Rise in harmful content since Meta policy rollbacks: survey

A recent survey has revealed a troubling increase in harmful content, such as hate speech, across Meta's platforms since the company discontinued third-party fact-checking in the U.S. and relaxed its moderation guidelines. Conducted among approximately 7,000 active users of Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, the survey follows Meta's controversial decision in January to shift the responsibility of identifying misinformation to everyday users through a model called "Community Notes," which gained traction on platforms like X. This policy shift is perceived as an effort to cater to the conservative base of then-President Donald Trump, who had long criticized tech companies for what he described as the suppression of free speech and right-wing viewpoints. Additionally, Meta has loosened restrictions on discussions surrounding gender and sexual identity, allowing users to make claims about others' mental health or abnormalities based on these attributes. The survey, conducted by several digital and human rights organizations including UltraViolet, GLAAD, and All Out, noted that these changes represent a significant regression in the content moderation practices that Meta had established over nearly a decade. Among the respondents, a startling one in six reported experiencing gender-based or sexual violence on Meta platforms, while 66% observed harmful materials, such as hateful or violent content. A staggering 92% of participants expressed concern over the rise in harmful content and felt increasingly vulnerable to being targeted by it on Meta platforms. Moreover, 77% reported feeling less safe when expressing their thoughts freely online. In response, Meta chose not to comment on the survey findings. However, in its latest quarterly report released in May, the company argued that the January policy changes had a negligible impact on content violation rates, stating that they had halved enforcement mistakes while maintaining a steady prevalence of problematic content. Despite Meta's assertions, the organizations behind the survey challenged this narrative, emphasizing that it fails to accurately capture users' experiences with hate and harassment. Jenna Sherman, campaign director at UltraViolet, highlighted the importance of online spaces as integral parts of daily life, asserting the need for safe access for all individuals to express themselves without fear. Sherman criticized CEO Mark Zuckerberg's decision to reverse long-standing moderation standards, asserting that it has exacerbated existing equity issues on Facebook and Instagram. The groups are urging Meta to enlist an independent third party to evaluate the effects of the recent policy changes on harmful content and to promptly restore previous content moderation practices. The International Fact-Checking Network has also cautioned that extending these policy alterations beyond the U.S. could have dire global implications, affecting Meta's operations in over 100 countries.