On Tuesday’s CNN NewsNight, host Abby Phillip dismissed the notion that Meta’s adjustments to its fact-checking and content moderation policies were necessary, questioning the demand for increased free speech on platforms like Facebook. Phillip argued that the changes appear tailored to align with a “Trump-focused narrative” rather than addressing genuine user concerns.
“I don’t know that anybody was saying there is not enough free speech on Facebook,” Phillip remarked, adding, “Not a lot of people younger than 35 are using Facebook anymore anyway. Nobody wants Facebook to be this free speech panacea.”
Phillip acknowledged the utility of community notes for adding context to posts but criticized Meta’s decision to concentrate its moderation operations in Texas. She argued that placing moderators across different regions would reduce potential biases inherent to any single location.
Later in the segment, Phillip noted the significant presence of conservative users on Facebook, suggesting that such platforms are already widely used by those advocating for less restrictive content policies.
Meta’s changes to content moderation come amidst growing debates over free speech and censorship on social media platforms. Critics of Meta’s prior policies, including prominent conservatives, have alleged that existing moderation frameworks disproportionately restrict their viewpoints. Phillip’s comments reflect skepticism over the premise that such reforms are necessary, pointing to an already diverse and engaged user base.
The reforms are expected to face continued scrutiny as Meta balances calls for greater speech freedoms with demands for responsible content oversight.
