Meta platforms update content guidelines, sparking conversation.
In January, Meta announced new changes to the censorship policies for its applications like Facebook, Instagram and Threads. These changes include removing fact-checkers from the platforms and loosening previous restrictions on topics relating to areas such as immigration and LGBTQIA+ content. Ahead of the inauguration, this raises concerns for many users of Meta platforms and continues to spur past conversations seen on X about alternative platforms for educators to move to and use.
One educator in the Teacher2Teacher community addressed these concerns saying, “Tech forums are wild on a normal day, but all it took was for Meta and Amazon to roll back DEI initiatives on the same day for some of the groups I’m a part of to turn into hotbeds of racism and misogyny. It literally took less than 24 hours.”
Articles and reports:
Initial announcements of coming changes on Jan 7
Report from AP News on Meta policies
Leaked Meta documents revealing examples of previously banned content
Example of hidden LGBTQIA+ related search terms on Threads
NY Times op-ed