As the world enters another busy election year in 2024, with pivotal elections in the US, South Africa, and India, the influence of social media on public opinion and political discourse is more apparent than ever. Meta has responded to the increasing intertwining of social media and politics with a significant update: Instagram and Threads users will now have the option to avoid political content recommendations if they choose to do so. This comes alongside Google’s announcement that it will be limiting election-related queries on its new AI service, Bard.
Instagram and Threads to Offer More Control Over Political Content
In the efforts to give users more control over the content they encounter, Meta is extending its existing policies to Instagram and Threads. This development means that suggestions on Reels, which previously limited political content from accounts not followed by users, will now also apply to content suggestions on Threads and Instagram overall.
Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, emphasized that upcoming updates will soon be rolled out. Not wanting to leave out Facebook, Meta plans to introduce similar filtering options, although these will come into effect at a later time. This move may be in light of the previous controversies Facebook faced, such as the Cambridge Analytica scandal involving misuse of user data for political profiling.
Mosseri has stated, “Our goal is to preserve the ability for people to choose to interact with political content while respecting each person’s appetite for it.”
Flexible Options for Political Content Consumption
For those with a keen interest in politics, Instagram and Threads ensure users can still engage fully with political content. A toggle feature within the Suggested Content settings allows users to limit or allow political content recommendations based on their preferences.
Importantly, direct posts from followed accounts will remain unaffected, meaning dedicated political engagement on these platforms can continue unhindered for those who wish it.
Meta also addressed professional accounts on Instagram, stating that if their content has recently veered into the political, they can check their eligibility for recommendations using the Account Status tool. Professionals can review their posts, request an additional review of Meta’s decision, make necessary adjustments, or temporarily halt political content to regain recommendation eligibility.
With the transparency and control offered in these updates, Meta is taking a tailored approach to user experience, allowing for a more individualized interaction with the political arena in an election-heavy year.
