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They’re worried that exposure to online hate will trigger eating disorder behaviours, as stress can provoke their avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) symptoms.
“And that can really impact a person’s sense of safety and belonging.”
‘More speech’ and an end to fact-checking
Amid concerns about misinformation and disinformation, Zuckerberg said the platform would “allow more speech” on certain topics, including immigration and gender identity.
Meta also redacted previous measures that banned users from comparing women to household objects.
‘Dehumanising’ language sparks mental health concerns
“When vulnerable communities are exposed to hateful and harmful content, that’s just another burden for them to have to try and deal with and can certainly be very triggering for eating behaviours,” Wilton said.
“And I’ve spent a lot of work curating my feed, and I want to make sure it stays a safe place for me and my community and friends.”
Social media experts ‘disturbed’ by Meta’s changes
“So Mark Zuckerberg has effectively said with these changes that he is happy to have a culture on these platforms where you are able to denigrate women, people of colour and trans and other LGBTI people.”
Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg was at Donald Trump’s US presidential inauguration. Source: Getty / Chip Somodevilla
While the European Union’s Digital Services Act has enforceable protections against hate speech online, Australia’s anti-discrimination laws aren’t as strong.
“So effectively what one could hope for is that globally we kind of have an almost internet governance Interpol-type organisation where we all have very, very similar laws and we all speak to one another.”
However, while persons can report online harms directed at them, the option does not apply if the abusive language is directed at a class or group.
The influence of Trumpian politics
The timing of this policy shift is no coincidence, according to Beckett, who said Zuckerberg is trying to repair his relationship with Trump, who threatened to imprison Zuckerberg for life if he was found to interfere in the 2024 election, especially since he faces potential regulatory issues in the US.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton recently pledged to slash the number of public servants if elected, and while he maintains his party won’t make changes to gender-diverse identification, Dutton said there was merit in a discussion about trans women’s participation in female sport.
For support with eating disorders or body image concerns, call Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 ED HOPE (1800 33 4673) or visit www.butterfly.org.au to chat online or email, 7 days a week, 8am-midnight (AEST/AEDT).
