The future of the internet is looking bleaker by the day

Both Meta’s and TikTok’s moderation systems are far from perfect and consistently make mistakes. Earlier this week, Taylor Lorenz reports That meta restricted queer content and hashtags as “sensitive content,” including hashtags like #trans, #lesbianpride, and #bisexualpride. As recently as OctoberTikTok has laid off hundreds of content moderation staff, replacing them with AI.

But it’s Instagram, and its Reels product in particular, that has a reputation for harassment. With Zuckerberg’s decision to withdraw the policy without a hostile speech, he has made it clear that the potential for political influence on Inauguration Day is worth the difference.

Other platforms are likely to follow suit. Rowling set the precedent for trust and security when Elon Musk was the first to buy 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 seems to keep the door open.

It appears, however, that TikTok’s parent company is still keen on fact-checking and moderation. spoke to CNNA meta fact-checker said it would remain viable with funding from ByteDance, among others.

For US users, this only matters as long as TikTok exists in the US. Tomorrow, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case over the government’s attempt to ban the popular app nationwide. If SCOTUS doesn’t save TikTok by January 19, or some magical deal with its American owner doesn’t materialize out of the ether, the app — which many users, who have their own free speech rights, see as a safer place than this alternative — will be gone.

chat room

X has seen at least two mass exits since Elon Musk took over the platform in 2022. The first happened shortly after Musk closed the deal, and the second happened shortly after the recent US election called for Trump.

In light of this week’s news, are you planning to abandon the meta platforms? Do you no longer feel safe on Facebook or Instagram? I’d love to hear about how your social media habits are changing.

Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send them mail@wired.com.

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Are we reading anymore?

🔗 Students accused in TikTok scheme to ‘catch teacher’: A group of Massachusetts college students have been charged with kidnapping and conspiracy after coordinating. To catch the hunterLike a “sting” operation on campus and posting it on TikTok. (New York Times)

🔗 Facebook deleted internal employee criticism of new board member Dana White: Meta is removing employee criticism of the hiring of UFC CEO Dana White from an internal company messaging system Some employees commented on a 2023 video of White slapping his wife at a bar on New Year’s Eve. (404 Media)

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

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On Friday, I’ll join my other Wired colleagues to cover the oral arguments in the TikTok v. US case We’ll have a live blog of the day’s events on our site before we kick things off at 10 am ET C-SPAN is streaming the argument live here.

Also, it’s a TikTok The coolest January 6th get-together.

That’s it for today—thanks again for subscribing. You can contact me via email, Instagram, Xand signals in makenakelly.32.