Facebook and Instagram ban 'sexual' emoji including aubergine and peach

While the aubergine and peach emoji are used to represent foods by some innocent people, most known the sexual connotations associated with the characters.

Now, Facebook and Instagram have banned these two emoji, as well as the water drip, for being too ‘sexually suggestive.’

The change is part of an update to Facebook’s Sexual Solicitation Community Standards , which are aimed at sex workers who use the platforms to sell their services.

Facebook explained: 

People use Facebook to discuss and draw attention to sexual violence and exploitation. We recognise the importance of and want to allow for this discussion.

We draw the line, however, when content facilitates, encourages or coordinates sexual encounters between adults.

We also restrict sexually explicit language that may lead to solicitation because some audiences within our global community may be sensitive to this type of content and it may impede the ability for people to connect with their friends and the broader community.

The emoji, which are widely known to represent a penis (aubergine), bum (peach), and ejaculation (water drip), will still be allowed in captions, but can no longer be used in a manner that suggests or asks for anything sexual.

Many people have taken to Twitter to discuss the update.

One user joked: 

Facebook and Instagram ban [aubergine emoji and peach emoji] so now you can’t insinuate antioxidant foods in your posts.