Meta has addressed user complaints regarding the automatic following of Donald Trump's official social media accounts, clarifying the situation surrounding their updated management.
Meta Responds to Claims of Forcing Users to Follow Trump Accounts
Meta Responds to Claims of Forcing Users to Follow Trump Accounts
Social media giant Meta refutes allegations of automatically assigning users to follow new presidential accounts
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has pushed back against claims from users who alleged they were forced to follow the social media accounts of Donald Trump, JD Vance, and Melania Trump after Trump's recent inauguration as president. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone stated that account management transitioned to the White House, which had updated the accounts to reflect the latest office holders, similar to procedures during previous presidential transfers.
The accounts in question include Potus, VicePresident, and Flotus, which represent the positions of the President, Vice-President, and First Lady, respectively. Stone noted that the transition might cause some delays in processing follow or unfollow requests while the accounts change hands. Archived data shows these accounts were previously associated with Joe Biden and Jill Biden.
In a swift move following his inauguration, Trump issued various executive orders asserting his political direction, including withdrawing from the World Health Organization and declaring a national emergency regarding the southern border. He was joined at the inauguration by prominent tech leaders like Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and X's Elon Musk, both of whom have had controversial interactions with Trump in the past.
Despite Meta's earlier ban of Trump following the January 6 riots due to claims of his endorsement of violence, relations appear to have changed. Trump and Zuckerberg reportedly met for dinner at Mar-a-Lago, and Zuckerberg contributed financially to Trump's inauguration. Furthermore, Meta has announced a shift towards a community-based approach to content moderation, potentially addressing Trump’s criticisms and indicating a renewed focus on users' freedom of expression.
This change in policy comes as Meta faces scrutiny over its content moderation practices and its relationship with political figures, highlighting the complex dynamics in social media's intersection with politics.
The accounts in question include Potus, VicePresident, and Flotus, which represent the positions of the President, Vice-President, and First Lady, respectively. Stone noted that the transition might cause some delays in processing follow or unfollow requests while the accounts change hands. Archived data shows these accounts were previously associated with Joe Biden and Jill Biden.
In a swift move following his inauguration, Trump issued various executive orders asserting his political direction, including withdrawing from the World Health Organization and declaring a national emergency regarding the southern border. He was joined at the inauguration by prominent tech leaders like Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and X's Elon Musk, both of whom have had controversial interactions with Trump in the past.
Despite Meta's earlier ban of Trump following the January 6 riots due to claims of his endorsement of violence, relations appear to have changed. Trump and Zuckerberg reportedly met for dinner at Mar-a-Lago, and Zuckerberg contributed financially to Trump's inauguration. Furthermore, Meta has announced a shift towards a community-based approach to content moderation, potentially addressing Trump’s criticisms and indicating a renewed focus on users' freedom of expression.
This change in policy comes as Meta faces scrutiny over its content moderation practices and its relationship with political figures, highlighting the complex dynamics in social media's intersection with politics.
