Zuckerberg Announces Shift to X-Inspired ‘Community Notes’ Over Fact-Checkers [WATCH]

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced significant changes to content policies on Facebook and Instagram, signaling a shift toward prioritizing free expression.

In a comprehensive statement, Zuckerberg outlined key steps his company is taking to address concerns about censorship and bias while balancing the need to combat serious issues like terrorism and child exploitation.

“Hey, everyone. I want to talk about something important today, because it’s time to get back to our roots around free expression on Facebook and Instagram,” Zuckerberg began.

“I started building social media to give people a voice. I gave a speech at Georgetown five years ago about the importance of protecting free expression, and I still believe this today, but a lot has happened over the last several years.”

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Zuckerberg acknowledged past challenges, including political pressures and the unintended consequences of content moderation systems.

He highlighted how mistakes in content moderation, even when affecting only 1% of posts, impact millions of users. “We’ve reached a point where it’s just too many mistakes and too much censorship,” he said.

Zuckerberg announced several major updates to Facebook and Instagram’s policies:

1. Replacing Fact-Checkers with Community Notes
   Meta will phase out its current fact-checking system in favor of a “community notes” approach, similar to the system used on X (formerly Twitter). “The fact checkers have just been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they’ve created, especially in the US,” Zuckerberg said.
2. Simplifying Content Policies
   Meta plans to remove restrictions on topics like immigration and gender, which Zuckerberg described as “out of touch with mainstream discourse.” He stated, “What started as a movement to be more inclusive has increasingly been used to shut down opinions and shut out people with different ideas, and it’s gone too far.”
3. Reducing Censorship Errors
   Zuckerberg announced changes to how Meta enforces policies, focusing filters on severe violations while relying on user reports for lower-severity issues. “By dialing them back, we’re going to dramatically reduce the amount of censorship on our platforms,” he explained.
4. Reintroducing Civic Content
   Zuckerberg revealed plans to reintroduce civic and political content to Meta platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, in response to user feedback. “It feels like we’re in a new era now, and we’re starting to get feedback that people want to see this content again,” he said.
5. Relocating Content Moderation Teams
   Meta will relocate its trust and safety and content moderation teams from California to Texas. Zuckerberg believes this move will promote free expression and build trust. “I think that will help us build trust to do this work in places where there is less concern about the bias of our teams,” he said.
6. Collaboration with the U.S. Government
   Zuckerberg emphasized the need to counter global censorship trends by collaborating with the U.S. government. He cited examples of restrictive policies in Europe, Latin America, and China and expressed optimism about working with the incoming Trump administration. “The only way that we can push back on this global trend is with the support of the US government,” he said.

Zuckerberg acknowledged the complexities of content moderation, stating, “These are complex systems. They’re never going to be perfect.”

While emphasizing the importance of free expression, he also reaffirmed Meta’s commitment to addressing illegal and harmful content.

“The bottom line is that after a year of having our content moderation work focused primarily on removing content, it is time to focus on reducing the stakes, simplifying our systems, and getting back to our roots about giving people voice,” Zuckerberg concluded.

The sweeping changes mark a significant shift for Meta as it seeks to balance free expression with responsible content moderation.

Zuckerberg promised more updates in the future, describing the initiative as “the next chapter” for the company.

Watch the video:

Mark Zuckerberg To Replace ‘Fact-Checkers’ wit X-Style ‘Community Notes’ and More…

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced significant changes to content policies on Facebook and Instagram, signaling a shift toward prioritizing free expression.

In a comprehensive statement,… pic.twitter.com/WLpZamj7vU

— RVM News (@redvoicenews) January 7, 2025

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