Target: Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta
Goal: Reinstate policies against inflammatory hate speech and willful disinformation.
Most of the recent discourse in the social media tech world has centered around the future of TikTok in America. But while this platform has grabbed the spotlight, another major platform has made some major changes. Consumer advocates worry these changes may not be for the better.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that the company’s social media sites Facebook and Instagram would do away with fact-checkers and take a decidedly more hands-off approach to hate speech perpetuated on the platforms. Among the changes in regard to the latter: women can now be called household property. Many critics believe these changes had little to do with freedom of speech and everything to do with currying favor with the new administration.
Sign the petition below to urge this global influencer to rethink a position that will lead to the unchecked spread of disinformation and hate on its platforms.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Mr. Zuckerberg,
A main criticism of TikTok is that its algorithms manipulate and steer users to viral inflammatory — and often untrue — rhetoric. Meta instituted its fact-checking policy in response to similar dangerous rhetoric that unfolded in 2021. Just because the political winds have changed does not mean that this company’s stated values should crumble as well. Do you really want to lead platforms where hatred, lies, and the worst impulses of humanity spread openly and without regard for the real-world ramifications?
With freedom comes responsibility, which is why we cannot yell “Fire!” in a crowded movie theater in the absence of a fire. Please do not abuse the freedom that social media already enjoys apart from other journalistic or news sources. Don’t remove the guardrails you put in place.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: JD Lasica
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