Popular instant-messaging application Snapchat and photo-sharing platform Instagram have both suspended its Giphy GIF stickers after some users reported that there is a racial slur GIF image that can hurt user sentiments. The new Giphy GIF feature was recently integrated on both the platforms due to its popularity.
Since the GIF is available on both Instagram and Snapchat, it is Giphy that is at fault for this particular issue. The company has reportedly removed the GIF in question and has also confirmed the same. However, it may take some time to reflect on all the users.
Giphy has officially apologized for the error and has taken the blame upon itself. It has also revealed that it was a bug that went unnoticed and allowed that particular GIF to appear on Snapchat and Instagram. After this racial slur, the most popular social networking platform Facebook has also started to review its Giphy GIF stickers that are available in its messenger app. It could create an even bigger stir, considering the number of Facebook users throughout the globe.
Snapchat issued a statement that confirmed that it has already removed the alleged racial GIF content from its platform. The statement read “We have removed GIPHY from our application until we can be assured that this will never happen again. This type of content has no place on Instagram. We have stopped our integration with Giphy as they investigate the issue.”
Giphy also issued a statement to state that it has removed the bug from its system and is presently reviewing all its GIF contents from scratch. The statement read “A user discovered an offensive GIF sticker in our library, and we immediately removed it per our content guidelines. After investigation of the incident, this sticker was available due to a bug in our content moderation filters specifically affecting GIF stickers. We have fixed the bug and have re-moderated all of the GIF stickers in our library. The GIPHY staff is also further reviewing every GIF sticker by hand and should be finished shortly. We take full responsibility for these recent events and sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended.”