Meta's done with fact-checking — and its CMO says Trump and changing 'vibes in America' are major reasons why

Meta's Policy Shift - Meta announced it will stop using third-party fact-checkers and instead adopt a user-generated community notes feature, similar to Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter) [2][4] - The decision was influenced by the incoming Trump administration and a perceived shift in American attitudes toward censorship, free speech, and content moderation [1][3][4] - Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated the move aims to address concerns about biased employees overly censoring content [3] Content Moderation and Political Climate - Meta is relocating some content moderation teams from California to Texas, citing political alignment differences between the states [3] - The company acknowledged past complaints of bias, particularly from Republicans, regarding content moderation and the banning of former President Donald Trump [5][6] - Meta's CMO Alex Schultz noted that community notes on X have been more successful in engaging contributors across the political spectrum [6] Advertiser Relations and Brand Safety - Meta plans to maintain brand safety tools for advertisers, focusing on hate speech and adult nudity rather than fact-checked content [8] - The company emphasized a commitment to precision in content moderation, avoiding unnecessary removals [8] - Meta's approach to advertiser relations will differ from X, with no plans to denigrate or sue advertisers [7] Leadership and Strategic Direction - Zuckerberg is described as returning to his core values, taking advantage of the current moment to align Meta's policies with his vision [4][5] - Schultz highlighted that the changes reflect a response to broader societal shifts and the company's adaptability to different administrations [2][3][4]