In January 2025, Meta Platforms announced significant changes to its content moderation policies across all divisions, including Facebook and Instagram. The company discontinued its internal fact-checking program, replacing it with a “Community Notes” system. This system allows users to add contextual notes to posts, provided there is consensus among other users. Additionally, Meta relaxed certain moderation practices to focus more on severe and illegal content. These changes include adjustments to policies on “Hateful Content,” permitting discussions that were previously restricted. For instance, users can now make allegations of mental illness based on gender or sexual orientation, reflecting common non-serious usage of terms like “weird.” Discussions supporting gender-based limitations in professions such as military, law enforcement, and teaching are also allowed. Meta cited concerns that its services were censoring “too much harmless content” and expressed a desire to provide users with more information about what they encounter, aiming for a system less prone to bias. To further this goal, Meta announced the relocation of its Trust & Safety division to Texas and other locations. CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated that these changes are intended to ensure “more speech and fewer [moderation] mistakes.” Critics, particularly from journalists and LGBTQ+ rights advocates, have expressed concerns that these policy changes may expose LGBTQ+ users to increased prejudice. Comparisons have been drawn to content policy changes enacted by Elon Musk after his acquisition of Twitter (now X). Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson stated, “While we understand the difficulties in enforcing content moderation, we have grave concerns that the changes announced by Meta will put the LGBTQ+ community in danger both online and off.” Reports indicate that these changes have led to internal dissent among Meta employees. Concurrently, Meta quietly removed transgender and non-binary flag themes from Messenger, which were previously added for Pride Month in June 2021 and 2022. Meta’s policy shift aligns with broader trends in social media regulation. In January 2025, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14149, titled “Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship.” This order posits that the federal government had infringed on the constitutionally protected speech rights of American citizens. It bars the use of taxpayer resources for what it claims has been censorship and directs the Attorney General to investigate the federal government’s activities over the past four years concerning free speech. The order also instructs the Attorney General to seek remedial actions, though it is vague on what these actions may entail. In the judicial arena, the Supreme Court agreed in October 2023 to hear Murthy v. Missouri, a case examining whether the federal government crossed a constitutional line into censorship when it pressured social media platforms to remove content it deemed misleading. The case stems from the Biden administration’s efforts to have social media platforms remove content spreading falsehoods about the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 presidential election. The Court’s decision will have significant implications for the First Amendment’s free speech protections in the digital age. Internationally, the European Union has been moving in the opposite direction. In January 2025, the EU doubled down on social media censorship through the Digital Services Act (DSA), aiming to tackle “misinformation,” “disinformation,” and “hate speech” online. The DSA requires the removal of so-called “illegal content” on social media platforms, censoring free speech both within and outside the EU. This move has raised concerns about the potential impact on the speech of U.S. citizens online. European politicians have also called for social media censorship to “protect democracy” and criticized X and Meta’s free speech policies. During a debate at the Council of Europe, politicians called for tackling so-called “misinformation,” “disinformation,” and “hate speech” online, voting in favor of a report on social media content regulation. Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg were singled out as threatening democracy with their free speech policies. In the United Kingdom, the media regulator Ofcom is preparing to take “strong action” against tech companies that violate the forthcoming Online Safety Act. The Act, set to come into effect next year, aims to address harmful online content and mandates websites to enforce clear content moderation policies and swiftly remove illegal material. Ofcom has the authority to fine non-compliant websites or shut them down if necessary. This follows unrest in Britain, partly attributed to misinformation on platforms like Elon Musk’s X, which faced criticism for not removing harmful content. However, the Act does not cover “legal but harmful” content due to free speech concerns. Ofcom emphasizes the importance of balancing disinformation control with free speech and highlights the regulator’s readiness to enforce the legislation. Meta’s policy changes represent a significant shift in the landscape of online speech and content moderation. While the company aims to promote free expression and reduce moderation errors, these changes have sparked debate about the potential consequences for vulnerable communities and the spread of misinformation. As these policies are implemented, ongoing monitoring and evaluation will be essential to assess their impact on users and the broader digital ecosystem.
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Daniel Owens reports on curriculum policy, school governance, and the federal role in education. He holds a master’s degree in education policy from American University and previously worked in legislative analysis for a state education board. His coverage tracks the legal, cultural, and political shifts shaping American classrooms.