As we pass through another tumultuous Invasion Day period, I wanted to reach out to share some concerning news about recent changes to Meta's content moderation policies and how they may impact our community, particularly as we approach significant dates like NAIDOC Week, and Reconciliation Week.
As those who have followed us for sometime know, we have been, and continue to be, targeted by white supremacist groups and racist members of Australian society opposed to our mission of fostering understanding and respect through education. This has especially been the case when featuring works of respected Indigenous authors such as Stan Grant, Bruce Pascoe, Eddie Betts and Adam Goodes.
What's Changing at Meta?
- Fact-checkers are being removed, allowing potentially more misinformation to spread
- Fewer restrictions on controversial topics like immigration and gender
- More political content will be recommended in users' feeds
- Moderation teams are being relocated, signaling a deliberate shift in approach
What does this mean for First Nations people, Businesses and Advocates?
- Increase in racism, hate speech, and inaccurate information targeting Indigenous Australians
- False claims and conspiracy theories about issues like Australia Day and Aboriginal history could run rampant
- The Australia Day date change debate may become even more vitriolic without content moderation
- Just like us, Aboriginal-owned businesses advocating for social justice are bracing for trolling and misinformation when promoting NAIDOC and Reconciliation Week, and reconciliation in general.
How Koori Curriculum is Keeping You Safe
As the algorithms of social media unfortunately often amplify more extreme voices, we are deeply concerned about the real-world consequences of unmoderated racism and misinformation on Meta's platforms. As educators we are on the frontlines, shaping young minds with lessons of inclusivity and respect that promise to bring about long-term positive changes in Australian society.
