In the wake of Donald Trump's second inauguration, numerous users expressed frustration on social media, claiming they were "automatically" subscribed to official accounts of President Trump, Vice-President JD Vance, and First Lady Melania Trump. Meta's spokesperson, Andy Stone, clarified that the accounts in question, including the handles Potus (President of the United States), VicePresident, and Flotus (First Lady of the United States), were simply updated to reflect the new occupants.
Stone emphasized that this practice mirrors what was done during the last presidential transition. Archived records show that these accounts previously showcased the names and images of Joe and Jill Biden. He noted that the transition of followers may experience delays as the accounts switch management.
Since taking office on Monday, Trump has actively set forth a series of executive actions, including withdrawing from the World Health Organization and declaring a national emergency on the U.S.-Mexico border. The inauguration was a notable event, attended by prominent tech figures, including Meta's own Mark Zuckerberg and X's CEO Elon Musk, both of whom enjoy advisory roles in Trump's administration.
Historically, Trump has been a vocal critic of Meta; the platform banned him in 2021 due to remarks made during the Capitol riots. Recently, Trump accused Meta of colluding with the previous administration to stifle stories related to Hunter Biden and COVID-19. Zuckerberg, reflecting on past decisions, expressed regret over the banning.
Since Trump's electoral success in November, there appears to have been a thaw in relations; Zuckerberg dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago and aided in financing the inauguration. In an effort to mend fences and tackle Trump's previous criticism, Meta announced a shift away from third-party fact-checking towards a community-driven approach similar to that of X. The company claimed this change aligns with its "commitment to free expression." Meanwhile, its efforts to streamline operations included a recent layoff of 5% of its workforce, targeting underperformers.
Stone emphasized that this practice mirrors what was done during the last presidential transition. Archived records show that these accounts previously showcased the names and images of Joe and Jill Biden. He noted that the transition of followers may experience delays as the accounts switch management.
Since taking office on Monday, Trump has actively set forth a series of executive actions, including withdrawing from the World Health Organization and declaring a national emergency on the U.S.-Mexico border. The inauguration was a notable event, attended by prominent tech figures, including Meta's own Mark Zuckerberg and X's CEO Elon Musk, both of whom enjoy advisory roles in Trump's administration.
Historically, Trump has been a vocal critic of Meta; the platform banned him in 2021 due to remarks made during the Capitol riots. Recently, Trump accused Meta of colluding with the previous administration to stifle stories related to Hunter Biden and COVID-19. Zuckerberg, reflecting on past decisions, expressed regret over the banning.
Since Trump's electoral success in November, there appears to have been a thaw in relations; Zuckerberg dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago and aided in financing the inauguration. In an effort to mend fences and tackle Trump's previous criticism, Meta announced a shift away from third-party fact-checking towards a community-driven approach similar to that of X. The company claimed this change aligns with its "commitment to free expression." Meanwhile, its efforts to streamline operations included a recent layoff of 5% of its workforce, targeting underperformers.
