Meta’s Shift to the Right Sparks Exodus of Users
In the wake of Meta’s recent policy changes, some users are fleeing the company’s platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The changes, which include ending third-party fact-checking in the US and pulling back on content moderation around political discourse, have been met with widespread criticism.
The company’s new community notes system, similar to Elon Musk’s X, has been criticized for allowing harmful and hateful content to spread. Additionally, Meta’s updated policy on hateful conduct has been condemned for allowing LGBTQ people to be called mentally ill because of their identities.
As a result, some users are taking their business elsewhere. Marie Valencia, a full-time artist, has stopped posting on Facebook and Instagram and has moved to alternative platforms such as Bluesky and Amigahood. Cord Jefferson, director of the Academy Award-nominated film “American Fiction,” has announced that he is leaving Instagram and will remain active on Tumblr.
Stanford University law professor Mark Lemley has also announced that he will be dropping Meta as a client and reconsidering his use of the company’s platforms. Lemley has criticized Meta’s descent into “toxic masculinity and Neo-Nazi madness” and has deactivated his account on Threads, Meta’s X alternative.
Despite the backlash, Meta’s user base remains large, with close to 2 out of 3 people in the US on Facebook and almost 170 million Instagram accounts in the US. However, some users feel trapped on Meta platforms, especially WhatsApp, because they use the services to communicate with family members, friends, and personal networks.
Others, such as Stacy Kess, founder of the nonprofit news organization Equal Access Public Media, have condemned Meta’s policy changes and are exploring alternative options. Kess has stated that her organization will continue to post elsewhere and is raising funds to produce accessible news products.
The exodus of users from Meta’s platforms is reminiscent of the exodus from X (formerly Twitter) after the 2024 election. As Meta continues to shift to the right, it remains to be seen whether the company will be able to retain its user base and maintain its position as a dominant player in the tech industry.