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Instagram has begun automatically restricting political content in users’ feeds without their consent, sparking criticism given the change was made just months before the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
Journalists and users report the new policy limits political material from accounts users do not follow, aiming to reduce such content unless users opt in.
However, many were not asked about the “political filter” which was enabled by default.
While Meta claims the change stems from user feedback, observers question the timing and intent so close to the election.
An independent journalist expressed concern that censoring political information during campaign periods directly threatens democracy.
“We should all be outraged by this overstep. Censorship during peak campaign months is a direct threat to the [sic] democracy,” journalist Jessica Reed Kraus wrote.
Kraus provided steps for users to disable the automatic filter and stop Instagram from limiting political posts in their timelines without permission.
Critics argue Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg is once again attempting to influence elections through platform changes after his role in the 2020 race.
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