There are a lot of benefits that can come from using social media, such as easier communication, access to data and information, as well as connections to various cultures. Unfortunately, there's no foolproof way to keep out users who spread speech, and Meta has been accused of letting it happen.
Meta's Alleged Negligence
Meta has been fairly strict when it comes to its policies, so much so that saying the wrong thing could result in the suspension of your account. With that said, certain LGBTQ+ groups are wondering why hate speech regarding trans individuals is still widespread.
The non-profit LGBTQ advocacy organization GLAAD found that the hateful posts can still be found across Instagram, Facebook, and Threads. The dozens of instances that this has happened have been documented to prove that it is still a major issue in the community.
All the documented posts between June 2023 and March 2024 show that there are clear violations of Meta's policies, yet they were not taken down despite reports. GLAAD said that Meta either replied saying that the posts were "not violative," or they simply ignored the posts.
Some of them contained anti-trans slurs, violent and derogatory language, or even promotion for conversion therapy, as reported by Engadget. All of that falls under the policy of Meta against hate speech.
The company defines hate speech as a direct attack against people based on "protected characteristics" such as race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, religious affiliation, caste, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, and so on.
GLAAD CEO and President Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement on X: "The company's ongoing failure to enforce their own policies against anti-LGBTQ, and especially anti-trans hate, is simply unacceptable."
Meta's Approach to Hate Speech
The social media giant expressed that while platforms like Facebook encourage self-expression, connection, and sharing, the company also wants its users to feel welcome and safe, which is why there are established rules that punish bullying, harassing, and threatening other users.
"We are opposed to hate speech in all its forms, and don't allow it on our platform," Meta stressed in a blog post. The company also reasoned that removing something that a user believes is a reasonable political view could feel like censorship.
Since there is no universal way to determine what is hate speech and what isn't, it might be difficult for Meta to decide which content should be left alone or taken down. "because the words themselves are ambiguous, the intent behind them is unknown or the context around them is unclear."
In the same blog post in 2017, Meta said that it will continue to improve on its moderation policies. It also said that it relies on the community to identify and report potential hate speech, which brings up the issue of ignored reports from GLAAD once again.
Some community standards require additional information before Meta enforces the rules. For instance, content that explicitly provides "products or services that aim to change people's sexual orientation or gender identity" cannot be published, which applies to posts regarding the promotion of "conversion therapy."
