Meta officially says goodbye to its US fact checkers on Monday

Core Points - Meta will eliminate fact-checkers in the U.S. starting Monday, as announced by Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan [1] - This policy change aligns with a broader shift in content moderation rules, which were loosened in January [1][4] - The timing of this change coincides with significant political events, including President Trump's inauguration, which Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg attended [2] Content Moderation Changes - Meta's new approach to content moderation will model after Community Notes from Elon Musk's X, shifting some responsibility to users rather than relying on paid professionals [3][4] - The first Community Notes will gradually appear across Meta's platforms, including Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, without penalties for users [4] - The reduction in content moderation is expected to increase user engagement by allowing more posts to be visible, as Meta's news feed favors content that generates strong reactions [5] Impact on Misinformation - As Meta rolls back its fact-checking programs, there has been a noticeable increase in the spread of false information [6] - The company is removing restrictions on topics like immigration and gender identity, which are often subjects of political debate [6]