Facebook bans the phrase 'stop the steal' in response to US Capitol riots
What you need to know
- Facebook has banned the phrase "Stop the Steal" from being used on its sites.
- The decision comes as the social media continues to moderate users on its site following the events at the U.S. Capitol.
- Facebook highlights its efforts to connect users with reliable information regarding the election.
Facebook on Monday announced that it's banning the phrase "Stop the Steal" from being used in content on its social media platforms, including Instagram. According to a blog post by the VP of Integrity, Guy Rose, and the VP Global Policy Management, Monika Bickert, the move continues Facebook's string of policy changes that have been implemented since violence broke out at the U.S. Capitol last week.
The company highlights its efforts to mitigate election misinformation, noting that it's keeping its Integrity Operations Center open through the inauguration to continue to monitor and respond to threats in real-time. Facebook News team is working to curate accurate and reliable news pieces to reflect the results of the election, which was officially certified on January 7th.
It also notes that in addition to removing the Stop the Steal group and any similar groups, Facebook is pausing any and all election or politics-related ads from appearing on its platform.
The decision by social media sites to ban Donald Trump has been met by many with concerns over censorship, with some thinking social media platforms are overstepping, while others think that these sites have not done enough. The divisive move is just another reason users have begun to flee the platform, which includes one of the best messaging apps on Android, due to its policies. Facebook maintains that it is only focused on keeping its members safe and informed.
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Derrek is the managing editor of Android Central, helping to guide the site's editorial content and direction to reach and resonate with readers, old and new, who are just as passionate about tech as we are. He's been obsessed with mobile technology since he was 12, when he discovered the Nokia N90, and his love of flip phones and new form factors continues to this day. As a fitness enthusiast, he has always been curious about the intersection of tech and fitness. When he's not working, he's probably working out.