Photo by nasim dadfar on Unsplash
The world of social media is constantly evolving, with platforms adapting to changing user behaviors and political landscapes. One such shift has occurred at Instagram and Threads, where the recommended feeds have historically shied away from displaying “political” content from accounts users don’t already follow. However, in a surprise move, Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram and Threads, recently announced that this policy is about to undergo a significant change.
Just last year, Instagram and Threads decided to block the recommendations of political content from accounts users didn’t already follow. However, in recent statements, Mosseri has confirmed that both platforms will start showing political content in their recommended feeds. This reversal comes at a time when social media companies are struggling with the fine line between freedom of expression and moderation.
Mosseri justified this shift by stating that drawing a red line around what constitutes “political” content has proven impractical. The decision also reflects the changing feedback from users on Threads, who have become increasingly vocal about their desire to see more political content on these platforms.
It’s worth noting that this shift is happening at a time when social media companies are facing intense scrutiny over their moderation policies. The Wall Street Journal reported that Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, experienced firsthand the impact of filters cutting down the reach of his post about recovering from a torn ACL. This incident highlighted the tension between moderation and free expression on these platforms.
“I’ve maintained very publicly and for a long time that it’s not our place to show people political content from accounts they don’t follow,” Mosseri said in a series of Threads posts. “It’s proven impractical to draw a red line around what is and is not political content.”
In a video on Instagram, Mosseri explained that the push for political content from users on Threads is very different from the feedback they received only a few years ago. At that time, people felt overly exposed to political content on these platforms. However, with Meta’s new policy chief taking over and the changing user landscape, social media companies are re-evaluating their moderation policies.
This shift will undoubtedly have significant implications for users who rely on Instagram and Threads as a platform to share and engage with content. As social media continues to evolve, it’s clear that the lines between freedom of expression and moderation are becoming increasingly blurred.
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