TECH NEWS – Meta’s platform is definitely standing upon weak legs due to bad moderation, algorithm-driven abuse, and a lack of customer support.

Although we increasingly rely on digital platforms for social interaction and entertainment, this trend has brought a number of problems, such as scroll addiction among young people and harassment due to a lack of accountability. This leads to more online threats and abuse. Regulatory authorities and activists around the world are drawing attention to the negative effects of social media platforms and their underlying issues. Meta recently faced similar scrutiny when awareness and concern grew about the online harassment experienced by its users. According to a survey by Global Witness, a nonprofit organization that monitors violence against environmentalists, approximately 90% of respondents have experienced harassment related to their activism on Meta’s platforms.

Among the social media apps mentioned, Facebook is the worst in terms of online abuse, followed by Twitter, WhatsApp, and Instagram. Harassment is usually directed at activists, who often receive threatening messages, including death threats. Those who voice their opinions are often silenced with inhumane language, and false information is spread about them. Global Witness is collaborating with other activists to address this issue with Meta and is urging the tech giant and other companies to take strong measures against online harassment.

The situation becomes even more serious when considering how often digital abuse overlaps with real-life harm. A survey found that over 70% of respondents believed online harassment leads to real-world threats. Between November of last year and March of this year, Global Witness surveyed approximately 200 land and environmental defenders. The results were alarming: Meta’s platform was considered the worst. Over 50% of participants reported being harassed on Facebook, around 36% on WhatsApp, and around 20% on Instagram. Although social media apps are intended as communication tools, they are being misused to intimidate people and prevent them from voicing their concerns.

Global Witness urges social media companies to introduce regulatory measures, such as content moderation, and to regularly review the effectiveness of their systems. Activists have emphasized the urgent need for reforms to combat widespread abuse, highlighting the role of algorithms in exacerbating the problem.

Source: WCCFTech, Global Witness