Private individuals will no longer be allowed to advertise guns on Facebook and Instagram, the photo-sharing service owned by Facebook, the BBC News reported.

Facebook had already banned the sale of guns without identity checks, but the new rules aim to stop all gun trade between individuals on the sites.

Businesses can still advertise guns on Facebook and Instagram.

The move comes three weeks after US President Barack Obama unveiled new restrictions on gun purchases.

Obama's executive actions included background checks for all gun sellers and the requirement that states provide information on people disqualified from buying guns due to mental illness or domestic violence.

Facebook has 1.59bn users worldwide.

The group said it had found evidence that guns had been bought on the site and used to kill others in two cases.