People have been left seriously shocked after realising what Meta’s new rules actually allows people to say online.
A lot has happened with Meta in the past week or so ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump, which is set to take place next Monday (20 January).
Not only has the technology company announced the scrapping of its old fact-checking system, which was first introduced back in 2016, replacing it with a system similar to X’s Community Notes. but it's also updated its 'Hateful Conduct' policy, which now allows for posts that call LGBTQ+ people 'mentally ill'.
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"We do allow allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation, given political and religious discourse about transgenderism and homosexuality and common non-serious usage of words like 'weird'," the policy reads.
Under the policy, Meta users can post about 'gender-based limitations of military, law enforcement, and teaching jobs' as well as use 'sex or gender-exclusive language' in describing 'access to spaces often limited by sex or gender, such as access to bathrooms, specific schools, specific military, law enforcement, or teaching roles, and health or support groups'.
The new policy also will now allow women to be referred to as 'household objects'.
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An official Meta statement added: "We're getting rid of a number of restrictions on topics like immigration, gender identity, and gender that are the subject of frequent political discourse and debate.
"It's not right that things can be said on TV or the floor of [US] Congress, but not on our platforms."
Mark Zuckerberg, who co-founded Facebook and its parent company Meta Platforms, also said that Meta would be 'simplifying content policies' in regard to topics including gender and immigration.
"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," he said.
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"I want to make sure that people can share their beliefs and experiences on our platforms."
After catching light of the news, Meta users rushed to social media to share their thoughts with one Instagram user hitting out: "WTF."
"Absolutely disgusted but not the least bit surprised," slammed a second while a third chimed in: "This is horrific!"
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"Time to start deleting accounts," declared a fourth.
A fifth confessed: "I hate it here."
"What a good business decision... not," a sixth sarcastically piped up.
Another echoed: "Terrible news - Meta is just going backwards."
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And a final Instagram user added: "Time to exit."
Tyla has reached out to Meta for comment on the matter.
Topics: Facebook, Instagram, LGBTQ, Life, Social Media, Technology
Rhiannon Ingle