Guns for sale on social media despite Meta's policies against it

Glocks, military-style rifles and "ghost guns" have all been advertised for sale on easily accessible sites like Facebook and Instagram. Each ad appears to be in direct violation of Meta's own policies, raising questions about the company's ability to effectively moderate content. Some of the ads go even further, potentially violating local and federal laws. 

Meta has banned ads for the sale of firearms since 2016. The company's policy simply states: "Ads must not promote the sale or use of weapons, ammunition or explosives. This includes ads for weapon modification accessories." 

But more than 230 of these ads ran on Meta's platforms in just over two months, many directing users to Telegram for the actual transaction, according to a new study released Oct. 7 by the Tech Transparency Project and the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund.