Meta's Idea of Community Doesn't Include Us
23 Jan 2025
Meta’s decision to change its hate speech rules shows it’s more interested in profit than protecting LGBTIQA+ people. By weakening its ‘Community Standards’ (rules against harmful speech) and fact-checking, the platform is opening the door for more abuse against our communities.
What are the changes?
Meta’s updated Community Standards now allow people to suggest that being queer is a mental illness or “abnormal” under the excuse of political or religious debates. They also say it’s fine to call someone “weird” based on their gender or sexuality. These changes create intentional loopholes in protections, making it easier for people to spread harmful rhetoric.
On top of that, Meta’s rules allow discussions about excluding people from spaces like bathrooms based on their gender.
These changes send a clear message: keeping LGBTIQA+ users safe isn’t a priority for Meta.
Cutting costs, ignoring harm:
Why is Meta doing this? One big reason is dwindling engagement. When Meta fact-checks something incorrectly or removes a comment or post, it can create frustration and even drive users off their platforms.
Fact-checking and moderation are also expensive. Meta needs to create rigorous algorithms for catching violations, and they often need to be checked by real people. Until recently, the company paid a third-party organisation to conduct objective fact-checking, but they’ve scrapped this entirely.
This is a considered move by Meta, with motivations that go beyond bigotry. By removing these restrictions, they’re hoping to satisfy more users, shareholders, and political allies than they’ll alienate.
Following bad examples:
Meta’s move mirrors changes made by X (formerly Twitter) under Elon Musk. By getting rid of strict rules and fact-checking, Meta seems to be trying to attract users who prefer fewer restrictions. It also aligns Meta with figures like Donald Trump, who has a history of spreading misinformation.
These decisions show Meta is prioritising profits and appeasing certain groups over protecting others.
What is Thorne Harbour doing about it?
Since 1983, Thorne Harbour Health has always gone where our communities gather—from gay clubs to stickers in public bathrooms—to support their health and wellbeing. Today, platforms like Instagram and Facebook are important for reaching these communities.
Many queer people find their tribe online, such as those in regional areas or organising activism in cities. But using these platforms while they’re run this way is becoming harder to justify.
In 2024, Thorne Harbour Health left X. When we announced this decision, many of our supporters said they would leave too and connect with us elsewhere. We’ve since invested in other ways to reach our community—building a better website, growing our LinkedIn following, and improving our monthly newsletter. We’re also exploring other platforms like Reddit and Spotify to reach our communities.
Finding better platforms:
Meta’s changes show why it’s so important to think about where we spend our time online. There are alternatives. BlueSky, for example, is a new platform that shows we don’t have to stick with social media giants that don’t share our values. Just like we can choose not to read certain newspapers, we can choose social media platforms that care about safety and inclusion.
Thorne Harbour Health will keep leading the way by supporting safer platforms and helping our communities find better online spaces. Together, we can push back against harmful policies and create spaces where everyone feels valued and safe.
Take stock of your digital habits:
As you consider which platforms work for you, it might be time to look at your digital habits more broadly. With the popularisation of terms like ‘brain rot’ more people are recognising that mindless scrolling on social media might be having repercussions on our attention spans and self-worth.
Some people are beginning to turn away from social media altogether, using strategies like time limits to curtail their use or quitting entirely. If engaging with social media is doing more harm than good to your health and wellbeing, then we completely support anyone prepared to unplug and connect with community IRL – in real life.
Whatever you decide to do with your online presence, remember that it takes time to change ingrained habits. Cut yourself some slack if you find it hard to leave – a lot of people feel the same way.
What can you do?
If you’re concerned about Meta’s changes, you can explore alternative platforms, stay in touch with us through our website and newsletter, and perhaps take a break from social media altogether.
Want us to move the conversation somewhere else? Drop a comment on our social media or send us an email. Let us know where you’re finding meaningful connection, and we’ll explore ways to meet you there.