As the 2024 US presidential elections approach, former President Donald Trump‘s social media presence is back in the spotlight. Meta announced that it has lifted the restrictions on Trump’s Instagram and Facebook accounts. This decision was taken with the belief that ‘voters should be able to hear from the candidates on an equal footing’. Trump had previously been restricted due to his behavior on the platforms and had returned to the platforms in a limited capacity after these restrictions.
According to Meta’s blog post, they believe that the American public should hear from presidential candidates under equal conditions. Since returning to Meta platforms, Trump has begun sharing various campaign information, criticisms directed at rival Joe Biden, and various memes. However, this return has been criticized for Trump’s potential for misleading information and inciting violence.
Biden Campaign Criticizes Meta’s Decision
The Biden campaign released a statement condemning Meta’s decision, describing it as ‘unsafe and harmful to democracy‘. The statement from Meta reminded that all presidential candidates are subject to the community standards set for Facebook and Instagram users. These standards include policies to prevent hate speech and the promotion of violence.
Other major social media companies have similarly reinstated Trump’s accounts. Trump’s presence on social media is likely to continue playing a significant role in the election process.