Facebook officially took the wraps off its new Craigslist and eBay competitor, called Marketplace, on Monday. And people are already using it to brazenly sell things that violate Facebook’s policies, including drugs, animals, and adult services.
For example, we’ve seen listings in Marketplace for snakes, baby hedgehogs, fish, a farm hand, and scantily clad people posing suggestively. (More examples are at the bottom of this story.)
A Facebook spokesperson declined to comment to Business Insider beyond pointing us to the company’s Commerce Policy, which expressly prohibits selling these kinds of items and services.
To police what is sold, the spokesperson did say that Facebook will rely on its employees proactively looking for offensive posts in Marketplace along with users reporting posts they think should be removed.
Facebook has been testing Marketplace with a small percentage of its users for months, but now the feature is replacing the Messenger shortcut in the bottom center of Facebook's app for everyone over the age of 18 in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and New Zealand.
Update: Facebook director of product management Mary Ku later told Business Insider that a "technical issue" caused these listings to get past its review process. She said the company is "working to fix the problem" and "closely monitoring our systems to ensure we are properly identifying and removing violations before giving more people access to Marketplace."
Here are some examples of strange Marketplace listings:
Someone tried to list this snake for $300, but a Facebook spokesperson said the listing has since been taken down.
Glad FB Marketplace is taking up prime real estate in the app with deals like this!!! pic.twitter.com/a8ugvXJHuU
— Jillian D'Onfro (@jillianiles) October 3, 2016
Here's a listing that shows a woman posing suggestively in the mirror and another that simply shows an empty hand:
We're also seeing a lot of selfies posted in Marketplace. Some are scarier than others.
Someone listed these baby hedgehogs for $50 each.
@amberyouwot they were on Facebook marketplace this morning lol pic.twitter.com/Ew5avraNLB
— Haley Stewart (@Helllllas) September 24, 2016
While Facebook doesn't explicitly prohibit the selling of food in Marketplace, it's odd to see someone listing tamales:
Someone is literally selling tamales on the Facebook marketplace pic.twitter.com/FgDC6tTn2v
— Jud (@the23jud) September 21, 2016
Facebook's guidelines say "adult items or services" can't be sold on its network.
In Brooklyn, New York you can find listings for weed next to pictures of someone giving the middle finger. Facebook prohibits the selling of "illegal, prescription or recreational drugs."
@MikeIsaac back in NY we have to just buy our drugs on Facebook pic.twitter.com/K52j7RUlz7
— Tim Bernal (@tombornal) October 3, 2016
Here's a listing for freshly-caught fish.
look at the high quality goods and services being offered on the Facebook marketplace near me pic.twitter.com/znRY1RdJih
— spooky anson (@AnsonLongSeabra) September 8, 2016
If you see offensive listings, Facebook lets you report them.
@alexeheath NSFW pic.twitter.com/r5fxhPYwxO
— Zach Kahn 🎉 (@zkahn94) October 3, 2016
And here's a listing for a farm hand in Shamrock, Oklahoma for only $1.
From Facebook's Commerce Policy:
"Non-physical items are prohibited on Facebook Marketplace, including but not limited to services, subscriptions, digital products, or rentals."