Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, is set to drastically alter its approach to content moderation, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced this week. In a video titled “More speech and fewer mistakes,” Zuckerberg detailed plans to scrap the use of third-party fact-checking organizations, opting instead for a “community notes” system similar to that used by the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
The move, revealed on Tuesday, comes as tech companies brace for the inauguration of incoming US President Donald Trump, whose supporters have frequently criticized online content moderation as a form of censorship, according to Al Jazeera.
Why Change?
Zuckerberg explained that fact-checking organizations had proven to be “biased” in their selection of content for moderation. He emphasized a desire to return to the company’s “roots around free expression,” stating that current moderation systems had become “a tool to censor.” The new system, he claims, will empower users to identify misleading or falsified information through community-based annotations.
Specifically, Meta has highlighted issues surrounding “gender and immigration” as topics where it hopes community-based fact-checking will provide a more balanced approach.
Meta plans to roll out the new “community notes” feature across its platforms in the coming months. The change will affect Facebook, Instagram and Threads, used by over 3 billion people worldwide.
Move to Texas, Concerns about Bias
Adding another layer of complexity to the situation, Meta also intends to relocate its content moderation teams from California to Texas. This decision, the company says, is meant to “help us build trust” while minimizing concerns about team bias. However, experts like Samuel Woolley, a former director of propaganda research at the University of Texas at Austin, see political motivations behind the move, suggesting it might negatively impact how political content is handled on the platform.
How Community Notes Will Work
Meta’s “community notes” system will mirror X’s model, where users can add context to potentially misleading posts. These annotations, created by eligible users, appear as boxes labeled “Readers added context” below posts on X. The annotations often include corrections, clarifications, and hyperlinks to reputable sources. Meta has not yet released the exact mechanism for its version of the system.
Debate Over Effectiveness
While Meta appears to be fully embracing community-based moderation, there are debates around how effective the system actually is. While research has shown that Community Notes can reduce the spread of misleading posts, there are criticisms that the process is too slow to intervene in the early stages of misinformation and may struggle to reach ‘helpful’ status, leaving misleading content unchecked.
A recent analysis by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) also highlighted the limitations of X’s Community Notes, finding that many posts flagged as potentially misleading were not shown to all users due to not reaching the required “helpful” status.
Backlash from Fact-Checkers
Fact-checking organizations are strongly opposing the move. Neil Brown, president of the Poynter Institute (which owns PolitiFact), stated that “Facts are not censorship,” adding that “Meta always held the cards.” AFP also said it was “a hard hit for the fact-checking community.”
Concerns About Increased Misinformation
Social media experts have expressed concerns that the move could open the floodgates to a greater volume of misinformation on Meta’s platforms. Some believe that Meta is attempting to appease right-wing users, as the platform braces for a second Trump presidency.
Lina Khan, chair of the Federal Trade Commission, expressed concern that Meta’s executives might be seeking favorable treatment from th e Trump administration. While other figures in media and politics have also raised concerns that Meta is making the change under political pressure.
Support for Change
Despite the criticism, some figures in the social media sphere have welcomed the decision. Elon Musk, who is set to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, labeled the move as “cool”. Cenk Yuger, founder of the left-leaning Young Turks, saw it as a move away from relying on “legacy media.” Other right leaning commentators, such as Republican Representative Randy Weber of Texas, have applauded the change.
Even President-elect Donald Trump appeared to take credit for the policy changes.
Global Implications
Although the initial rollout of the feature is in the US, Zuckerberg alluded to other regions and countries in his video. He criticised Europe’s regulations, Latin American courts, and Chinese censorship. The EU, however, refuted the claims of censorship on its side.
