelon using augmented reality (AR) technology. The filter is monetized and the profits obtained will be donated to the victims of the war in Gaza.
Currently, this filter has been spread across more than 4 million posts on TikTok. The funds collected were worth US$ 7,100 or the equivalent of Rp. 111 million.
The Beginning of the Watermelon Symbol for Palestine
Watermelon has been used as a symbol of Palestinian resistance since the 6 Day War in 1967. At that time, Israel seized the West Bank and Gaza, and prohibited the display of the Palestinian flag in its occupied territories.
Watermelon has the same colors as the Palestinian flag, namely a combination of red, green and black.
According to the Times of Malta, at that time many Palestinians put watermelons in front of their houses, streets and windows. This is to show Palestinian resistance to Israeli aggression.
[Gambas:Video CNBC]
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