Threads censorship has already become a controversial issue. Many accounts, particularly from users on the politically conservative side of the aisle, have accused the new Twitter rival from Meta of censoring them and not following free speech principles. This allegation isn’t too surprising, as both Facebook and Instagram have been accused of censorship as well by those on the left and right of the political spectrum. Here is whether Threads is really censoring users for free speech on its platform.
Does Threads censor users for free speech?
Yes, Threads does censor users and takes down posts that it deems have violated the app’s Community Guidelines.
Threads has several methods of censorship. If users attempt to follow an account that has been flagged by Instagram and Threads, a pop-up will appear that says “Are you sure you want to follow [insert account name]?” followed by a warning message that “This account has repeatedly posted false information that was reviewed by independent fact-checkers or went against our Community Guidelines.” The user then has to hit “Follow” to become a follower of the account.
Then if a particular Thread is seen to go against the Community Guidelines, which is based on Instagram’s Community Guidelines, it will be removed. There is no way to challenge or appeal the decision. The user who posted that Thread is then given a warning that “repeatedly breaking our rules can cause more account restrictions.”
According to the Instagram Community Guidelines, the app may “remove content that contains credible threats or hate speech” and “content that targets private individuals to degrade or shame them.”
Much like Twitter, Meta’s Threads has the legal right to censor users. That said, the company is not transparent on their censorship decisions and how their fact-checkers come to their decisions.
For more guides on Threads, here’s how to turn on Dark Mode for the app on iPhone and Android, and how to gain more followers on the platform.
