Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced on January 7, 2025, that it will discontinue its third-party fact-checking program in the United States. CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated that the program will be replaced with a community notes system, similar to that used by X (formerly Twitter).
Zuckerberg criticized the previous fact-checking approach, claiming it had become politically biased and eroded trust among users. He noted, 'Fact checkers have just been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they've created.'
The transition comes amid efforts by Zuckerberg to mend relations with President-elect Donald Trump, highlighted by a $1 million donation to his inauguration fund. Additionally, Meta has appointed Republican Joel Kaplan as its chief global affairs officer and UFC head Dana White to its board.
Meta plans to simplify its content policies and allow users greater control over the political content they see. The company will also relocate its trust and safety teams from California to Texas, aiming to establish a more balanced approach to content moderation.