| 1.31.23

Meta Allows Trump Back on Facebook and Instagram

Do you support Meta's decision?

What's the story?

Former President Donald Trump has been allowed to return to Instagram and Facebook after Meta announced an end to their two-year suspension of his accounts.
Trump was indefinitely suspended from the platforms after he praised the rioters involved in trying to overthrow the government during the January 6th, 2021, Capitol riots.
Republican supporters have been pushing for Trump to be allowed back on the platform in advance of his 2024 presidential run.
Trump has 34 million followers on Facebook and over 23 million followers on Instagram.

Meta's president of global affairs, Nick Clegg, said that Meta no longer considers Trump a threat to public safety and that users

"[S]hould be able to hear what their politicians are saying"

Despite being allowed back on the platform, Trump will face heightened consequences in the event of future infractions. Meta has referred to the increased monitoring of his profile as "guardrails to deter repeat offenses."

Trump founded his own social media company in 2021, Truth Social, which has less than 5 million active users.
Trump has an exclusivity agreement with Truth Social--he is legally required to post on the platform at least six hours before posting on any other platform. This agreement ends in June.
Trump could face legal consequences should he flout the agreement and begin neglecting Truth Social in favor of posting on Facebook and Instagram.

Democrats and activists have criticized Meta's decision, concerned that Trump may recycle tactics he's used in the past, including spreading misinformation, inciting hate, and making incendiary comments about opponents.
California Democratic representative Adam Schiff posted on Twitter:

"Giving him back access to a social media platform to spread his lies and demagoguery is dangerous."

Do you support Meta's decision to allow Trump back on their platform?

—Emma Kansiz

(Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons)