Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Americans are rushing to delete their Facebook, Instagram, and Threads accounts following Meta announcement of a controversial new policy. This trend was highlighted by the Google search data, which shows a significant increase in queries related to canceling and deleting accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
The tech giant, led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, revealed plans to end its third-party fact-checking program aimed at curbing misinformation on its platforms in the U.S., including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
In addition to halting fact-checking, Meta will ease content moderation policies and lift restrictions on the volume of political content displayed in users’ feeds. The company also plans to allow a wider range of posts addressing political and social issues, as well as recommendations for politically charged content.
These changes have prompted a swift backlash from American users, many of whom are now seeking to sever ties with Meta platforms. Searches related to deleting accounts have surged this week, particularly in the past two days, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with the policy shift.
Spike on Google Trends
According to a report by TechCrunch, Google searches related to deleting accounts on Meta platforms have surged dramatically in the past week, particularly over the last few days. Queries like “how to delete Facebook,” “how to quit Instagram,” and “how to delete Threads account” have trended and even reached “breakout” status on Google Search.
The term “breakout” is used by Google to indicate a keyword experiencing a spike of over 5,000% in search interest. These keywords also scored 100 on Google’s interest scale, the highest possible ranking for trending terms.
In addition to searches on how to leave Meta’s platforms, users are actively seeking alternatives. Keywords like “alternative to Facebook” and searches for rival platforms such as BlueSky and Mastodon have gained traction.
Dissatisfactions and Criticism
This phenomenon highlights widespread dissatisfaction among Americans, particularly users of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, with the new policies introduced by Mark Zuckerberg.
According to Kompas, experts suggest that the discontent stems from fears that Meta’s platforms will become overrun with misinformation, hate speech, and an increase in politically charged content due to the relaxed moderation policies. The concern is especially pronounced in the U.S., where political content often dominates social media discourse.
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Critics have also pointed out Zuckerberg’s perceived proximity to President-elect Donald Trump, fueling worries that Meta’s platforms might inadvertently serve as tools for political influence.
While Zuckerberg has yet to respond to the public backlash, the new policies are set to reshape how Meta platforms operate in the U.S., raising questions about the future of content moderation and user trust.
(Raidi/Agung)
