Facebook Inc has banned praise, support and representation of white nationalism and white separatism.

This has been a move that drew qualified approval from New Zealand where a massacre of 50 people in mosques was live streamed this month.

Civil rights groups have alleged social media giants of failing to confront extremism. It was under the spotlight earlier in March after a suspected white supremacist broadcast live footage of the attacks in Christchurch of New Zealand.

Facebook has tightened its content monitoring teams.

Earlier, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called for social media platforms to be accountable for what users post. (Agencies)