Despite changes to Meta’s sites that many are calling a step back, the City of Sault Ste. Marie has no plans to ditch its accounts.
Earlier this month, Meta announced it would move away from using fact checkers and instead use community notes, which experts are saying will allow for more misinformation.
A SooToday reader, Angelina Retta, called for the city and other local organizations to move away from Meta in a letter to the editor that ran on Saturday.
“As a woman and a member of the LGBT+ community, I am appalled by the new changes to Meta's content moderation policies. On Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, it is now acceptable to:
- Refer to women as household objects.
- Refer to gay and trans individuals as mentally ill.
- Gender-based limitations on military, law enforcement and teaching jobs.
“I urge the City of Sault Ste Marie and its affiliate organizations to follow diversity and inclusion policies, public statements, and support given during June's Pride month, to follow through with those commitments and cease using Meta platforms,” Retta said in the letter.
The city is sticking with Meta. Officials will continue to closely monitor the comments on their accounts.
“The City of Sault Ste. Marie utilizes Meta as one of several communication tools to connect with and inform our community,” said Tessa Vecchio, corporate communications officer with the city, by email.
“We actively monitor discussions on the platforms, and any derogatory or inappropriate comments are promptly removed to maintain a respectful environment.
“We sincerely value the concerns raised by our residents and remain committed to fostering a space where everyone feels safe, respected, and heard,” Vecchio said.