Meta Scraps Fact-Checking in Major Content Policy Overhaul

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan sparked conversations and controversy on January 7, 2025, when they announced an overhaul of content policies. This has been seen as a dramatic lean toward the right to appease now President Donald Trump.

Trump has been highly critical of Meta in the past, so many see this as a calculated move before his inauguration.  Zuckerberg and Kaplan have announced that across all of Meta’s apps, they will be removing fact-checking and in general, their rules will be loosened on what can be said on Meta’s apps.

So, what exactly is changing, and will it benefit Facebook, Instagram, and Threads users? Let’s examine these changes and how they will affect users.

What is Changing?

One of the most significant changes that Meta is making is removing its old fact-checking system. Instead, it will be replaced with a system similar to X’s Community Notes, which will start rolling out in the United States within the next couple of months. Under this new Community Notes system, Meta users can write and rate notes added to posts. This can allow additional context to be added to posts, even after being published.

This comes after X’s Community Notes system received support from Republicans since many have stated that they believe it targets right-wing content. The concern is that with these new Meta changes, misinformation will be more prominent than ever.

Additionally, Meta has announced that it will be removing its fact-checking system. Since its introduction in 2016, this third-party system has worked to identify posts that contain misinformation. However, Zuckerberg stated that these fact-checkers were ultimately “too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they created.” Removing fact checkers strongly aligns with the right wing view that freedom of speech should be absolute, without social media platforms having any say on what is said on their platforms.

The changes will bring more content deemed “political” back into people’s feeds. With this new update meta will allow more kinds of speech on topics “frequently subject to political debate.” With Meta allowing uncensored discussion around immigration and gender identity, we can expect more hate speech across the Meta apps.

What Does This Mean for News Publishers?

Removing Meta's fact-checking system and introducing Community Notes could have significant implications for news publishers. Without a centralized fact-checking mechanism, publishers may face more considerable challenges distinguishing their content from misinformation or unverified posts. While some news organizations may welcome the opportunity to engage directly with audiences through Community Notes, others may struggle to maintain credibility as misleading or false narratives gain traction more quickly.

Additionally, with Meta loosening its content moderation policies, publishers might see a surge in competition from user-generated content that spreads unchecked. This shift may reduce the visibility of professional journalism, especially if controversial or sensational posts dominate feeds. News publishers will need to adapt their strategies to remain relevant and trusted in a landscape where content standards are increasingly decentralized.

The changes announced by Meta mark a significant shift in how the platform handles content moderation, with the removal of fact-checkers and the introduction of the Community Notes system. While some hail this as a win for free speech and an effort to reduce perceived political bias, others worry about the potential for increased misinformation and hate speech.

This move may reshape the dynamics of online discourse, especially on controversial topics, and its impact on user trust and community standards remains to be seen. As Meta rolls out these policies, users across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads must navigate this new landscape, where the balance between open dialogue and responsible content management will be tested.