After a lot of controversy surrounding its policies, Facebook has now come out with a new decision regarding political groups and inclinations. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Wednesday (January 27) that the social media platform would no longer recommend civic and political groups to its users.
It is to be noted that Facebook has often been accused of bias towards certain political ideas and inclinations. Facebook, among other platforms, also faced criticism after violent protestors stormed the US Capitol earlier this month.
Facebook had earlier said that it temporarily stopped these recommendations of political groups in October last year as the Presidential elections in the United States loomed closer. Facebook is now considering making it permanent and expanding the same policy on its platform in other parts of the world.
"We want these discussions to be able to keep happening…But one of the top pieces of feedback that we are hearing from our community right now is that people don’t want politics and fighting to take over their experience on our services," said Zuckerberg, about the policy.
It can be seen as a way for Facebook to polish its image that has received a jolt due to multiple political controversies. Facebook seeks to discourage such conversations and turn them down.
Nick Clegg, who is Facebook's Vice President of global affairs, said in a blog post, "We believe our decision was necessary and right."
After the violence at the US Capitol, Facebook blocked its users from creating any live event in the proximity of the White House and the US Capitol Building. It was during the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Facebook also joined Twitter to suspend the account of former US President Donald Trump for his false claims about the elections during the violence.
