Meta employeeshave been expressingoutrageover recent content moderation changes allowing users to claimLGBTQ+identities are “mental illnesses.” CEOMark Zuckerbergrecently announced the controversial move as part of a broader shift toward “free expression.” LGBTQ+ employees have been reportedly feeling particularly unsupported and demoralized.
On January 7, Meta, the company that owns and operates social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp, announced a series of major updates to its content moderation policies.
Alongside the announcement, Meta updated its Community Guidelines, which set rules for content allowed across its platforms.
Notable changes were made to the “Hateful Conduct” policy, particularly on topics like immigration and gender.
RELATED:
Meta employees have been expressing outrage
Image credits:Mark Zuckerberg
Meta now says it allows “allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation, given political and religious discourse about transgenderism and homosexuality and common non-serious usage of words like ‘weird,’”Wiredreported earlier this month.
“Just to let you know that I’ll be taking time out to look after my mental health,” the post further outlined.
Image credits:zuck
“How the decision was made to update the policy, particularly given this does not reflect any mainstream scientific consensus; How the policy reflects our values and perspectives as a company, and whether these are different to the values we’ve expressed in the past; Who (if any)LGBT groups[internal or external] were consulted as part of this change.”
Ben Good, the head of Americas for the Core Policy Team at Meta, told employees in the thread that “our core values have not changed,”404 Mediareported.
Recent content moderation changes allowing users to claim LGBTQ+ identities are “mental illnesses” sparked fury
View this post on Instagram
He further wrote: “The changes to our Hateful Conduct policy seek to undo the mission creep that has made our rules too restrictive and too prone to over enforcement.
“Reaffirming our core value of free expression means that we might see content on our platforms that people find offensive … yesterday’s changes not only open up conversation about these subjects, but allow for counterspeech on what matters to users.”
Current Meta employees reportedly revealed that many fellow workers were angered about the policy changes.
Image credits:Julio Lopez/Pexels
“It’s total chaos internally at Meta right now,” one current employee told404 Media.
“I’d call the mood shock and disbelief. It’s embarrassment and shame that feels self-inflicted, different than mistakes the company has made in the past.”
LGBTQ+ employees have been reportedly feeling particularly unsupported and demoralized
Another employee said: “No one is excited or happy about these changes.
“And obviously the employees who identify as being part of theLGBTQ+ communityare especially unhappy and feel the most unsupported in this.
“A small number of people are taking time off and are sharing that they are considering leaving the company due to this change.”
A separate worker told404 Media: “Morale of fellow queer employees is in the absolute sh*tter, surprising no one.”
To which a person replied, “I looked for one and couldn’t find it either.”
Image credits:stock.adobe
Another employee wrote: “Can the policy team also address why the company did not have a response prepared for something that would clearly have such a significant impact internally and externally on employees/users who fall into these categories?”
A worker reportedly expressed: “Changes to Meta’s policy should be done thoughtfully, with considerable consultation from policy analysts,lawyers, and other subject matter experts.
“Those changes should have documented rationale, preferably available publicly.
“At the very least, Meta should be able to tell company employees why it is now acceptable to call a large number of them mentally ill or to refer to them as ‘property’ or to refer to them as ‘it.’”
CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced the controversial move as part of a broader shift toward “free expression“
Image credits:PowerfulJRE
“I find it very hard to understand how explicitly carving out which groups ofmarginalized peoplecan have what we otherwise classify hate speech directed at them will be beneficial for the communities we hope to build on our platforms.”
“This change is unacceptable on all levels.”
“Someone went into this policy and not only removed protection, they actually doubled down and made it explicitly okay. Absolutely wild.”
Image credits:Thought Catalog/Pexels
“I had to reread the policy language many times to believe what I was seeing—a very clear statement that we’re okay with people attacking others based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
“I cannot begin to fathom why we think this is acceptable or helpful to our community and our company’s mission.
“I’ve never felt so strongly that we’re on the wrong side of history. This is going to cause so much harm. Please reconsider this change.”
“When I first joined this company, people would criticize me for working here all the time. I defended y’all time and time again, always anchoring that in the end, we do try our best even if it doesn’t work out sometimes – but this? Appalling.”
Mark linked his perspective on masculinity to personal experiences with martial arts
Image credits:Lex Fridman
“I think it’s clear that the policy team is not open to any feedback here and is committed to an ideological project that sacrifices some of our communities in order to achieve their goal.
“Just call me a tr*nny and close the discussion here. At least it would be honest.”
LabelingLGBTQ+identities as “mental illnesses” is scientifically inaccurate and perpetuates harmful stigma.
TheAmerican Psychological Associationdeclassified homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1973, recognizing that diverse sexual orientations are normal variations of human sexuality.
Similarly, the World Health Organization removed transgender identities from its list of mental disorders in 2019, acknowledging that being transgender is not a mental health condition.
These decisions are based on extensive research demonstrating no inherent link between LGBTQ+ identities and psychopathology.
Allowing statements that contradict this scientific consensus, as per Meta’s recent policy change, can reinforce prejudice and discrimination, adversely affecting the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals, according to theMental Health Foundation.
The controversial policy change comes asMeta CEO Mark Zuckerbergdefended “masculine energy” and criticized the cultural rejection of masculinity in a recent interview with Joe Rogan.
During his interview, coinciding with Meta’s decision to end its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, Mark linked his perspective to personal experiences with martial arts, which he said fostered positive aggression and camaraderie among men.
Mark said that he wanted women to succeed but didn’t think masculinity needed to be categorized as “toxic” for that to happen
“It’s one thing to say we want to be kind of like welcoming and make a good environment for everyone, and I think it’s another to basically say that ‘masculinity is bad,’ and I just think we kind of swung culturally to that part of the – the kind of – the spectrum,” Mark told Joe,Fox Businessreported on Saturday (January 11).
The billionaire, who reportedly grew up with only sisters and now has only daughters, told Joe that he wanted women to succeed but didn’t think masculinity needed to be categorized as “toxic” for that to happen.
The 40-year-old reportedly credited martial arts for his change of heart when it came to masculinity, telling the podcast that having something to do with his male friends where they can “beat each other” has been a “positive experience” for him.
Mark revealed: “I think having a culture that celebrates the aggression a bit more has its own merits that are really positive.”
“Time to revive MySpace,” a reader commented
Thanks! Check out the results:You May LikeDisney Worker Downloads Free AI Tool—Loses Job And $200,000 BonusesLei RV"Banned For Life": Super Bowl Dancer Finds Out Punishment After Flag Stunt During Halftime ShowLei RVPassengers Upset After Plane Makes Emergency Landing Due To “Serious Medical” Crisis On BoardKarina Babenok
Lei RV
Karina Babenok
News
