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In a significant shift for social media content moderation, Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, will discontinue its fact-checking program in the United States starting Monday. This policy adjustment, as confirmed by chief global affairs officer Joel Kaplan, marks a notable change in how the tech giant addresses misinformation and disinformation on its platforms.
Meta Ends U.S. Fact-Checking Program, Shifts to Community-Based Moderation
Meta initially signaled this pivotal policy alteration in January, concurrently with the easing of its content moderation guidelines. The move towards reducing professional fact-checking and content scrutiny has sparked debate regarding the platform’s commitment to combating false narratives online.
Timing Coincides with Policy Shift Towards Prioritizing “Speech”
The implementation of these changes is noteworthy as it aligns with the period surrounding President Trump’s inauguration. Meta’s founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, attended the inauguration after contributing $1 million to the inaugural fund. Furthermore, around this period, Dana White, a known ally of Trump and CEO of UFC, was appointed to Meta’s board of directors. These events provide context to the evolving content policies at Meta.
Zuckerberg articulated the company’s evolving philosophy in a video address announcing the moderation modifications, stating, “The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point towards once again prioritizing speech.” This statement suggests a deliberate move towards a more permissive environment for user-generated content on Meta’s platforms.
Concerns Raised Over Impact on Marginalized Groups and Misinformation
However, this increased emphasis on “speech,” as prioritized by Zuckerberg, has elicited concerns, particularly regarding its potential impact on marginalized communities. Critics argue that reduced moderation could disproportionately affect vulnerable groups by allowing harmful content to proliferate.
Meta’s own hateful conduct policy seemingly acknowledges this tension. It states, “We do allow allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation, given political and religious discourse about transgenderism and homosexuality.” This policy has been interpreted by some as potentially enabling discriminatory speech under the guise of political or religious discourse.
Adopting Community Notes Model for Content Contextualization
In a move mirroring strategies employed by X (formerly Twitter) under Elon Musk, Meta is adopting a community-driven approach to fact-checking, modeled after Community Notes. This system partially shifts the responsibility for content moderation from paid fact-checkers to users themselves. The effectiveness and implications of this transition are closely watched by industry experts and users alike.
Kaplan announced this change on X, writing that “In place of fact checks, the first Community Notes will start appearing gradually across Facebook, Threads & Instagram, with no penalties attached.” This indicates a phased rollout of the community-based moderation system across Meta’s major social networks.
While community-based content contextualization, like Community Notes, can occasionally contribute valuable context to misleading or contentious posts, its efficacy is often amplified when used in conjunction with other content moderation mechanisms. Meta’s decision to eliminate professional fact-checking, therefore, raises questions about the robustness of its overall strategy to combat misinformation.
Potential for Increased Visibility of Misleading Content
The core business model of Meta platforms relies heavily on user engagement and attention. Reduced content moderation inherently means a greater volume of posts is available for users to consume. Furthermore, Meta’s algorithms are known to favor content that elicits strong emotional responses, potentially amplifying the reach of sensational or misleading information.
Early Signs of Increased False Content Spread
Even as Meta has incrementally scaled back its fact-checking initiatives, there have been early indications of a rise in the propagation of false content. For example, a Facebook page administrator who disseminated the fabricated claim regarding ICE paying individuals for tips on undocumented immigrants revealed to ProPublica that the termination of the fact-checking program was viewed as “great information,” suggesting a perceived opportunity to spread misinformation without repercussions.
Kaplan had previously stated in January, “We’re getting rid of a number of restrictions on topics like immigration, gender identity and gender that are the subject of frequent political discourse and debate. It’s not right that things can be said on TV or the floor of Congress, but not on our platforms.” This statement underscores Meta’s rationale for content moderation changes, aiming to align platform policies with broader public discourse norms.