I’ve been wrestling with this decision for a while now, but I’ve finally reached a point where I feel I need to speak out and take action. While I’m not able to fully delete my accounts because I need access to manage work-related pages, I will no longer post or respond on my personal page.
Recently, Meta—the parent company of Facebook and Instagram—announced they’re ending fact-checking on their platforms entirely (The Verge). This means misinformation, which is already rampant, will now spread unchecked. Meta claims this is in the name of “free expression,” but let’s be honest—this isn’t about freedom. It’s about profit.
Even more alarming, Meta has loosened its rules around hate speech. It’s now acceptable to target LGBTQ+ people, women, immigrants, and other marginalized groups with harmful, dehumanizing narratives. This includes allowing users to call LGBTQ+ people “mentally ill” for being who they are (Wired). These changes aren’t just irresponsible; they’re dangerous.
By doing this, Meta is sending a clear message: hatred and division are okay as long as they keep the platform profitable. And I can’t be a part of that anymore.
But this isn’t just about Meta. It’s about the broader issue of parasitic capitalism—the billionaires and corporations that exploit our communities and values for their bottom line. Meta, Amazon, Walmart, and countless others profit from harm, inequality, and unchecked consumerism. It’s time we each take a stand in our own ways to deny these companies our money and our support.
Social media platforms should be spaces for connection, growth, and truth—not places where lies are allowed to thrive and where marginalized communities are targeted for profit.
So, I’m taking a stand. I encourage you to consider doing the same. Let’s send a message to billionaire Mark Zuckerberg and Meta: We don’t accept these changes, and we won’t continue to support a platform that enables harm for the sake of money.
This isn’t an easy decision – Facebook has been how I stay in touch with family and friends – but it feels like the right one. Social media and these massive corporations don’t define us—we define ourselves by our actions and the values we uphold.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you’ll join me in standing up for what’s right.
Tommy Karr 