Facebook's New Reality: Fact-Checking Is Now Gone!

SWAPD News
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Well, folks, it seems Facebook, now Meta, has officially thrown its fact-checking program out the window. Instead of relying on third-party fact-checkers, they’re rolling out a “Community Notes” system, similar to what Elon Musk has done on X (formerly Twitter). The move is being branded as an effort to restore “free expression” on the platform after years of criticism about censorship.

Zuckerberg’s Flip: From Censorship to Free Speech

Mark Zuckerberg admitted that the old system wasn’t working, citing “too many mistakes and too much censorship” as the reason for the shift. Now, users themselves will have the power to flag and provide context for questionable posts. It’s a bold change, but one that has many questioning Meta’s motives—especially given the timing.

Enter the Trump Factor

This decision comes right as Donald Trump begins his second term as President. If you think the timing is a coincidence, think again. Zuckerberg recently dined with Trump and made a hefty donation to his inauguration fund. Let’s be real: it’s starting to look like Meta is trying to cozy up to the new administration. Maybe Zuck’s trying to avoid future regulatory drama or win favor with the powers that be.

Content Moderation Gets a Makeover

Meta is also relocating its “trust and safety” teams from California to Texas, signaling a shift in cultural alignment. The goal seems to be a more balanced, less ideologically skewed approach. This includes easing restrictions on discussions around immigration, gender, and other sensitive topics. It’s part of a larger effort to let free speech reign, or at least that’s how they’re selling it.

Messenger GIFs: A Sign of Loosening Up?

Even Facebook Messenger’s GIF filters are getting more relaxed. Not long ago, searching for terms like “sex” or “tits” would yield zero results—they were blocked. Meanwhile, terms like “gay” or “LGBT” produced a plethora of options. Now, it seems the platform has unblocked previously restricted terms, signaling a more laissez-faire approach to content across the board.

A New Era for Meta

Whether you see this as a genuine commitment to free speech or a calculated move to align with Trump’s administration, there’s no denying that Meta is shaking things up. This shift away from heavy-handed moderation could redefine the platform and its role in the digital world. One thing’s for sure: Zuckerberg’s Meta is stepping into uncharted territory. Buckle up—it’s going to be an interesting ride.

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This will be an incredible step forward for content creators.

Meta will finally cease to function as an authentic dictatorship and become what a social network is meant to be: a space where creators have the opportunity to produce their content without the shackles of restrictive algorithms.

I stopped creating content on Facebook after 10 years precisely because of these limitations and an oppressive environment. Let’s hope that Facebook can finally return to being the “paradise” for content creators that it once was.

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For the duration of Republicans being at the steer of the ship :smiley: I don’t think Zuck is changing his views willingly, plus he now has Dana White as one of his directors :smiley:

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He obviously won’t [willingly change completely]. But if Meta continued down this highly restrictive path, it would inevitably be destined to fall into irrelevance. We were living in a time when creating content on the platform was nearly impossible without facing some form of restriction—whether it was on reach or directly on the content itself.

I believe this shift represents not only a change in paradigm but, above all, a strategic move to eventually bring people back to Meta’s platforms.

And, in fact, it was the necessary and overdue step to take.

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AM GLAD SOMEONE HERE CARES TO DISCUSS THIS, because no one reads my news posts :frowning:

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I usually do read them (only :D)

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I’ve never had a single post censored. Also, people shouldn’t be posting often. Life is better lived privately. Those who have faced censorship are usually ones seeking attention or posting to monetize.

No one posting positive news or personal photos as memories is getting censored :slight_smile:

Happy Zuck is becoming a republican

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It definitely feels like Meta is making a bold move with this shift, but the timing and changes raise a lot of questions. Is it really about free speech, or is there a larger strategy at play, especially with the Trump connection? Either way, the shift in moderation could change the platform’s dynamics significantly. We’ll have to see how this plays out in practice…

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I, on the other hand, experienced TONS of fact/geo-locked stuff.

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It will be interesting to see the effects & performance of accounts once they roll this out fully

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