Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced significant changes across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads following Donald Trump’s recent election victory.
Zuckerberg described Trump’s win as a “cultural tipping point” for free speech, prompting major policy shifts. Meta will stop third-party fact-checking, alter content moderation, and increase political content visibility across its platforms.
Fact-Checking Halted
Meta will no longer use independent fact-checking organisations to moderate content.
Zuckerberg explained the reason for this decision in a public video statement.
“We’ve reached a point where it’s become too many mistakes, and too much censorship,” he said.
He criticised fact-checkers for being “too politically biased” and claimed they “destroyed more trust than they’ve created, especially in the US.”
Meta will replace fact-checking with a “community notes” system, similar to Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter). Users can now attach context or fact-checking notes to posts. These notes will only appear if a diverse group of users rates them as helpful.
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Trump Ally Joins Meta’s Board
Meta has appointed Dana White, president and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), to its board.
White, a close friend of Trump, introduced the president-elect during a Republican National Convention speech.
“There is nothing I love more than building brands, and I look forward to helping take Meta to the next level,” White said in a statement.
Alongside White, tech investor Charlie Songhurst and Italian executive John Elkann will also join the board.
Algorithm Changes for Political Content
Meta will modify its algorithms to recommend more political content across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
“For a while, the community asked to see less politics because it was making people stressed,” Zuckerberg said.
“But it feels like we are in a new era now.”
Zuckerberg also announced Meta will remove certain restrictions on discussions about gender and immigration.
Collaboration with Trump on Censorship Pushback
Zuckerberg signalled Meta’s support for Trump’s stance against government censorship.
“It’s been so difficult over the past four years when even the US government has pushed for censorship by going after us and other American companies,” he said.
He mentioned censorship issues in Europe, Latin America, and China, criticising their restrictive policies.
“We’re going to work with President Trump to push back on governments around the world that are going after American companies and pushing to censor more,” he added.
Trump and Zuckerberg’s Strained Relationship
Trump and Zuckerberg have had a complicated relationship in recent years.
Meta previously banned Trump after the January 6 Capitol riot in 2021. Trump accused Zuckerberg of “illegal election interference” and threatened legal action against him.
However, relations seem to have improved.
Zuckerberg called Trump after an assassination attempt and visited him at Mar-a-Lago following the election win. Meta also contributed $1.6 million to Trump’s inauguration fund.
In his recent statement, Zuckerberg acknowledged the cultural shift.
“The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point towards once again prioritising speech,” he said.
Trump praised the changes, stating, “I think they’ve come a long way.”
Criticism from Watchdogs and Civil Rights Groups
Progressive digital watchdogs and civil rights groups criticised Meta’s decision.
The anti-misinformation News Literacy Project warned the changes could lead to increased misinformation.
The Accountable Tech lobby group also condemned the move.
“Meta is re-opening the floodgates to the exact same surge of hate, disinformation and conspiracy theories that caused January 6th,” the group stated.
Conservative Backing
Conservatives have long criticised Meta’s content moderation practices.
Republican Congressman Jim Jordan praised Meta’s new direction.
“We hope that other Big Tech companies, including Google, follow the lead of X and Meta in upholding freedom of speech online,” he posted on X.
Australian PM Responds
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed concern about Meta’s decision to scrap fact-checking.
He emphasised the government’s commitment to holding social media companies accountable.
“We will continue to act in our national interest and I say to social media they have a social responsibility and they should fulfil it,” Albanese said.
He referenced the rising mental health issues linked to social media use among young people.
“I have met too many parents who have lost their young ones as a result of the impact that social media has had,” he added.
Albanese supported eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant’s efforts to regulate online platforms.
“We think Julie Inman Grant does a terrific job,” he said.
A Broader Tech Shift
Zuckerberg’s policy shift mirrors broader trends in the tech industry, with several top Silicon Valley executives engaging with Trump post-election.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, owner of The Washington Post, also visited Mar-a-Lago and contributed to Trump’s inauguration fund.
The Washington Post refused to endorse any candidate in the last election. However, a staff cartoonist, Ann Telnaes, resigned when the paper declined to publish a cartoon depicting tech leaders bowing to Trump.
Steven Livingston from the Institute for Data, Democracy, and Politics described Meta’s changes as “alarming, but not surprising.”
“I think it shows us, yet once again, that media companies, whether they be social media or newspapers, are bowing to the pressure that’s coming from the Trump administration and from Trump,” Livingston said.
The Road Ahead
Meta’s policy overhaul reflects a significant shift in how the company approaches free speech and content moderation.
As the US moves into a politically charged era, Meta’s influence over digital discourse will remain a focal point of global debate.
