In response to concerns about online interactions related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, has announced temporary measures to address "potentially unwelcome or unwanted comments" on posts pertaining to the conflict.
Meta's new policy involves changing the default settings for comments on public Facebook posts created by users in the region. Under the new setting, only friends and followers will be able to comment. The exact definition of "the region" was not specified, but users will have the option to modify this setting according to their preferences.
Additionally, Meta is disabling the ability to view the first one or two comments on posts while scrolling through the Facebook feed. This move is aimed at addressing concerns regarding the tone and nature of the initial comments on sensitive topics.
Meta reiterated that these measures are part of its broader efforts to maintain user safety while allowing freedom of expression. The company emphasized that these policies apply globally and are not intended to suppress any particular viewpoint.
Recent concerns were raised when some users who posted content in support of Palestine or Gaza claimed that Meta was suppressing their content. It is important to note that Meta designates Hamas as a "dangerous organization" and prohibits content that praises the group.
Mondoweiss, a news platform focused on Palestinian human rights, reported issues with Instagram, a subsidiary of Meta. Instagram users who posted content related to Palestine alleged that their posts and stories were not receiving adequate views. Meta acknowledged a bug on Instagram that affected content visibility and stated that the issue was unrelated to the content's subject matter, impacting users worldwide.
Meta's temporary measures aim to strike a balance between user safety and open dialogue, particularly during discussions of sensitive global issues like the Israel-Hamas conflict.
