Title: Unable to Unfollow Trump and JD Vance on Instagram: An Explanation
Demi Lovato took to her Instagram story, expressing her frustration over having to unfollow the @vp and @potus accounts multiple times due to Meta's automatic refollow feature. She even went as far as blocking them to ensure distance. Her post sparked conversations among other social media users, who encouraged others to do the same if they opposed the Trump administration.
This incident comes amidst claims that users are having trouble with the #Democrat hashtag on Instagram. Metas's Stone announced that they were working to fix an issue affecting various hashtags, assuring it wasn't exclusive to left-leaning hashtags. However, Meta denied forcing users to follow Trump and Vance's accounts.
In response to a query, Stone indicated that similar procedures were followed during past presidential transitions, which involved switching official Facebook and Instagram accounts when a new administration takes office. He also mentioned potential delays in handling follow and unfollow requests during this transition period.
The incident has further fueled liberal skepticism towards Meta, whose recent policy changes have raised eyebrows. This includes replacing its top policy executive with a prominent Republican, welcoming Trump ally Dana White to its board, and ending US fact-checking programs. Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, defended these changes during an appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast, stating they aimed to restore trust on the platform, previously damaged by excessive content moderation.
Meta's policy shifts and associations with conservative figures have not gone unnoticed. It recently ended its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and changed its hateful content policies, allowing some new types of content on its platforms. These changes, coupled with its decision to allow language that refers to "women as household objects," have sparked controversy and concerns over Meta's commitment to promoting open discourse.
- Amidst the backlash, several businesses and individuals have expressed concerns about Meta's perceived bias, questioning its commitment to upholding democratic values.
- Some critics argue that Meta's policy shifts and associations with conservative figures may negatively impact its business relationship with progressive companies and organizations.
