Meta's Policy Changes Raise Safety Concerns

Meta has made significant changes to its content moderation policies, including the dismantling of its fact-checking program and relaxing rules on hate speech, which now allow derogatory remarks based on gender, sexual orientation, and ethnicity. These changes have raised concerns among civil rights advocates and social media experts, who warn of potential increases in hate speech and real-world safety risks, particularly for marginalized groups like the LGBTQIA+ community. Meta justifies these modifications as efforts to correct 'over-enforcement' and promote free expression, aligning its platform policies with broader political discourse norms. Critics argue that these shifts could embolden harmful actors and diminish protections for vulnerable communities, while supporters claim they reduce 'mission creep' and excessive censorship. Additionally, Meta is reintroducing political content recommendations on Instagram and Threads, responding to user demand for political discourse despite previous efforts to limit such content. These policy changes occur as Meta positions itself to capitalize on evolving social media dynamics, including the potential TikTok ban and growing creator economies.