NAIROBI, Kenya- Meta just threw a major curveball in the ongoing battle over online content moderation.
The company is scrapping its independent fact-checking program on Facebook and Instagram, replacing it with a “community notes” system—an approach eerily similar to what Elon Musk rolled out on X (formerly Twitter).
CEO Mark Zuckerberg framed the move as a step toward free expression, arguing that third-party fact-checkers had become “too politically biased.”
But critics aren’t buying it, warning that this shift could fuel misinformation and weaken safeguards against harmful content.
Meta’s new model puts the power in users’ hands. Instead of external fact-checkers reviewing flagged posts, a community-driven system will provide context and clarifications on questionable content.
The idea? People from different perspectives must agree before a note is attached to a post.
The concept mirrors X’s Community Notes, which Elon Musk has praised as a more balanced way to combat misinformation. And he’s already given Meta a nod of approval, calling the change “cool.”
For now, the transition applies only to the U.S., with third-party fact-checkers still active in the UK and the EU.
The timing of this move is stirring speculation. Meta also announced it would relax restrictions on politically sensitive topics like immigration and gender identity—policies it says have stifled open debate.
Adding fuel to the fire, reports surfaced that Zuckerberg dined with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in November.
Meta even donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund, signaling what some see as a calculated pivot ahead of his presidency.
Critics argue this is all about cozying up to Trump and dismantling the content moderation policies that once frustrated his supporters.
While Meta frames this shift as a win for free expression, safety advocates aren’t convinced.
The Molly Rose Foundation has warned that a user-driven system might fail to flag harmful content related to suicide, self-harm, and depression.
So, is this a bold move toward free speech or a reckless gamble that could unleash unchecked misinformation? One thing’s for sure—social media’s next era is about to get a lot more unpredictable.
