Following Donald Trump's recent inauguration, concerns emerged regarding social media practices pertaining to automatic following of key administration figures.
**Meta Responds to Claims of Forced Follows on New Trump Administration Accounts**
**Meta Responds to Claims of Forced Follows on New Trump Administration Accounts**
Meta clarifies that users were not compelled to follow Trump’s official accounts amid transition complaints.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has refuted claims that users were coerced into following official accounts associated with the newly inaugurated Trump administration. Complaints arose shortly after Trump’s swearing-in, with some users alleging that they had been "automatically" made to follow the accounts of President Donald Trump, Vice-President JD Vance, and First Lady Melania Trump.
Meta spokesman Andy Stone clarified the situation, stating that the accounts were managed by the White House and that the updates were standard procedure during presidential transitions. "This is the same procedure we followed during the last presidential transition," Stone explained in a statement. He noted that the newly updated accounts bear handles such as Potus (President of the United States), VicePresident, and Flotus (First Lady of the United States).
Historical archived pages revealed that these accounts previously featured the names and pictures of Joe Biden and Jill Biden. Stone further mentioned that it might take additional time for follow and unfollow requests to process as these accounts transition to new holders.
Trump’s inauguration marked the beginning of his second term, during which he has quickly taken steps to advance his political agenda, including withdrawing from the World Health Organization and declaring a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border. Among the notable attendees at the inauguration were influential tech leaders such as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and X chief Elon Musk, who holds an advisory position within the new administration.
Trump has had a contentious history with Meta, particularly following his suspension from the platform in 2021 due to his comments related to the violent events of January 6. He has accused the company of aligning with the Biden administration to suppress critical reports, particularly regarding his son Hunter Biden and Covid-related content. Zuckerberg has since expressed regret over the decision to ban Trump.
In a notable turn of events, Trump revealed in a recent book that he believes Zuckerberg faces serious repercussions if he interferes with the upcoming 2024 elections. Conversely, as of late November, Zuckerberg seems to be mending ties with Trump, having dined with him at Mar-a-Lago and contributed $1 million toward his inauguration.
Meta has also announced a shift in its content moderation practices, planning to discontinue third-party fact-checking in favor of a model resembling X's community notes, which aims to enhance free expression on the platform amidst ongoing criticisms.
Meta spokesman Andy Stone clarified the situation, stating that the accounts were managed by the White House and that the updates were standard procedure during presidential transitions. "This is the same procedure we followed during the last presidential transition," Stone explained in a statement. He noted that the newly updated accounts bear handles such as Potus (President of the United States), VicePresident, and Flotus (First Lady of the United States).
Historical archived pages revealed that these accounts previously featured the names and pictures of Joe Biden and Jill Biden. Stone further mentioned that it might take additional time for follow and unfollow requests to process as these accounts transition to new holders.
Trump’s inauguration marked the beginning of his second term, during which he has quickly taken steps to advance his political agenda, including withdrawing from the World Health Organization and declaring a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border. Among the notable attendees at the inauguration were influential tech leaders such as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and X chief Elon Musk, who holds an advisory position within the new administration.
Trump has had a contentious history with Meta, particularly following his suspension from the platform in 2021 due to his comments related to the violent events of January 6. He has accused the company of aligning with the Biden administration to suppress critical reports, particularly regarding his son Hunter Biden and Covid-related content. Zuckerberg has since expressed regret over the decision to ban Trump.
In a notable turn of events, Trump revealed in a recent book that he believes Zuckerberg faces serious repercussions if he interferes with the upcoming 2024 elections. Conversely, as of late November, Zuckerberg seems to be mending ties with Trump, having dined with him at Mar-a-Lago and contributed $1 million toward his inauguration.
Meta has also announced a shift in its content moderation practices, planning to discontinue third-party fact-checking in favor of a model resembling X's community notes, which aims to enhance free expression on the platform amidst ongoing criticisms.
