A user’s guide to the latest policy changes and how to protect your data
By Marwan Khadem
If you’ve been scrolling through your feed lately, you may have noticed that there have been some changes in Facebook. Don’t worry, you’re not imagining things! Meta (Facebook’s parent company) is shaking things up. New rules are already in effect, and they are all about how it handles content, fact-checking, and yes, our precious data. These changes are a big deal, and you are allowed to panic a bit. However, don’t worry because we’re here to break it all down for you in plain language. Grab your coffee, and let’s dive in!
What are the changes?
Mark Zuckerberg and his team at Meta have changed Facebook’s approach to content moderation. For years, Facebook has had a lot of rules to monitor posts and remove harmful content, such as fake news, hate speech, or anything that could put users at risk (think fraud, child exploitation, or terrorism). Now, the company has switched things up!
Key changes
Farewell, Fact-Checkers, and Welcome, Community Notes
Meta has bid adieu to third-party fact-checkers and rolled out something new called Community Notes. What is the idea? Letting users like you to flag posts, and then letting the community to vote on whether the posts are accurate or not. This is kind of similar to how X (previously Twitter) has been doing it. What is the goal? That you will have more freedom of expression, with less dependency on fact-checkers who might have their own biases.
Photo Source: Dawid Sokoloski
A Softer and Relaxed Approach to Content Rules
Topics like immigration and gender identity have long been super sensitive issues that often got caught in the net of moderation. Now, Meta is easing up on these limitations and rules. Thus, if you want to engage in spicy debates about immigration policies or latest gender trends, you’re free to do so (just remember the golden rule forget: be respectful!).
Less Machine Control, More Human Oversight
Meta’s automated system or filters that catch rule-breaking content have often caused chaos by taking down posts that were totally fine. As a result, they’ll now focus their system or filters only on illegalor severe violations. For everything else, users will be responsible for flagging posts before any action is taken by Meta.
Political Content is Back on the Menu
If you’ve noticed fewer political content on your Facebook, Instagram, or Threads, that’s because Meta decided to scale back on political content. But guess what? Political discussions are making a return. Therefore, whether you want to debate the best pizza toppings or discuss your views on the latest elections, you’ll likely see more of this content popping up.
What do these changes mean for you, the user?
With these changes, Meta wants to give users more freedom to express their ideas, opinions, and debate on a wider range of topics, while decreasing unnecessary censorship. But here’s the catch: With less content moderation, you may start seeing more misinformation or controversial content on your feed that sparks controversy. That’s why it’s important for you to stay vigilant and know how to protect your data as things evolve.
How to protect your data in this new landscape
With all these changes and new updates in how Facebook handles content, you may be asking: What about my data and privacy? No worries, we’ve got some solid tips to stay safe in this new era.
Check Your Privacy Settings Frequently
Meta has made it super easy to adjust who can see your posts, your personal information, and who can message you. Head over to Settings>Privacy to make sure your privacy settings are the way you want them to be. If you don’t want strangers snooping around and peeking into your life, set your posts to Friends Only and turn off location tracking if you don’t need it.
Think Before You Share Content
Sharing that cute dog or cat video may be tempting, but remember: Whatever you post can end up being shared by other people. Your photos, videos, and thoughts may get used in ways you don’t expect. Thus, before sharing anything personal, ask yourself: Do I want this to be online forever? (Spoiler Alert: Once it’s out there, it’s very hard to get it back.)
Review and Remove Third-Party App Access
Facebook really likes to ask for access to other websites and apps, but do you really need or want to give them that sort of access? Head to Settings>Apps and Websites to review what apps you’ve granted access and remove any of them that seem unnecessary. More often than not you will find that they don’t need your data, so don’t hesitate to remove them from your life.
Beware of ‘Free’ Services
Look out for “free” services or apps that offer you some benefits but want too much personal data in return. Free can sometimes come with a hidden price tag in the form of giving away more of your data. Always remember to read the fine print. No one reads it seriously, but you should!
Report Suspicious Activities
If you see something that looks off, such as fishy or fake news, don’t just scroll past it! Always flag it! Meta is depending on you more than ever so report posts, accounts, or ads that seem shady. Facebook needs your help to keep the platform clean and free from any sus activities.
What’s on the Horizon?
Meta has said that this is just the beginning of a new era focused on freedom of expression. As they continue to tweak with these changes, it’s crucial for us as users to stay in the loop. They’re walking a fine line between encouraging free speech and keeping harmful content under control.
In the end, Meta is trying to give users more control on this platform. Social media can be a wild place and things can get messy easily, so it’s on YOU to stay vigilant, protect your data, spot fake news, and make sure your Facebook feed doesn’t turn into chaos.
Change can feel a little overwhelming but it’s also a chance to thrive and adapt. By staying proactive about your data and staying vigilant, you can embrace these changes and still have fun. Keep in mind that the more you informed you are, the better you’ll be at protecting yourself online.
Be smart, stay safe, and keep on connecting!
Feature Image By – Timothy Hales Bennet
