Meta announced on Friday that it will no longer apply special sanctions for content rule violations on former President Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. With this decision, Trump will be assessed under the same rules as other users and the harsh sanctions imposed in the past will end.
Trump’s social media restrictions lifted
Previously, Trump’s accounts could be completely suspended for even a minor infraction, ensuring that other users would not face such harsh penalties for the same infraction. However, with Meta’s new decision, Trump will be treated equally as other users ahead of the upcoming Republican National Convention in the US.
“As we consider our responsibility to ensure freedom of political expression, we believe the American people should have equal access to news from presidential candidates,” Nick Clegg, Meta’s head of global affairs, said in a statement on the company’s blog. He also emphasized that previous restrictions on Trump’s accounts were “a response to extreme and extraordinary circumstances, and it is not necessary to reimpose these restrictions.”
Trump has been a prominent figure in pushing and shaping Meta’s content policies. Following the events of January 6, 2021, Meta suspended Trump along with other platforms. In early 2023, Trump was allowed back on his Facebook and Instagram accounts, though Meta stated at the time that “repeat violating content” could result in another two-year suspension of his account.
Trump has been posting regularly on Facebook since June 30. Trump, who shares videos of his rallies and his criticism of President Joe Biden, has 34 million followers on Facebook, while Biden has 11 million. Trump has nearly 25 million followers on Instagram, while Biden has 17.1 million followers.
Meta’s decision marks a significant change in the company’s approach to political freedom of expression. The company is revising its policies towards political figures by reviewing the decisions it made when suspending Trump’s accounts due to the extraordinary circumstances. With this change, Meta aims to ensure that political leaders and candidates can exercise their freedom of expression on an equal footing.
Trump’s return to social media
Trump’s return to social media is drawing attention with his large following. With 34 million Facebook and 25 million Instagram followers, Trump has the potential to reach a large audience via social media and continues to actively use these platforms. This seems to be an important part of Trump’s digital strategies ahead of the 2024 elections.