e.g. Yes the "nipple double standards" can be criticized but given current cultural norms, when this limit doesn't exist, you end up hosting a lot of explicit images like Tumblr or MySpace. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
They could enact some level of content control so underage users are limited on what pages they can see or something, and tag explicit pages, but the existing ability to hide/block pages and posts related to them seem like a good enough place to start building on to.
You literally cant see that noone should be injured by seeing a womans breast, but seeing a beheaded body could.
Its interesting to see this story come out so soon after the LA times story about libel and the fight against court ordered take-down of posts critical of companies (think Yelp, etc.).
Maybe the point is that censorship shouldn't be allowed?
As far as beheadings, I'm not sure but I'd assume Facebook is not trying to be a 'gore' destination either. It's the same problem, whether it comes to limits on sex or violence, if you allow any type of media you create havens for that type of content and then it changes the contours of your product. It's all subjective of course, and different companies set different limits--Apple's app store is well known to be more restrictive than Google play, Facebook more restrictive than Twitter, etc.
Then you have a German freak out over even talking about Nazis.
Almost every country has some hang up or another. Suggesting that 'Americans' have a fear of nipples is short sighted. Every culture has something that causes a collective freakout.
It's why, for example, they are often puzzled when abroad and note that "some people don't like us Americans" and cannot find out why.
I have noticed this particular way of looking at the world with many Americans when working in global collaborative tech projects - it's a kind of imperialism - a built in sense that their way of looking at the world is the only way. It seems to be a common thing, and not everywhere. It also has the characteristic that those with that mindset are unaware about it.
There are many exceptions of course, and the most successful people are able to work with people from other cultures. But I believe this is what the article and mgleason_3 is trying to say.
If you'd like another metaphor to explain the theory: Privilege. Americans have a privilege as the "top" culture which makes them blind to others below them.
Americans tend to live near other like-minded people and are afraid of those with other views - both in our own country and outside.
Facebook pushes this filter bubble which we gobble up. It's not an accident, and it has a scientific basis. It's also better for advertisers.
Regarding sex and violence and censorship - I agree it's a little odd. The only thing I can think of is that there are more laws and regulations regarding sexual photos than violent photos. Also, our media also has a history of pushing violent stories. If it bleeds it leads.