goal will recommend political content to users on Instagram or Threads, according to Instagram boss Adam Mosseri. He said users will still see political content from accounts they follow, but that the apps will no longer “proactively amplify” such posts.
He changewhich will roll out “over the next few weeks,” will apply to public accounts in places where Meta's recommendation algorithms suggest content or posts, such as Instagram's Reels and Explore, and suggested users in Threads. Mosseri did not elaborate on how Meta will determine what is considered “political,” but a Meta spokesperson said it would include topics related to elections and social issues.
“Our definition of political content is content that is likely to address topics related to government or elections; for example, publications about laws, elections or social issues,” the spokesperson said. “These global issues are complex and dynamic, which means this definition will evolve as we continue to engage with the people and communities using our platforms and external experts to refine our approach.”
While Meta will limit its suggestions related to these topics by default, those who want to see such content will be able to sign up through Instagram and Threads settings. The company said the update will not affect how people see posts from accounts they chose to follow. “Our goal is to preserve people's ability to choose to interact with political content, while respecting each person's appetite for it,” Mosseri said.
The change is the latest way Meta has attempted to discourage Threads users from discussing topics it considers potentially problematic. The company blocks “potentially sensitive” topics, including terms related to vaccines and Covid, from search results on Threads. Mosseri has that Meta does not want to “encourage” users to post about “politics and hard news” on the app.
But the change could also spark new backlash among users and creators, some of whom already believe Meta unfairly suppresses certain types of content. Meta said people with “professional” accounts on Instagram can use the feature to check if their posts are currently considered eligible for recommendations.
