Meta, previously known as Facebook, has made a noteworthy alteration to its policy concerning the visibility of political content across its platforms, Instagram and Threads. In a recent announcement, Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, unveiled a significant shift in strategy: the company will cease the default promotion of political content to users.
This change marks a departure from previous practices where political content was often actively pushed to users’ feeds. Under the new policy, Meta aims to reduce the prominence of political posts, allowing users to engage with such content on a more opt-in basis rather than having it thrust upon them.
Adam Mosseri conveyed this update via a post on Threads, emphasizing the company’s commitment to fostering a more balanced and personalized user experience. The decision reflects Meta’s ongoing efforts to address concerns related to the proliferation of political content and its potential impact on user well-being and platform dynamics.
This adjustment is expected to have far-reaching implications for how political content is distributed and consumed on Instagram and Threads, potentially reshaping the digital landscape of political discourse within Meta’s ecosystem.
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Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, has provided clarification regarding Meta’s recent policy change concerning the visibility of political content on its platforms. Mosseri emphasized that while users will still come across political posts from accounts they follow, the apps will no longer actively promote such content.
This adjustment, scheduled to be implemented “in the next few weeks,” will have a significant impact on public accounts, where Meta’s algorithm traditionally recommends content. Platforms such as Instagram’s Reels and Explore, along with suggested users on Threads, will no longer include political content as part of their proactive recommendations.
Mosseri’s statement highlights Meta’s commitment to reevaluating its approach to political content dissemination, particularly in response to user feedback and concerns regarding the potential influence of such content on platform dynamics. By ceasing to “proactively amplify” political posts, Meta aims to create a more balanced and user-centric experience, where engagement with political content is driven more by user choice rather than algorithmic recommendations.
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“In the next few weeks, we will be enhancing our methods to avoid recommending political content on surfaces like Explore, Reels, and Suggested Users across both Instagram and Threads,” stated Mosseri.
Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has confirmed that the control functionality limiting the visibility of political content will also be implemented on Facebook at a later date.
Additionally, Meta has revealed new features tailored for Professional accounts on Instagram, granting them the ability to monitor their eligibility for content recommendation, particularly in relation to recent political postings. This functionality, known as the Account Status feature, empowers these users to review and potentially adjust their recent posts. If they disagree with Meta’s decision regarding their eligibility for content recommendation, they can request a review. Alternatively, they have the option to temporarily refrain from posting political content, thus allowing them to regain eligibility for recommendation.
These developments underscore Meta’s ongoing efforts to provide users, particularly Professional account holders, with greater control and transparency over the visibility and distribution of political content on its platforms. By offering these features, Meta aims to foster a more informed and personalized user experience while addressing concerns surrounding the impact of political content dissemination.
