Meta, the company behind Facebook, is launching a new social media platform called Threads. With this new platform, Meta aims to place the responsibility of content moderation on the users themselves, giving them control over what they see. This approach deviates from those of other social media platforms like TikTok, which make their own decisions regarding content. Meta hopes that this user-focused strategy will avoid the controversies and legal issues that have plagued its previous platforms.
In an interview with The Washington Post, Nick Clegg, Meta’s Global Affairs President, stated that Meta wants to shift the conversation from algorithmic choices to user controls. The company plans to offer users meaningful controls over the content they engage with on Threads. This move comes at a time when social media companies face increasing pressure to moderate harmful content, while also navigating the complexities of political bias accusations.
Threads has already attracted over 100 million users, including news organizations and politicians. However, civil society groups are concerned about the potential for extremism, hate speech, and misinformation on the platform. They are urging Meta to establish guardrails and implement moderation safeguards to protect users.
Clegg clarified that Meta does not intend to block or suppress political content on Threads. The company aims to avoid “massively boosting” or creating a special tab for news in the app. Threads will follow the same guidelines as Instagram, prohibiting hate speech, harassment, and content that degrades individuals. Posts flagged as false on Facebook or Instagram will also be labeled as such on Threads, although the platform is not currently included in Meta’s fact-checking program.
Meta is also joining the decentralized social networking movement with the launch of Threads. They plan to support ActivityPub, an open, decentralized social networking protocol used by platforms like Mastodon. This approach allows users more freedom to choose the rules and communities they engage with. In contrast to the traditional social media model, where algorithms dictate content, Meta hopes to empower users to have more control over their social media experiences.
Overall, Meta’s launch of Threads signals a shift in strategy towards user-controlled content moderation. By giving users more control over what they see, Meta aims to eliminate accusations of political bias while also complying with the increasing legal pressures on social media platforms.
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