It’s been almost two years since the former President, Donald Trump received his ban on Facebook and Instagram in the wake of the Capitol riots. But now, Meta, the parent company of the social media platforms, has announced that it will be lifting the ban on Trump. This decision comes after the company has deemed that the security concerns that led to the ban are no longer present and the risk has reduced.
Why was Trump banned on Facebook and Instagram?
Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, was banned on Facebook and Instagram in the aftermath of the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. The parent company, Meta, banned him amid suggestions that he had used social media to incite the unrest, and out of fear that he could continue to do so. This move was seen by many conservatives as a blatant attack on free speech and an attempt to silence the conservative voice on social media. It was clear that Meta’s decision was based on political bias and not on any true security concerns, as the company has since lifted the ban, stating that the security risks no longer remain.
What happens to the ban on Facebook and Instagram?
Trump’s return to the platforms will not be without consequences. He will be subject to new “guardrails” that are intended to prevent him from acting in the same way in the future. These new rules will also be applied to other public figures on the platform. This was announced in a blog post by Meta’s president of global affairs, Nick Clegg, who stated that the return of Trump was not just a free speech issue but also indicated that the reasons behind the ban were now less applicable.
Trump will be held to the same Community Standards as any other user on the platform. In the past, Meta and other social media platforms have been criticized for treating public figures and lucrative users differently from normal users. But now, because Trump has broken the site’s rules before, he will face “heightened penalties” for any further offences. If he posts “further violating content”, it will be removed, and he will be suspended for between one month and two years, depending on the severity of the violation.
Why take off the ban on Facebook and Instagram but still have extra rules and guidelines?
This new protocol is aimed at limiting the danger of accounts during times of civil unrest, Mr. Clegg said. The protocol also looks at content that does not violate the normal rules but “contributes to the sort of risk that materialized on January 6, such as content that delegitimizes an upcoming election or is related to QAnon”. Such posts may be limited in their reach, he said, and if people repeatedly post it then they may not be able to advertise on the platform.
How will Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram work exactly?
This means that Trump’s page would still host such content but it would not appear in users’ feeds, even if they follow his account. Meta might also choose to stop people resharing those posts and stop them from being recommended or promoted as ads.
Clegg stated that Meta had been emphasizing these new “guardrails” in an attempt to head off criticism and calls for Trump’s posts to be acted on. He said, “We are highlighting these rules today because we anticipate that should Mr. Trump choose to return to the platform, he will be subject to these rules.”
The decision to lift the ban on Trump has sparked a lot of debate and controversy. Some people believe that the decision is a step forward for free speech, while others believe that it’s a dangerous move that could lead to further civil unrest.
A step towards free speech or a step back? You decide
Meta’s decision to lift the ban on Donald Trump is a move that has generated a lot of discussion and debate. While it’s true that Trump’s return to the platform will be subject to new rules and regulations, it’s also true that these new rules will be applied to other public figures as well. We’ll see how things actually work though. What do you think?
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