Reversal of content policies at Alphabet, Meta and X threaten democracy, warn experts

Media watchdog says layoffs at top social media firms affecting moderation create toxic environment' as 2024 elections approach

As the 2024 elections approach, experts warn that top social media firms have rolled back vital safety policies and laid off moderation staff, creating a a toxic online environment" vulnerable to exploitation that threatens democracy.

A new study from the non-profit media watchdog Free Press documented 17 major platform policies affecting online content integrity that have been rolled back in the past year at Alphabet, Meta and Twitter/X. It also cited more than 40,000 layoffs at these companies as a threat to the health and safety of their platforms.