Facebook Inc. banned an array of personalities whose views it deemed too inflammatory to be shared on its social networkon Thursday, including Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, far-right talk-show host Alex Jones and conservative Jewish activist Laura Loomer.

The move was Facebook’s most sweeping yet against online provocateurs and shows Facebook is trying to be more proactive in removing controversial content that users post on its network, after months of criticism that the company hasn’t done enough to prevent bullying,...