On Tuesday, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, shared significant adjustments to content moderation on both Facebook and Instagram, a shift that many in conservative circles have long desired. Notably, Donald Trump, the upcoming president, indicated that these changes might be a response to his earlier threats directed at Zuckerberg.
This recent decision to shift away from third-party fact-checking in favor of user-generated “community notes”—akin to innovations seen on the social media platform X backed by Elon Musk—illustrates a broader trend of media outlets adapting to align with the incoming administration. This announcement coincides with the four-year anniversary of Zuckerberg’s ban on Trump following the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Zuckerberg has faced criticism from Trump and his supporters, particularly since his donation of $400 million aimed at facilitating local election operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Such financial support has been mischaracterized within conspiracy theories that claim the 2020 elections were rigged against Trump, despite the absence of evidence indicating widespread fraud. In reaction, Republican-led states have enacted bans against future contributions to local election bodies, while Trump has previously threatened Zuckerberg with imprisonment in his recent book published during the presidential campaign peak.
In a video posted on Tuesday, Zuckerberg adopted language often used by conservatives, asserting that there’s a need to emphasize “free expression” and alleging that fact-checkers have shown “political bias.” He announced a relocation of Meta’s content moderation team from California—a predominantly blue state—to Texas, which is more red in its political alignment, while also easing restrictions surrounding topics like immigration and gender discussions. Meta has not clarified how many employees will be part of this relocation.
At a press conference later in the day, Trump lauded the overhaul, stating, “I think they’ve come a long way, Meta.” When questioned about whether Zuckerberg’s changes were a response to his threats, Trump replied, “Probably.”
Meta is reportedly one of several tech firms endeavoring to curry favor with Trump before his upcoming inauguration. In December, Meta and Amazon each contributed $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund. Additionally, Zuckerberg dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. This week, he also appointed Dana White, the CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and a close ally of Trump’s, to Meta’s board. Amazon is also releasing a documentary featuring Melania Trump, while Disney’s ABC News recently settled a libel case initiated by Trump with a $15 million payout to his presidential library foundation.
Brendan Nyhan, a political scientist from Dartmouth College, observed that the changes made by Meta reflect “a pattern of powerful people and institutions kowtowing to the president,” suggesting that they appear frightened of potential repercussions. He voiced concerns over this becoming detrimental to the nation, indicating that it raises questions about the integrity of a business environment that is globally admired, as people often start businesses in the U.S. without needing alignment with the prevailing government in contrast to other countries.
While YouTube remains a major platform, Facebook is still the most utilized social media site in the U.S., with approximately 68% of American adults using the platform, a figure largely unchanged since 2016. However, teenage engagement has declined significantly, with only 32% reportedly using it in a 2024 survey.
Meta initiated its fact-checking practices in December 2016 after facing backlash for the spread of “fake news” following Trump’s initial election victory. For years, the corporation claimed to collaborate with over 100 organizations across more than 60 languages to combat misinformation. Notably, the Associated Press withdrew from Meta’s fact-checking program last year.
Experts in media and social media cautioned against Meta’s shift in policy. Dan Evon, the lead writer for RumorGuard, remarked that ending Meta’s fact-checking program strips away a crucial resource for users and lends credibility to the misleading assertion that fact-checking is politically influenced, highlighting the importance of context which fact-checkers provide to address viral misinformation.
Business analysts characterized this maneuver as an overtly political strategy. Jasmine Enberg, an Emarketer analyst, stated, “Meta is repositioning the company for the incoming Trump administration.” She predicted that this decision will be welcomed by conservatives who have frequently accused Meta of restricting free speech while simultaneously alarming many liberals and advertisers, showcasing Zuckerberg’s willingness to seek Trump’s favor.
Despite X facing a decline in advertisers due to its moderation tactics, Enberg pointed out that Meta’s vast reach and formidable advertising platform somewhat protect it from a similar decline. However, she cautioned that any substantial drop in user engagement could negatively impact Meta’s advertising revenue.
Meta’s Oversight Board, which functions as an independent overseer of contentious content decisions, expressed its welcome of the recent changes and anticipated collaboration with the company to ensure the new approach effectively balances free speech with user safety.
In response to Meta’s decisions, Representative Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, endorsed the move, calling it a “huge step in the right direction.” Conversely, some GOP members remain skeptical. Utah Republican Representative Mike Lee remarked on X, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me,” expressing skepticism over Zuckerberg’s potential return to his earlier policies.
Although not officially affiliated with any political party, Zuckerberg has previously been recognized as a supporter of liberal causes, extensively advocating for an immigration reform and the rights of illegally brought immigrants. His proactive efforts in fact-checking on Facebook have made him a target for conservative criticisms. His $400 million donation during the 2020 elections was framed as a nonpartisan civic initiative but clashed with deep-seated mistrust from right-leaning constituents.
Alexios Mantzarlis, director of the Security, Trust, and Safety Initiative at Cornell Tech and a former leader at the International Fact-Checking Network, emphasized that this shift embodies a “choice of politics, not policy,” warning that how it is implemented could lead to an increase in harassment, hate speech, and other adverse behaviors across platforms with billions of users.
