NEW YORK, NY – Meta has announced its decision to stop proactively recommending political content on Instagram and its text-based app Threads, leaving many news and politics-focused creators concerned amidst a crucial election year. While users can still follow accounts that post about political and social issues, Meta stated that such content will no longer be recommended, even if it is posted by nonpolitical accounts but includes political or social commentary.
The company also revealed that it will no longer display posts focused on laws, elections, or social issues from accounts that users do not follow. According to Meta spokesperson Dani Lever, this decision is based on feedback from users and expands on the company’s existing approach to political content.
As a result of these changes, users are less likely to encounter politics-oriented content or accounts on Instagram’s “Explore” page, Reels, and the suggested-users-to-follow box, and Threads will no longer recommend political content in users’ feeds. However, the company plans to develop tools that allow users to opt in to seeing more political content, although these tools are not yet available.
The news of Meta’s decision has sparked outrage among some news and political creators, especially after facing previous restrictions and bans on other social media platforms. Democrats, content creators, and journalists are expressing their disappointment in the limitations being placed on political conversations on these platforms.
Furthermore, some creators believe that this decision may disproportionately affect certain marginalized groups, silencing important voices and discussions on crucial social and political issues.
The impact of these changes extends beyond individual creators, as the limitations on political content recommendations could ultimately affect the public’s access to important news and information, particularly during a major election. As Meta continues to navigate the balance between fostering a healthy online environment and promoting diverse and meaningful conversations, the implications of these decisions will undoubtedly be closely scrutinized.