In a recent blog post, Meta (formerly known as Facebook) announced that it will be expanding its restrictions on political content across its platforms, including Instagram and Threads. The company aims to give users more control over the type of content they see by limiting the visibility of political posts and discussions unless explicitly chosen by the user. This new policy will be implemented gradually over the next few weeks, allowing users to adjust their account settings accordingly.
Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, stated that the goal is to strike a balance that respects each person’s individual preference for political content. By default, political content from accounts that users are not following will no longer appear in recommended feeds. This includes posts related to social issues and other political topics. However, those who still wish to engage with political content can choose to disable this limitation in their account settings.
These new restrictions will apply to public accounts and specifically target recommended content across various sections of Instagram, such as Explore, Reels, in-feed recommendations, and suggested users. It’s important to note that the changes will not impact how users view content from accounts they choose to follow. If a user follows an account that usually shares political content but isn’t eligible for recommendations, they will still see that content in their feed and Stories.
For creators, Meta emphasizes that if an account is not eligible to be recommended, none of its content will be featured in recommendations, regardless of whether the content aligns with the company’s guidelines. To assess the impact of posting political content, professional accounts can utilize the Account Status feature on Instagram. This feature will allow them to check if their eligibility for recommendation is affected by their political posts. Additionally, professional accounts have the option to contest decisions, edit, remove, or pause politically related content until their eligibility is restored.
These recent updates reflect Meta’s ongoing efforts to distance itself from news and politics. In 2022, Facebook reported that less than 3 percent of the content seen by its US users on their feeds was politically related. Adam Mosseri has expressed concerns about the limited engagement that political content provides, stating that it may not be worth the associated scrutiny and negativity directed towards the platforms, especially as the 2024 presidential election approaches.
Instagram and Threads are taking significant steps to give users more control over their content consumption experience. By expanding restrictions on political content, Meta aims to strike a balance between allowing individuals to engage with political discussions if they choose to do so, while respecting the preferences of those who prefer to avoid such content. These updates align with Meta’s broader strategy of distancing itself from news and politics, focusing on creating a more engaging and positive user experience across their platforms.
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