Facebook is making changes to its policies ahead of US Inauguration Day on January 20, 2021. Not only is the platform temporarily banning the creation of events in the Washington, D.C. area, but it's also suspending advertisements for gun accessories and other protective military equipment.

Facebook Puts a Stop to D.C. Events

President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration will be clouded by tension. After pro-Trump protestors stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, many are concerned that violence may break out on Inauguration Day.

An About Facebook blog post revealed that Facebook is taking the steps to prevent organized violence ahead of the ceremony. The platform plans on "blocking the creation of any new Facebook events happening in close proximity to locations including the White House, the US Capitol building and any of the state capitol buildings through Inauguration Day."

Facebook will also be reviewing any events that pertain to the inauguration. If Facebook finds that an inauguration-related event violates its policies, Facebook will remove it. The platform will continue to "block event creation in the US by non-US based accounts and Pages" as well.

Facebook also stated that it will provide credible information about the election and the protests at the Capitol. It will make certain content less visible, including posts that "may be less accurate, delegitimizes the election or portrays the rioters as victims."

Military Equipment Ads Also Get the Boot

Facebook later made an addition to its initial blog post, and stated that it will be "banning ads that promote weapon accessories and protective equipment in the US." According to Facebook, this ban will last until January 22, 2021, or longer.

Facebook already bans ads that promote weapons, ammunition, and weapon enhancements. That's why this suspension will only affect weapon accessories, such as "gun safes, vests, and gun holsters."

In addition to this temporary ban on ads promoting military equipment and weapon accessories, Facebook will still be upholding its ban on political ads.

Facebook Prepares for an Anxiety-Ridden Inauguration Day

With President-elect Biden's inauguration edging closer, Facebook is preparing to squash any potential for planned violence that may crop up on its platform. Facebook began rolling out restrictions even before the 2020 US presidential election took place, and these restrictions were made even tighter following the protests at Capitol Hill.

After the protests, Facebook proceeded to ban President Donald Trump indefinitely. The platform also blocked all mentions of "stop the steal," a phrase that calls the integrity of the US election into question.

When President-elect Joe Biden officially assumes office, there's no telling how long Facebook's restrictions will stay in place, or even if the overall climate of social media will improve.