If 2022 was challenging for Goal, 2023 promises not to be left behind. At the beginning of the new year, a great dilemma has settled in the offices of Mark Zuckerberg’s firm: Should you allow Donald Trump back on Facebook? The determination will be announced in the course of January and is dividing the spirits between employees and executives, considering the effects that could bring about.
According to Financial TimesMeta’s intention was to make known whether or not to lift the suspension of Donald Trump on january 7. However, the date has been pushed back, and the decision is expected to be made public closer to the end of the month. Whatever the end result, Menlo Park knows that the reaction inside and outside the company will be divisive.
According to the sources of the aforementioned medium, the determination regarding the future of the former US president on Facebook —and other Meta platforms— will be the “greatest test of authority” that Nick Clegg will face. The former British deputy prime minister and current president of Global Affairs of the Californian firm is the one who oversees the resolution; therefore, he will remain as the main target, regardless of what the final result is.
The possible return of Donald Trump is a question that on Facebook are not taken lightly. Although it seems that more for business than for morality. The former president of the United States was expelled indefinitely on January 7, 2021, one day after the Attack on the Capitol. The episode earned the Republican politician being banned from all the most important social networks and platforms, including Twitter and YouTube.
Facebook’s Supervisory Board, an independent board dedicated to reviewing complex cases such as this one, upheld the decision but expressed anger that the then-manager was suspended indefinitely. For this reason, he urged the social network to make a decision about his possible return to the platform. within up to two years. Said period expires next Saturday, but doubts prevail in Meta regarding what to do with Donald Trump.
The possible return of Donald Trump, a dilemma for Meta
Whether or not to allow Donald Trump to return to Facebook will have both political and economic implications. The tycoon has already expressed his willingness to run for president of the United States again in 2024so keeping it suspended on the social network could be seen as an act of censorship.
In fact, his allies in the Republican Party already accuse Mark Zuckerberg’s firm of stifling conservative views. While other political groups believe that allowing him to return to a platform with such reach would be giving him carte blanche to spread false news, misleading comments and hate speech.
To this is added the specter of Russian interference in the 2016 Elections. Let us remember that, at that time, Facebook, Twitter and Google were left in the eye of the storm due to the publication of Russian paid ads that, according to what was known, ended up influencing the voters.
Politics, economy and moderation
In terms of economics, history also poses a complex scenario. The return of Donald Trump would drive away a lot of advertisers who today invest millions of dollars in advertising on Facebook. Something similar to what happened recently on Twitter. However, a possible run for the Republican in 2024 could bring fresh money to promote his campaign. One way or another, no scenario leaves those from Menlo Park looking good.
But as if all this wasn’t enough, no one loses sight of potential moderating issues that they would arrive with Donald Trump. An analysis of his posts on Truth Social, his own social network, proved that more than 300 of them violated Meta’s content policies. So if you were to use the same speech on Facebook, you would be immediately in violation. Something that can be particularly harmful, considering that those of Mark Zuckerberg do not plan to review his publications if he stands for the next elections. As long as you regain access to your account in the first place, that is.