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Meta’s New Hate Speech Rules Could Wreak Havoc On Creators and Their Communities
The recent changes to Meta’s hate speech policies have sent shockwaves through the creator economy. The shift away from guidelines for sensitive issues such as gender, immigration, and mental health is a recipe for disaster, particularly for marginalized communities.
As creators struggle to adapt to these new rules, they are likely to be placed on the “wrong side of the algorithm” by platform systems that prioritize antagonistic audiences. This may lead to self-censorship, mass reports, and strategic attacks on targeted content.
The impact on vulnerable creators is particularly concerning. The removal of guidelines for sensitive issues will force them to self-censor, while their privileged counterparts may be incentivized to create more sensationalized content.
Furthermore, the surge in rage-baiting tactics, designed to incite ire, could become a significant problem. This attention-seeking approach has already been studied extensively and demonstrates “no such thing as bad publicity” attention logics.
As creators continue to expand their influence in politics and news, it is crucial that we carefully consider the consequences of these changes.
The fallout from Meta’s new hate speech policies will not only affect the livelihoods of a professional class of creators but also shape the mainstream attention agendas of anyone who relies on them for advice, information, and entertainment.
Source: www.forbes.com
