Meta wants free expression. People pleasing or business strategy?
Meta is making a risky business bet: letting people say whatever they want. Threatened by growing competition, the company has decided to copy platform X’s model in an effort to win back lost users. TikTok, in particular, has overshadowed Meta’s dominance, and the planned ban of the Chinese platform in the U.S. this month is still uncertain.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced major changes in its approach to content moderation. The company will eliminate its third-party fact-checking program and introduce a new initiative called "Community Notes." These changes come as part of a reevaluation of free speech and moderation policies, aiming to address criticism regarding censorship and the role of platforms in controlling the flow of information.
In an increasingly competitive digital world, the democratization of content through initiatives like "Community Notes" could help Meta attract users who are spending more and more time on platforms like TikTok. By involving the community in moderation, Facebook and Instagram could become more appealing to those seeking a space for free expression.
How many people are on Facebook…
For the third quarter of 2024, Meta reported that 3.29 billion people used at least one of its core products (Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, or Messenger) daily. This figure marks a slight increase from the 3.27 billion daily active users recorded in the previous quarter.
The company has stopped reporting the number of daily active users for each platform individually, with some critics claiming that it is trying to conceal a significant slowdown in Facebook’s growth. This strategy is common among mature tech companies that can no longer impress with soaring monthly user numbers as they once did.
…and why it’s important to have many users who are confident
It is said that "There's no such thing as a free meal." Meta platforms are free for users, but the real price is one we all know: our data.
The decision to eliminate fact-checking highlights Meta's core philosophy: the platform is not a traditional public space but an ecosystem designed to collect complex and real data. While many criticize the lack of transparency or measures taken against content deemed inappropriate, the company continues to operate according to its own business model.
Third-party fact-checking has been a controversial initiative since its launch. Although the goal was to combat misinformation, the program was criticized for political bias and for removing content that did not align with certain narratives. Mark Zuckerberg, Meta's CEO, states that he wants to "restore free expression" on the company's platforms, emphasizing the importance of greater diversity of opinions and open debates.
By removing perceived censorship, the platform can strengthen its position as an attractive space for debates, attracting more users and, consequently, more valuable data. X (formerly Twitter), which operates on the same system that Facebook will now implement (Community Notes), experienced a resurgence in engagement following its rebranding after Elon Musk's acquisition. However, X also highlighted the risks associated with the perceived lack of content moderation. According to SimilarWeb, the U.S. elections were followed by a wave of users who decided to leave the platform, outraged by the political content they were bombarded with.
What is "Community Notes"?
"Community Notes" is a collaborative system inspired by a similar feature used by Twitter (now X). Users can add context to public posts, helping to clarify information in a transparent and democratized manner. This feature aims to reduce misinformation by directly involving the community, rather than relying on a third party's intervention. Meta claims that this model promotes greater collective responsibility.
Critics, however, argue that "Community Notes" could lead to polarization and manipulation if well-organized groups exploit the system to amplify one-sided perspectives. There are also concerns that regular users may not have the time or the expertise to properly verify information.
"That's cool," posted Elon Musk about Meta's initiative to reduce censorship on the platform, mimicking the model of
the X app.
Perspective
Meta's decision to abandon fact-checking marks a significant shift in its moderation philosophy. This comes in a broader context where tech companies are increasingly pressured to balance freedom of expression with combating misinformation. Critics accuse Meta of prioritizing profitability over ethics, while supporters argue that this is a step toward restoring a democratic balance.
International press notes that Meta's policy change comes with the appointment of Dana White, CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and a close ally of President Donald Trump, to its Board of Directors. Trump's antipathy towards Facebook (and affinity for TikTok) is well known. Even so, there have always been pressures from all sides. Beyond all this, Meta remains a giant with a strong business model, capable of reinventing itself for its own profitability.
The removal of the fact-checking program and the introduction of "Community Notes" represent an experiment with long-term implications for social media platforms. Success will depend on Meta's ability to manage and refine this system to avoid abuse.
Until then, Meta will continue to be at the center of global debates about the responsibility of tech companies in content moderation and protecting freedom of expression.