Meta’s and TikTok’s moderation systems are far from perfect and often fallible. Earlier this week, Taylor Lorenz reports that Meta restricts queer content and hashtags as “sensitive content,” including hashtags like #trans, #lesbianpride, and #bisexualpride. As recently as OctoberTikTok has fired hundreds of content moderation workers, replacing them with AI.

But it’s Instagram, and the Reels product in particular, that has a reputation for harassment. In Zuckerberg’s decision to cancel policies banning hate speech, he made it clear that diversity deserves the possibility of political power on Inauguration Day.

There is a possibility that other platforms may follow. Elon Musk was the first to set the precedent of trust and safety when he bought the X two years ago. After Meta’s announcement on Tuesday, YouTube declined to comment when asked by The Wall Street Journal if it does similar fact-checking and policy changes, that certainly leaves the door wide open.

It appears, however, that TikTok’s parent company is still interested in fact-checking and moderation. Talking to CNNa Meta fact-checker said it will remain operational with funding from, among others, Bytedance.

For US users, this only matters as long as TikTok is within the US. Tomorrow, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case involving the government’s attempts to ban the popular app nationwide. If SCOTUS doesn’t save TikTok on January 19, or a magical deal with an American owner doesn’t end up out of the ether, the app’s many users, who have their own free speech rights, seen as a safer space than the alternative—to be gone.

The Chatroom

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 came shortly after the most recent election in US called for Trump.

Given this week’s news, are you planning to leave the Meta platforms? Do you not feel safe on Facebook or Instagram? I’d love to hear about changing your social media habits.

Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send them to [email protected].

WIRED Readings

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What else are we reading?

🔗 Students Accused of ‘To Catch a Predator’ TikTok Scheme: A group of Massachusetts college students have been charged with kidnapping and conspiracy after coordinating a To Catch the Predator-like a “sting” operation on campus and post it on TikTok. (New York Times)

🔗 Facebook Removes Internal Employee Criticism of New Board Member Dana White: Meta has removed employee criticism of its hiring of UFC CEO Dana White from the company’s internal messaging system. Some employees commented on a 2023 video of White slapping his wife at a bar on New Year’s Eve. (404 Media)

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

The Download

On Friday, I’ll join some of my other WIRED colleagues in covering the oral arguments in the case of TikTok v. US. Our live blog of the day’s events will be on our site before things kick off at 10 am ET. C-SPAN is streaming the arguments live here.

Also, this is a TikTok on coldest January 6 get-together.

That’s all for today—thanks again for subscribing. You can contact me by email, Instagram, Xand Signal to makenakely.32.