Meta is discontinuing its diversity goals, citing changing legal and political conditions in the U.S. This shift has alarmed anti-discrimination advocates, leading to the resignation of Roy Austin, a former civil rights VP. The company is also ending its misinformation fact-checking program, opting for a community notes system instead. Mark Zuckerberg has expressed traditional views on masculinity and is reportedly aligning more closely with Donald Trump, raising concerns about potential impacts on global content moderation efforts.
Meta’s Shift in Diversity Commitment
In a memo shared with Meta employees across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp on January 12, 2025, Janelle Gale, the Vice President of Human Resources, explained the company’s decision to eliminate its diversity goals. She cited shifting legal and political dynamics in the United States as a significant factor in this change. This move signifies a pivotal moment for Meta as it steps back from its dedication to enhancing the representation of women and ethnic minorities within its workforce. Although the company professes to continue sourcing candidates from varied backgrounds, it will no longer enforce specific diversity quotas.
Reassessment of DEI Policies
This announcement reflects a broader trend of reassessing “DEI” (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives across the U.S. Following a landmark Supreme Court ruling in 2023 that abolished affirmative action in universities, numerous large corporations, including McDonald’s, Ford, and Amazon, have chosen to dismantle their DEI programs, labeling them as overly restrictive.
The strategic pivot by Meta has raised alarms among various organizations, especially those focused on anti-discrimination efforts. Roy Austin, who served as the Vice President for Civil Rights at Meta, resigned in protest, describing this change as a “true betrayal” of the equity and social justice principles the company had previously championed.
In addition to altering its diversity strategies, Meta has also decided to discontinue its fact-checking initiative in the United States. Initiated in 2016 to counter misinformation, this program enabled independent entities to verify the accuracy of information shared on its platforms. Meta now plans to implement a “community notes” system, similar to the one recently introduced by Elon Musk on X (formerly Twitter), allowing users to add context to posts. However, experts in misinformation have criticized this approach as inadequate.
Mark Zuckerberg’s recent actions and statements extend beyond Meta’s business strategies. In a conversation with Joe Rogan, he expressed traditional views on masculinity, suggesting that a segment of society has become “emasculated.” He argued that cultural appreciation for aggression holds value, a belief he attributes to his involvement in mixed martial arts, which he claims allows him to express his true self beyond his CEO persona.
These sentiments resonate with those of Elon Musk, who has encouraged conservative voices on his platform since acquiring Twitter. Like Musk, Zuckerberg has begun to openly challenge media narratives and governmental authority, admitting to Rogan that he previously placed too much trust in the media and accusing the Biden administration of censorship on his platforms.
Additionally, Zuckerberg appears to be forging a closer relationship with Donald Trump. Reports indicate he dined with Trump last November and made a significant donation to support Trump’s inauguration ceremony planned for January 20. During his interview, Zuckerberg expressed a positive outlook towards a potential Trump presidency, stating, “I think President Trump just wants America to win, and that makes me optimistic.”
This political shift raises concerns that extend beyond U.S. borders. Meta’s recent decisions could undermine global initiatives aimed at combating hate speech and misinformation. Concerns have been voiced by the Council of Europe, the European Commissioner for Digital Sovereignty, Joe Biden, and the United Nations, all warning of a “worrying regression” in online content moderation.