Working animal charity Brooke are calling on Meta to strengthen online safeguarding after distressing content involving the abuse of donkeys appeared on Facebook.
The charity’s swift reporting has helped ensure the content, which included suspected sexual exploitation, has been partially removed. However, there are serious concerns as to how the material appeared on the platform in the first place.
The Facebook page, which has more than 40,000 followers and had published videos with two million views, shows signs of partial restriction by Meta Platforms, where existing content and profile details are not publicly visible, but new uploads continue to appear.
Brooke is asking Meta to recognise the significant harm caused by this type of content and to strengthen safeguards to prevent similar incidents.
‘Profoundly distressing’
“This content is profoundly distressing and raises urgent questions about how this was allowed to circulate,” said Klare Kennett, Brooke’s head of brand marketing and communications.
“No animal should ever be treated this way. Donkeys should be cared for with respect and dignity. This kind of cruelty is frightening and confusing for animals.
“Social media platforms must take stronger, proactive measures to detect and prevent this type of harm before it reaches audiences.”
The charity also urges the public to remain vigilant and report any similar material directly through Facebook’s reporting tools.
How to report harmful content on Facebook:
- Click the three dots (…) on the page or post
- Select “Find support or report”
- Choose the closest option (e.g. violence, animal abuse, harmful behaviour or sexual content)
- Report both the page and individual posts.
Users are strongly advised not to share or repost such content, as doing so can increase its visibility and prolong harm.
Stock image of donkey legs from Shutterstock.
