For years, conservatives have called out social media over accusations of censorship. Elon Musk, after taking over Twitter, provided documents that showed Democrats in the government colluding with social apps to silence dissenters. Despite what the media claims, it seems the largest platforms for free speech are preventing people from speaking out.

Most of these apps aren’t even hiding it anymore. Just a few months ago, Meta—the parent company of Facebook and Instagram—announced it was going to limit the reach of political accounts. That means posts containing political content would not reach as many users. Many called this a form of censorship; as usual, the left didn’t seem to care. Well, a study was conducted to see how effective Instagram has been in suppressing political content. As it turns out, the liberals aren’t too happy.

A recent study conducted by Accountable Tech, a social media integrity nonprofit, has shed light on the impact of Mark Zuckerberg’s decision to reduce the spread of political content on Instagram…

These accounts, including those of Hillary Clinton and LGBT activist group GLAAD, frequently share leftist political content…

The findings revealed a staggering 65 percent drop in the average weekly reach per post across the five accounts over the 10-week duration.

The Surprise Blowback

A recent study conducted by Accountable Tech, a nonprofit dedicated to social media integrity, reveals a startling consequence of Mark Zuckerberg’s decision to curb political content on Instagram. What was intended as a neutral move to reduce political noise has, in fact, thrown a wrench into the online presence of several high-profile liberal accounts.

When Meta decided to limit the spread of political content through Instagram’s recommendation algorithms, the goal was to create a less contentious environment on the platform. However, the three-month study highlighted a significant impact on five prominent Instagram accounts, including those of Hillary Clinton and the LGBT activist group GLAAD—accounts with a combined following of 13.5 million users.

The results? A whopping 65 percent drop in the average weekly reach per post across these five accounts. For voices that rely on social media to broadcast their messages, this kind of decline is nothing short of disastrous. The study focused primarily on leftist accounts, but let’s not forget—conservative accounts have been dealing with Instagram’s censorship for years. Now, it seems the tables have turned.

Silencing Both Sides

Instagram head Adam Mosseri’s defense of the policy, saying, “We don’t think it’s our place to amplify political news,” has been met with criticism from all directions. While Mosseri argues that users will still see political posts from accounts they follow, the reality has been a sharp decline in visibility, particularly for those posting about hot-button issues like abortion and LGBT rights.

The irony here is palpable. Instagram, which has been accused of suppressing conservative voices, is now facing backlash from liberal accounts as well. This blowback could indicate that the platform’s attempts to neutralize political content have backfired, leading to a kind of censorship that hurts everyone—regardless of political affiliation.

Key Takeaways:

• Instagram’s political content policy has led to a 65% drop in reach for several high-profile liberal accounts.
• Both conservative and liberal voices are feeling the impact of Instagram’s decision to reduce political content visibility.
• Critics argue that Meta’s policies are stifling important information during a crucial election year.

Source: Breitbart