Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, has decided to end the company’s fact-checking program. This decision comes after facing pressure from conservatives who see these efforts as censorship. Zuckerberg now believes that reducing “censorship” and “restoring free expression” is more important. Researchers are worried that this change will make it harder to tell what’s real and what’s not online. They fear that the platform will become more chaotic and less reliable.

The changes won’t just affect fact-checking. Meta is also removing restrictions on topics like immigration and gender issues. This means users can call each other mentally ill based on their gender identity or sexual orientation. Some people think Zuckerberg is doing this to avoid regulation and investigation. They believe he’s giving in to political pressure, especially from the incoming president.

Facebook started its fact-checking program in 2016 after facing criticism for spreading fake news. Since then, the company has expanded its efforts, but now it’s all coming to an end. Instead of fact-checkers, Meta plans to use a system similar to Elon Musk’s “community notes” on Twitter. This system lets users add their own notes to posts, but researchers worry that it might not be as effective or trustworthy.

Some people think that Meta is giving in to political pressure. They believe that the company is changing its policies to please the incoming president. Others think that Meta is trying to avoid regulation and investigation. Whatever the reason, the changes are causing concern among researchers and advocacy groups. They worry that the platform will become more chaotic and less reliable.

Zuckerberg's New Direction: Less Fact-Checking, More Free Speech

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