What are the concerns around wellbeing and safety in relation to Meta’s changes to what is and isn’t going to be allowed on its platforms from now on?
Meta’s decision to end its use of third-party fact-checking and relax moderation on its platforms – Facebook, Threads, and Instagram – it also owns WhatsApp – replacing it with a ‘Community Notes’ model, was announced on Tuesday 7 December as intended to prioritise free expression and reduce censorship. It is already being argued by concerned individuals and organisations as a change that is going to increase the spread of misinformation and harmful content.
GLAAD has quickly issued a press release outlining how the coming changes will allow for increased attacks on the LGBTQIA+ community, especially those who identify as transgender. Other communities and vulnerable groups could also be affected, with those propagating lies and hatred allowed to continue doing so without facing sanctions that previously included account suspensions and deletions.
Where this has obvious relevance to therapeutic work is in relation to the impact of this new approach on clients, as well as on those counsellors and psychotherapists promoting their availability to prospective new clients online, through Instagram, Threads, and Facebook Pages. Many have already withdrawn from making use of X (formerly Twitter) owing to its owner, Elon Musk, having made similar changes to that platform some time ago. X is seen by a lot of individuals and groups as having become unsafe and irresponsibly managed as a result.
Meta ending the use of professional fact-checkers is likely to lead to a proliferation of false information, potentially causing confusion, anxiety, and mistrust among users. Counselling clients and those around them – family, friends, co-workers – may encounter misleading health advice; conspiracy theories; and, hateful and dehumanising speech. All of these can be detrimental to people’s mental health, especially those who consider themselves to be in vulnerable groups already dealing with othering and hostility in going about their lives.
A reliance on community-driven fact-checking is unlikely to diminish or reduce harmful content, as anyone can call out facts as untruths as much as they can counter untruths with facts, exposing users to disinformation and hostilities such as increased cyberbullying, harassment, triggering material, and threats.
Hostile, unsafe environments without adequate safeguards are already known to exacerbate feelings of isolation, depression, and anxiety, particularly among adolescents and marginalised groups. This change undermines efforts to create safe online spaces, which results in a decline in users’ overall sense of security and wellbeing on these platforms.
Promoting free expression is valuable, but free speech should always involve speaking with an overarching awareness of the need for social and civic responsibility. This is akin to the confidentiality counsellors and psychotherapists offer their clients, which is boundaried: yes, you speak to a therapist confidentially but if you reveal you are going to harm yourself or others, or commit crimes, confidentiality will not apply in order to protect you and others.
The change to Meta’s platforms poses significant risks to users’ mental health and safety, necessitating careful consideration by therapists and clients as to how they use Threads and Facebook, if at all; and, proactive measures are needed to mitigate potential negative outcomes. Such measures can include nation states introducing legal requirements on social networks operating within their jurisdictions to act in ways they deem responsible; active campaigning to apply pressure to roll back to using professional fact-checkers and robust moderation; and, for the bodies providing oversight and ethical frameworks to caring professions to collate and analyse the impact of these changes on their service users and workers, to feed into public awareness and push governments to take action.
Should counsellors and psychotherapists continue to promote their availability through Meta’s Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, noting many have already withdrawn from actively engaging with the X platform? They should certainly evaluate whether to continue promoting their availability through Meta’s platforms. While they offer extensive reach and accessibility, the newly announced changes to content moderation and fact-checking raise legitimate concerns about their alignment with the values of safety, trust, and wellbeing that are central to therapeutic practice.
For counsellors and psychotherapists to consider:
Facebook, Instagram, and Threads remain popular platforms; people seeking mental health support often rely on them to find resources. Maintaining a presence could ensure counsellors are accessible to those who need them. By associating with these platforms, though, therapists risk being seen as endorsing or tacitly supporting such environments when professional ethics prioritise client safety and harm reduction. If Meta’s platforms are seen as undermining these principles, continuing to advertise on them (paid ads or by maintaining a presence) could conflict with a counsellor’s ethical obligations.
Counsellors need to consider the demographics and needs of their target clients. If Meta’s platforms are where their audience is most active and accessible, a balanced approach might involve using these platforms for outreach but maintaining clear boundaries, such as avoiding active engagement in potentially harmful discussions.
Counsellors and psychotherapists can consider in what ways they might acknowledge the risks of engaging on Meta’s platforms and provide disclaimers emphasising their commitment to client safety and evidence-based practices, while reducing their reliance on any single platform by promoting services through multiple channels (professional websites, local advertising, and mental health-specific platforms). They should regularly review the ethical implications and practical effectiveness of using Meta’s platforms and be ready to change their thinking and approach if they become more harmful than helpful.
All decisions made should align with the practitioner’s values, the needs of their clients, and their professional commitment to fostering a safe and supportive environment.
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