The future of the Internet looks bleaker by the day

Both Meta’s and TikTok’s moderation systems are far from perfect and consistently flawed. Earlier this week This was reported by Taylor Lorenz Meta restricted queer content and hashtags as “sensitive content”, including hashtags such as #trans, #lesbianpride and #bisexualpride. Recently in OctoberTikTok has fired hundreds of content moderators and replaced them with artificial intelligence.

But it’s Instagram, and its Reels product in particular, that’s gaining notoriety for stalking. With Zuckerberg’s decision to rescind the policy banning hate speech, he made it clear that the distinction is worth the possibility of political clout on Inauguration Day.

Other platforms are likely to follow suit. Elon Musk was the first to set a precedent for reliability and security when he bought Xi two years ago. YouTube declined to comment after Meta’s announcement on Tuesday In response to a question from The Wall Street Journal It certainly leaves the door open if it makes similar fact-checking and policy changes.

Apparently, TikTok’s parent company still cares about fact-checking and moderation. who spoke to CNNa Meta fact-checker said it would work with funding from Bytedance, among others.

For US users, this only matters as long as TikTok is available within the US. Tomorrow, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case involving the government’s attempts to ban the popular app nationwide. Unless SCOTUS bails out TikTok by January 19, or some magical deal with its American owner takes it off the air, many users of the app, who have their free speech rights, think it’s a safer place. alternative – will disappear.

Chat room

X has seen at least two mass exodus since Elon Musk took over the platform in 2022. The first happened shortly after Musk closed the deal, and the second happened shortly after Trump was elected in the most recent US election.

Are you planning to ditch the Meta platforms in light of this week’s news? Don’t feel safe on Facebook or Instagram anymore? I’d love to hear how your social media habits have changed.

Share or post your thoughts in the comments below mail@wired.com.

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What else are we reading?

🔗 Students charged in ‘Catch Predator’ TikTok scheme: A group of Massachusetts college students are charged with kidnapping and conspiracy after a group coordinated. To catch prey– like a sting operation on campus and posting it on TikTok. (New York Times)

🔗 Facebook has deleted internal employee criticism of new board member Dana White: Meta removes employee criticism of UFC CEO Dana White’s hiring from the company’s internal messaging system. Some employees commented on a video of White slapping his wife at a bar on New Year’s Eve in 2023. (404 Media)

🔗 Heritage Foundation Plans to ‘Identify and Target’ Wikipedia Editors: The Heritage Foundation, publisher of Project 2025, recently told investors it plans to use facial recognition software and hacked material dumps to identify Wikipedia editors. (Forward)

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On Friday, I’ll join several other WIRED colleagues to cover the oral arguments in TikTok v. United States. We’ll have a live blog of the day’s events on our site before we kick off at 10 a.m. ET. C-SPAN is broadcasting the arguments live here.

Also, it’s a TikTok the coldest January 6 meeting.

That’s it for today – thanks again for subscribing. You can contact me via e-mail, Instagram, Xand signal in makenakelly.32.