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yesterday

Meta Policy Rollbacks Fuel Surge in Hate Speech and User Safety Fears

A survey of 7,000 users finds most feel less protected following Meta’s January decision to end U.S. fact-checking.

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Meta ditched third-party fact-checking in the United States in January
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Photo by DREW ANGERER/AFP via Getty Images

Overview

  • Ninety-two percent of surveyed users reported feeling less protected from exposure to harmful content since Meta dropped third-party fact-checking.
  • The January policies rolled back proactive hate-speech enforcement and introduced exceptions that allow anti-LGBTQ attacks and other targeted harassment.
  • One in six respondents experienced gender-based or sexual violence online, and 66 percent witnessed hate content in their social feeds.
  • Meta’s own quarterly report from January to April shows no significant rise in violating content, a finding that conflicts with widespread user testimony.
  • GLAAD, UltraViolet and All Out are urging Meta to commission an independent review and restore third-party fact-checking along with robust hate-speech safeguards.