In the wake of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's declaration to discontinue third-party fact-checking and relax content moderation policies, there has been a notable rise in U.S. Google searches regarding the deletion of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads accounts. This surge in interest follows Meta's announcement of intentions to reverse restrictions on political content and other prior measures designed to mitigate misinformation and harmful discourse on its platforms.

Meta's New Policy Changes Spark Backlash

Critics contend that these modifications are designed to attract political leaders and mitigate potential backlash, especially from right-wing factions. This shift has sparked worries that it may result in an increase in hate speech, misinformation, and the accelerated dissemination of political content throughout Meta's platforms, as reported by TechCrunch.

Google Search Trends Surge

A report from TechCrunch indicates that Google Trends data reveals a significant increase in searches for terms like "how to permanently delete Facebook" and "how to delete Instagram account," with interest reaching a peak score of 100, the maximum level. Additionally, related inquiries such as "alternative to Facebook," "how to quit Facebook," and "how to delete Threads account" have experienced substantial growth, with search activity surging by over 5,000 per cent in recent days.

This surge in search activity reflects a strong backlash against Meta's decision to reduce the measures that were previously implemented to mitigate hate speech and the proliferation of political extremism. For several years, Meta's fact-checking initiatives and content moderation policies aimed to address misinformation that has incited real-world violence, including the events of the January 6th Capitol riot. Despite acknowledging these threats, Meta has faced criticism for not taking more decisive action against the dissemination of violent political content during that period, as reported by the Washington Post.

Global Impact of Meta's Platforms

Meta's platforms have been associated with exacerbating violence in various regions globally. Investigations indicate that these platforms contributed to the incitement of violence in Myanmar, where military personnel utilized Facebook to advocate for actions that culminated in the genocide of the Rohingya population.

Zuckerberg characterized the policy adjustments as an effort to reinstate free speech, reflecting remarks made by Elon Musk regarding his platform, X. In line with these modifications, Meta intends to substitute third-party fact-checkers with a community notes system, allowing users to highlight posts they feel require additional context.

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