The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
The Times Real Estate

.

Meta’s shift to ‘community notes’ risks hurting online health info providers more than ever

  • Written by Kath Albury, Professor of Media and Communication and Associate Investigator, ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making + Society, Swinburne University of Technology

Last week, social media giant Meta announced major changes[1] to its content moderation practices. This includes an end to its fact-checking program, starting with the United States.

Meta’s platforms – which include Facebook, Instagram and Threads – will no longer employ human fact-checkers and moderation teams, relying instead on a user-sourced “community notes” model[2]. This is a similar method to current content moderation on X (formerly Twitter).

Meta’s hateful conduct policy also changed last week to allow more “free speech”. Advocate groups and experts warn this could lead to an increase in abusive and demeaning statements[3] about Indigenous people, migrants and refugees, women and LGBTQIA+ people.

Many experts now also fear an increase in disinformation and misinformation[4] on Meta’s platforms.

Health content has been a focus of concern about online misinformation, particularly in relation to COVID[5]. There has been less discussion of the potential impact of Meta’s new policies on sexual and reproductive health info online – but the impacts could be profound.

A ‘town square’ for health info

Since the COVID pandemic, online platforms have been increasingly important for sexual and reproductive health organisations[6].

On social media, organisations such as Family Planning Australia[7] can easily and inexpensively share factual information about sensitive and potentially stigmatising public health issues, including unplanned pregnancy and HIV[8].

For good or ill, Meta’s platforms are spaces where public health information can reach diverse audiences. This can be especially helpful for people in rural and regional areas, young people, and anyone not already connected with reliable health services.

Facebook and Instagram serve as “town squares” for many health service providers. But what happens when the community members most in need of contraception or sexual health information and services no longer feel safe in this town square?

Meta has claimed community notes will be compiled from multiple sources to avoid bias. Some online sex educators were initially optimistic that the policy changes might make it easier to share sexual and reproductive health content.

Internal training materials leaked from Meta reportedly show[9] that comments like “gays are freaks” or “transgender people are mentally ill” are now permissible. This would create significant risks for users and for the healthcare services sharing info online.

From too much censorship to targeted attacks

Meta’s own Oversight Board has acknowledged[10] that the platform has over-censored content related to nudity, sexuality and gender in the past. This has resulted in sexual and reproductive health content being blocked or “shadow-banned”[11] (when the content is hidden from other users without the poster’s knowledge).

The community notes process replaces human moderators with crowd-sourcing. Information is gathered from multiple users with a diverse range of political views. A note is then added to flag misinformation. Meta is currently recruiting users[12] on Threads, Facebook and Instagram for the US community notes rollout.

But investigations of this system on X have shown notes are often added hours after false or misleading content has already gone viral[13].

What’s more, the process itself can be weaponised. Research into what has been termed “user-generated warfare[14]” has found that politically motivated users are already manipulating community guidelines to attack content creators on Instagram and TikTok.

This includes targeted attacks on women’s health organisations and LGBTQIA+ organisations as part of an “anti-rights pushback[15]”. Globally, government and non-government groups have led organised campaigns opposing both reproductive freedom and trans rights[16].

Malicious tactics include false reporting of images for violating community guidelines. They can also involve coordinated pile-ons of hate speech in the comments under a social media post.

Women, trans people and other LGBTQIA+ people are disproportionately affected by these forms of social media manipulation[17]. Sexual and reproductive health content creators have responded by self-censoring health information[18] or removing themselves from social platforms.

Where to from here?

Evidence suggests the move to community notes has already led many LGBTQIA+ and women’s health organisations to close their X accounts[19].

Health service users are leaving Meta platforms, too. Some health outreach organisations are encouraging community members to stay connected through private newsletters and mailing lists[20].

But not everyone is comfortable sharing their email address. Social media platforms offer privacy and anonymity[21] for vulnerable people who may not have access to other sources of reliable sexual and reproductive information.

There is no perfect solution. Social media users are exploring new platforms, such as Bluesky[22]. This means sexual and reproductive health service providers will need to be open to experimenting with untested platforms, too.

This may be hard for organisations that have already invested time and money in health promotion on Meta platforms. But in a rapidly evolving global political environment, business as usual is not an option.

References

  1. ^ Meta announced major changes (about.fb.com)
  2. ^ user-sourced “community notes” model (theconversation.com)
  3. ^ increase in abusive and demeaning statements (www.abc.net.au)
  4. ^ fear an increase in disinformation and misinformation (www.lowyinstitute.org)
  5. ^ particularly in relation to COVID (abcnews.go.com)
  6. ^ important for sexual and reproductive health organisations (www.ippf.org)
  7. ^ Family Planning Australia (frank.org.au)
  8. ^ including unplanned pregnancy and HIV (unesdoc.unesco.org)
  9. ^ leaked from Meta reportedly show (theintercept.com)
  10. ^ Oversight Board has acknowledged (www.oversightboard.com)
  11. ^ being blocked or “shadow-banned” (journals.sagepub.com)
  12. ^ Meta is currently recruiting users (about.fb.com)
  13. ^ false or misleading content has already gone viral (mashable.com)
  14. ^ user-generated warfare (journals.sagepub.com)
  15. ^ anti-rights pushback (www.unwomen.org)
  16. ^ trans rights (archive.junkee.com)
  17. ^ social media manipulation (datasociety.net)
  18. ^ self-censoring health information (www.femtechworld.co.uk)
  19. ^ to close their X accounts (www.starobserver.com.au)
  20. ^ through private newsletters and mailing lists (www.facebook.com)
  21. ^ Social media platforms offer privacy and anonymity (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  22. ^ such as Bluesky (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/metas-shift-to-community-notes-risks-hurting-online-health-info-providers-more-than-ever-247331

The Times Features

48 Hours in Hobart: The Ultimate Weekend Itinerary

Nestled between the towering Mount Wellington and the sparkling waters of the Derwent River, Hobart is a charming city that offers an intriguing blend of natural beauty, rich histo...

Lunchtime Facelifts: Quick & Effective Procedures for Busy Professionals

Busy professionals often find themselves juggling demanding careers, family obligations, and social commitments. With such a tight schedule, it can be difficult to make time for ...

Visual Guide to Distinguishing Ants from Termites

Distinguishing ants from termites is crucial for homeowners who wish to protect their properties from structural damage. These tiny creatures, though seemingly unthreatening, can...

‘Active recovery’ after exercise is supposed to improve performance – but does it really work?

Imagine you have just finished a workout. Your legs are like jelly, your lungs are burning and you just want to collapse on the couch. But instead, you pick yourself up and ...

Plumber Rates In Canberra: What You Need To Know Before You Hire

When plumbing issues arise, most homeowners in Canberra have one major question: How much will a plumber cost? Whether it’s a leaking tap, a burst pipe, or a full bathroom renova...

Having an x-ray to diagnose knee arthritis might make you more likely to consider potentially unnecessary surgery

Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of chronic pain and disability, affecting more than two million Australians[1]. Routine x-rays aren’t recommended[2] to diagnose the condit...

Times Magazine

First Nations Writers Festival

The First Nations Writers Festival (FNWF) is back for its highly anticipated 2025 edition, continuing its mission to celebrate the voices, cultures and traditions of First Nations communities through literature, art and storytelling. Set to take ...

Improving Website Performance with a Cloud VPS

Websites represent the new mantra of success. One slow website may make escape for visitors along with income too. Therefore it's an extra offer to businesses seeking better performance with more scalability and, thus represents an added attracti...

Why You Should Choose Digital Printing for Your Next Project

In the rapidly evolving world of print media, digital printing has emerged as a cornerstone technology that revolutionises how businesses and creative professionals produce printed materials. Offering unparalleled flexibility, speed, and quality, d...

What to Look for When Booking an Event Space in Melbourne

Define your event needs early to streamline venue selection and ensure a good fit. Choose a well-located, accessible venue with good transport links and parking. Check for key amenities such as catering, AV equipment, and flexible seating. Pla...

How BIM Software is Transforming Architecture and Engineering

Building Information Modeling (BIM) software has become a cornerstone of modern architecture and engineering practices, revolutionizing how professionals design, collaborate, and execute projects. By enabling more efficient workflows and fostering ...

How 32-Inch Computer Monitors Can Increase Your Workflow

With the near-constant usage of technology around the world today, ergonomics have become crucial in business. Moving to 32 inch computer monitors is perhaps one of the best and most valuable improvements you can possibly implement. This-sized moni...

LayBy Shopping