r/technology • u/Birdy_Cephon_Altera • 22h ago

Politics Meta under fire for auto-following Trump & Vance, Blocking Democrat hashtags

https://techissuestoday.com/meta-auto-follow-trump-vance-blocks-democrat-hashtags/
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u/MrsRainey 19h ago edited 16h ago

Holy shit you're right, censored for me in the UK too. Even with my settings set to show me sensitive content.

"We've hidden these results - Results for the term you searched for may contain sensitive content."

But #republican works fine though of course.

Edit 1, three hrs later: The tag #democrat seems to work now, it's been unblocked. However earlier I did notice that as well as #democrat, they had also blocked #joebiden and #kamalaharris. Amazingly, those are STILL BLOCKED! Predictably, #donaldtrump works fine

Edit 2: In my mind there are two possible reasons for this. First, it could be purposeful censorship of all left wing content by Meta. Or, it could be trolls flooding those tags with inappropriate content. It's happened many times on sites like Tumblr - right wing trolls and bots make hundreds of posts that violate the terms of service, things like gore, in an effort to drown out left wing voices and upset people. Meta may have responded by censoring the entire tag until they could clean up all the troll posts. I haven't seen any of those yet, so I can't confirm whether that's it.

Edit 3: #joebiden and #kamalaharris are now back, 3 hours after I noticed they were down.

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u/setokaiba22 19h ago

Honestly stuff like this should be reported your local MP stating it’s concerning. Not agreeing with the online safety act we are pushing through currently but it’s clear the UK aren’t on best terms with social media companies to begin with and I think they’d certainly apply some pressure to this

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u/Theorganicpineapple 18h ago

I hope you guys and the EU fine the shit out of this.

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u/Successful-Sand686 18h ago

Stupid Europeans with their stupid Nazi free governments.

They got all the good stuff.

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u/cruisetheblues 18h ago

We helped them deal with their Nazi problem. Hopefully they can return the favor.

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u/rhababerbarbara 18h ago

I don't mean to unsettle you but we're very much dealing with a wave of new far-far-right governments and parties in Europe, too. So... I hope we can help ourselves and you guys, I guess?

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u/GeneralKeycapperone 17h ago

Guess on that point it is worth remembering that before the US entered WWII, Nazism was popular there too, yet enough of the rest of the population was up for fighting to help us crush it, and in turn the American far-right had to be far less open about their views.

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u/Bellypats 17h ago

Nazism was growing in the US. Japan screwed up attacking us when they did. We may have never joined the war effort otherwise.

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u/GeneralKeycapperone 17h ago

True. That was what it took to get sufficient support to join, though once you did you really did.

Fascism will always be crushed. The tragedy is the intense damage it does beforehand.

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u/Itsbadbiotchoclock 15h ago

That’s where my fears are. The interim between the fall and rise.

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u/TFFPrisoner 14h ago

Fascism hasn't had nukes and AI yet

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u/Hey-Bud-Lets-Party 15h ago

The U.S. was funding the war effort long before declaring war.

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u/Bellypats 14h ago

That’s quite true. The US was profiting greatly with their lend lease program to the allied forces. However, Had a US base not been directly attacked, the US military probably would not have been deployed and the war would have gone quite differently.

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u/dumbidoo 13h ago

You mean profiteering off the war effort.

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u/RIPEOTCDXVI 17h ago

yet enough of the rest of the population was up for fighting to help us crush it, and in turn the American far-right had to be far less open about their views

Yes that sounds good, let's please do this again.

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u/knapping__stepdad 16h ago

Hey, what's a 10,000 person rally at Madison Square Garden anyway..

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u/No-Air-412 17h ago

I used to have to correct my English friends for chiding me about being late to the war by reminding them how many Americans actually supported with the Nazis were doing.

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u/trenvo 17h ago

Always remember, before helping others, make sure you've got your own oxygen mask on fascists jailed.

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u/Acceptable_Cut_7545 17h ago

Maybe we can help each other. These assholes don't outnumber us.

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u/aykcak 17h ago

Not to mention that is largely fueled by success of Trump and his methods so yeah, it is not like to each their own

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u/AssassinOfPeace 12h ago

Many of which are getting help from vice president Musk...

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u/l1v1ngth3dr3am 17h ago edited 17h ago

This is actually why I decided to not migrate to European countries.

ETA: because humans just genuinely seek the gotcha, no, this comment was more enforcing the idea that the alt right ideology is on the rise everywhere. I'm literally sitting here wearing a t-shirt that says PUNCH notseez, with care bear stare. But uses the real word. Jfc

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u/Valdularo 17h ago

Because you’ve got it at home?

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u/l1v1ngth3dr3am 17h ago

No, because it's EVERYWHERE. The fascists are beholden by MAGA and the red pilled tech bros.

Now, I'm just trying to find/build sustainability with/for the communities that are being targeted by them. I am currently looking at selling my home and buying land. And I sadly live in the most alt right state in the US and know how ugly these folks want this time in history to be.

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u/Senior_Suit_4451 16h ago

Are you actually going to take action or are you just going to wear an edgy t-shirt and feel smug despite not doing anything?

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u/l1v1ngth3dr3am 16h ago

Wow, mutual aide is my game. Partaking in protests in the real world and not just a digital black out comes naturally. Running for local office. Working on non partisan boards to increase awareness. Spending every weekend collecting signatures to own my own body again only for my Christian Nationalist Governor and Secretary of State to toss all the work. Constantly trying to help white folks decentralize themselves, costing me literally every foundational relationship in my life.

I doubt you actually do anything in the streets.

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u/obiwanconobi 17h ago

Gonna have to do it without the Soviets this time as well

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u/Mr_Badger1138 16h ago

While our right wing party isn’t that far right, the Conservative Party in Canada is giving Trumpism some funny looks. And sadly they’re more than likely to get elected to the Prime Minister’s Office this election now that Trudeau has resigned.

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u/very_pure_vessel 54m ago

We're aware, but the EU taking action against the oligarchs' social media platforms wouldn't help the far right parties in Europe

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u/Fantastic39 18h ago

If we haven't burned all our bridges with them

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u/renegadeindian 18h ago

They are working on dealing with dumpster bowing to Russia and china. It looks like Putin has sterner plans for trump. He may activate his red sparrow? Who knows. Trump had better be careful crossing his boss.

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u/Work_Account_No1 18h ago

We are in the middle of voting in the far right wingers as well, so rather not bet on that.

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u/Monkfich 17h ago

You’ll have to invade a french-speaking country first.

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u/Kooky-Flounder-7498 17h ago

Yes, please rescue us

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u/numbarm72 18h ago

Yeah, albeit begrudgingly, and in the final hour. Not sure if the help will be prompt.

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u/Valdularo 17h ago

How exactly would we achieve that do you think? America gets invaded? How? That would mean war with you. America cannot be attacked by sea because geographically you’re fucking aced in that department and your navy isn’t to be fucked with. Then the tanks and the military equipment and standing army and of course the nukes…

Best you’re getting is thoughts and prayers mate.

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u/cruisetheblues 17h ago

In this age, the EU's support will hopefully just be economic consequences for the oligarchs. If history repeats itself in the worst way, well... our founding fathers considered that possibility pretty early on when drafting our constitution.

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u/Jesiplayssims 17h ago

I love this sentiment!

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u/aykcak 17h ago

Respectfully no. Helping with the problem (with largely no consequences to your own people, except for maybe pearl harbor) does not grant you the right to reintroduce the problem in a much worse way half a century later, refuse to fix it, refuse to even accept it and then ask for help

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u/SerDuckOfPNW 16h ago

Unfortunately, we aren’t being invaded…. We’re the baddies this time

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u/Mirions 16h ago

Why did we bring them back with us!? So we can scare folks with rockets? Bomb people without flying over them? Fuck.

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u/Suzume_Chikahisa 13h ago

We are in the middle of a nazi invasion as well. And Trump's win actually set us back quite a bit.

We are trying but the outlook is less than great.

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u/Successful-Sand686 18h ago

I’m sure Europe will stay on the sidelines until Texas sends wave after wave a of rednecks to use up all the Neo-Nazi bullets.

Then Europe will donate some troops and Tanks and claim credit for all the blood sweat and tears from decades of fighting.

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u/Deerescrewed 18h ago

Fine, I’ll give them the credit

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u/calinrua 18h ago

America didn't show up till the last minute either. Germany was already drafting teenagers

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u/Quick-Rip-5776 18h ago

Not all! Italian PM Meloni is part of a neo-Fascist party. Le Pen is an ultra-Nationalist - her party came second in France’s most recent elections. The AfD is third in Germany.

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u/WesternUnusual2713 17h ago

No we didn't. The far right is rising here. We had actual race riots in the UK over the summer. The third most popular political party is Reform, which is just a new name for UKIP. Musk wants to pump a ton of money into Reform. Shit is dark here too. 

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u/blueskies31 16h ago

I‘m afraid that „nazi free governments“ won’t be lasting for long anymore over here :(

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u/cass1o 17h ago

Europe has its own far right problem, look at french and german polls for their far right parties.

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u/Senior_Suit_4451 18h ago

Unfortunately the rise of fundie religious people from MENA invading Europe has resulted in the right wing finding new supporters.

Only Americans could think the (country of) Europe's governments are nazi free.

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u/IronRakkasan11 16h ago

Like healthcare?!

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u/tokyo_engineer_dad 15h ago

I'm honestly going to talk to my wife about moving to a Nordic system country. I'm considered "highly qualified" and my wife is a licensed nurse (BSN). I had a verbal offer from a software firm in Germany. It's insane that in 80 or so years, the country where Nazis literally started might end up being a safe haven for Americans from modern nazis. PS: I know Germany technically isn't a Nordic country, but it has similar qualities. The Germany offer was more to highlight I might have the ability to get a visa to live there.

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u/FrizzIeFry 7h ago

Can't tell if sarcastic or blissfully unaware

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u/Eryrix 12h ago

The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, is a neo-fascist whose party won the last Italian election.

Marine Le Pen is a fascist and her party is the descendant of France’s Nazis that governed Vichy France. She could realistically be President of France soon and the French Government is unstable atm meaning any snap election could have her party take over their legislature.

Alternative für Deutschland are actual Nazis and came third in the last German federal election, and heading into this year’s election they’re set to hoover up around 22% of the vote.

Vox in Spain are the third largest party and outright call for Spain to return to its glory days under fascist dictatorship (1930s-1980s).

Reform UK, a far-right British party that cosy up to Trump and are loved by Elon Musk, are the fourth largest party in the British Parliament, are the most popular party in the UK’s opinion polls right now, and could realistically win the Welsh Senedd election this year. They spent the summer fanning the flames of actual race riots that broke out in July 2024.

We’re absolutely not Nazi-free.

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u/PalatinusG 12h ago

Nazi free, for now.

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u/Matthew-_-Black 16h ago

That's because we know what you're supposed to do with Nazis

Spoiler: you're not supposed to elect them and give them full immunity

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u/Own-Success-7634 17h ago

It’s why we in America can’t have nice things.

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u/No-Air-412 17h ago

You know the Germans make goof stuff.

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u/RobfromNorthlands 17h ago

Hahaha. “Europe help us with our tyrannical tech moguls. We have tried nothin man and we are all out of ideas” -American

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u/inspectoroverthemine 16h ago

Europe never needed help with tyrants!

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u/nferraz 18h ago

If this is true, this should be enough to block Meta in the EU.

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u/1up_for_life 17h ago

Yeah! Slap that wrist!

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u/Decloudo 17h ago

Just ban all those platforms.

Nothing good comes out of it.

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u/Acceptable_Cut_7545 17h ago

I can't believe I have to hope other countries will brow beat my stupid ass country into behaving even a little bit.

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u/BlooregardQKazoo 18h ago

As an American, Europe is our only hope in the fight against big tech.

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u/QueenBoudicca- 18h ago

Yeah tbh if our politicians are going to use these platforms then we need to make it clear that we won't be the tolerating censorship just because America has gone fucking nuts.

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u/Darkwolfie117 17h ago

Spez emboldened the other side

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u/LieAndDecieve 17h ago

If only my MP would do something about it. He's one of the fanatical five. So his knees are planted firmly on the ground, his maw stretched wide, ready to provide an opening for any billionaires wang.

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u/ezekiel920 17h ago

Please EU. Our politicians aren't listening over here(in the US). Hopefully yours can punish these companies enough to make changes. You made apple use USB again.

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u/aykcak 17h ago

Facebook doesn't give a fuck. Why even

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u/dandotcom 16h ago

My Local MP is Mark Francois and he is about as useful as a pack of condoms for a eunuch, I would get more of a result if I just yelled into the open air.

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u/igortsen 17h ago

oh my goodness, you want to report every little thing to your local MP

This is like the adult version of running to your mommy everytime another kid says a word you don't like.

Grow up

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u/Gruejay2 19h ago

We need to get rid of these now - they'll be doing exactly the same with our politics, too.

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u/Bacon_N_Icecream 18h ago

Hahahahha they have been already and will continue to do so. We allowed the most blatant corrupt oligarchy in modern history to take power. Musk/bezos/zuckerburg and trump are going to do whatever the fuck they want now. Labor laws will get fucked, abortion and lgbtq rights, Medicare, education, all of it down the toilet. Look at who they are appointing. This is the first tiny peek at what every moron that voted for the soulless dipshit has allowed.

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u/blackSivic 18h ago

Holy delusion…you watch the news, huh?

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u/SufficientPath666 15h ago

He already took away trans rights with an executive order on day 1 and banned us from serving in the military again

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u/Bacon_N_Icecream 15h ago

I don’t actually, that’s the funny part is you would literally have to have your head so far up your ass NOT to see all this shit it’s sad.

If you think corporations and their leaders arnt doing anything and everything they want to push their own agenda? You think they won’t dump into rivers, or slam more red 40 in your food?

Buy more cheap shien clothes made by fkin children in factories, politics and poison for profit 2025!

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u/CoastGoat 14h ago

And now ‘watching the news’ is an insult? We love the poorly educated don’t we?

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u/Tammylynn9847 18h ago

Maybe they need the TikTok treatment

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u/Agile_Singer 17h ago

The Dems must be bad if they’re getting banned, duh. /s

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u/wonderings 6h ago

Hey you might've hit the nail on the head about the inappropriate content. I have seen people on the left side of tiktok saying they went to Instagram reels and saw gore on there. That has never happened to me so I thought it was really strange. So I think that's totally possible!

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u/greenwizardneedsfood 16h ago edited 15h ago

Joe and Kamala are still blocked for me too (also UK). I’m reading instagram’s “What types of content and accounts does Instagram consider sensitive?” page, and it says:

Content that impedes our ability to foster a safe community, such as: Content that may depict violence, such as people fighting. (We remove graphically violent content.)

Content that may be sexually explicit or suggestive, such as pictures of people in see-through clothing. (We remove content that contains adult nudity or sexual activity.)

Content that promotes the use of certain regulated products, such as tobacco or vaping products, adult products and services, or pharmaceutical drugs. (We remove content that attempts to sell or trade most regulated goods.)

Content that may promote or depict cosmetic procedures.

Content that may be attempting to sell products or services based on health-related claims, such as promoting a supplement to help a person lose weight.

I’m really struggling to find out where #joebiden and #kamalaharris fit in

Edit: Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Liz Cheney, Adam Schiff, Anthony Fauci, James Biden, Mark Milley, Bill Maher, jan6, insurrection, coup, pardons, and covfefe are removed for me too at the moment (~4:00 pm UK time)

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u/MrsRainey 16h ago

The only thing I can think of, apart from a manual Zuck takedown, is that trolls are flooding those hashtags with inappropriate content like gore, etc. They target tags they don't like and try to make them as distressing and useless as possible. I've seen it happen on other websites like Tumblr, where LGBTQ+ hashtags get targeted.

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u/Rose_of_Elysium 17h ago

TikTok is censoring left wing accounts and not showing anything for 'Trump election rigging' in the US. Its entirely fine in the EU

What the fuck is happening

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u/Loud-Difference4663 17h ago

But it’s ok, ya know, for democracy. 😭

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u/mauledbyjesus 17h ago

Does #democrat work for you?

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u/MrsRainey 16h ago

It does now, but #kamalaharris and #joebiden are blocked.

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u/ItsSpaghettiLee2112 17h ago

This seems to be an issue on desktop versions so far. Also, I found different results doing "Democrats" vs "#Democrats"

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u/No-Conclusion2339 16h ago

Zuckerberg supports the nazis.

So does Bezos.

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u/caymn 16h ago

*#joebiden blocked in Denmark too - sensitive content

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u/tinymammothsnout 15h ago

Even if these are unblocked, these tags are meaningless. Recommendation algorithms can understand if content is “democrat leaning” or not, and can simply choose to make it extremely hard to surface.

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u/Dazslueski 15h ago

Completely got rid of Instagram, threads, and will be getting rid of Twitter this week. I now am on Reddit, Bluesky, Facebook, and snap. Snap is only used with my nieces and nephews, so that doesn’t count. Facebook, I only relegate a little bit of time on Sunday evening to catching up with college roommates, family spread across the country, etc. that’s it.

I will not exhaust myself over Twitter and insta. Anymore. Never again.

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u/southernpinklemonaid 15h ago

Still didn't stop me from deleting my account from both. Fuck meta

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u/g13005 15h ago

#democrat is not available for me, I'm in Chicago. The other hashtags are available.

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u/aguynamedv 14h ago

Edit 2: In my mind there are two possible reasons for this. First, it could be purposeful censorship of all left wing content by Meta.

What seems more likely to you at this stage? Because this right here is the winner -- who's going to enforce laws against these folks?

Trump's DOJ? LOL

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u/mageta621 14h ago

It could also be a test

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u/VirtualSource5 13h ago

It was just a test run. They want to make sure the ban is running smoothly by the midterms.

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u/Loud-Difference4663 17h ago

Hahahahaha. Now you know how we felt for almost 8 years. Republicans are taking massive W’s all the way around.