Meta has made a major change to the content moderation rules of Instagram and Threads. Now users will get three options to see political content: less, standard (default), and more. This move is a reversal of the old rules, in which users had to choose the option to see political content. Meanwhile, other controversies like blocking LGBTQ hashtags and removing fact-checkers are also in the news.
Meta’s changing content rules: New policy on politics and controversy
Meta has once again changed the content moderation rules of Instagram and Threads. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri recently announced that there will now be three options to see political content on Instagram and Threads. Earlier, users had to manually choose to see political content on these platforms, but now it will be included in the “standard” option by default.
What are the new options?
Mosseri said in his post, “It is not practical to draw a clear line regarding political content.” Now users can choose from three levels:
- Less – Option to see the least amount of political content.
- Standard – Default setting.
- More – Option to see more political content.
This change will start in the US this week and will be implemented worldwide over the next few weeks.
Politics behind Meta’s move?
Many people are seeing this change as an attempt by Meta to improve its relationship with the upcoming US elections and President-elect Donald Trump.
- Removal of fact-checkers: CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced that third-party fact-checkers will be removed on Facebook, Instagram and Threads. It will be replaced by a “Community Notes” model, which mimics the approach of X (formerly Twitter).
- Change in management: Meta has appointed Joel Kaplan as the new President of Global Affairs, replacing Nick Clegg. Kaplan has strong ties with Republican leaders in Washington DC.
Controversy over LGBTQ issues
Meta is embroiled in another controversy. According to reports, Instagram had blocked many LGBTQ-related hashtags for months as “sexual content”. The company clarified this by calling it a “technical error”. However, the LGBTQ community has considered it a sensitive issue and has demanded more transparency from the company.
What are the experts saying?
Digital media experts believe that these changes by Meta may be part of an effort to balance social and political pressure. Some say that this step has been taken keeping in mind the US elections.
Expert opinion:
“This change by Meta shows that social media companies are now directly accepting political influence. This is an area where it is very difficult to balance,” said a social media expert.
Users’ opinion on the new changes
- Users are giving mixed reactions to these new rules of Meta.
- Some are seeing it as increasing the choice and control of users.
At the same time, there is also criticism due to allegations of LGBTQ issues and political inclination.
Latest information and updates
- Political content: Given the US presidential elections next year, Meta’s move could be highly relevant.
LGBTQ hashtags: The company has said it is conducting an internal review on the issue and will take steps to avoid such problems in the future.
Fact-checking: The Community Notes model will be launched soon.
These changes by Meta reflect how social media platforms are adapting their rules and policies to changing times. But it is natural to question the intent behind these changes. In the coming months, it will be interesting to see the impact of these policies and how users react.
