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The independent group will have the power to shape Threads’ policies.
The Oversight Board of Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced that it will now oversee content moderation decisions on Threads, Meta’s newest app. This expansion of the board’s purview reflects the growing influence of Threads, which has already amassed 130 million users and has the potential to reach a billion users in the future.
The addition of Threads to the Oversight Board’s scope means that users of the app will now have the ability to appeal Meta’s content moderation decisions. Similar to the process on Instagram and Facebook, users can request a review from the independent board after exhausting Meta’s internal process. While Meta is obligated to implement the board’s decisions regarding specific posts, it is not required to adhere to its policy recommendations.
Threads has already faced criticism from users regarding its content recommendation policies. The app currently blocks search terms related to COVID-19 and other “potentially sensitive” topics. Additionally, Threads recently announced that it will no longer recommend accounts that post excessive political content, unless users choose to opt-in to such suggestions.
However, it may take some time for Threads users to see any changes resulting from the Oversight Board’s recommendations. The board only accepts a small fraction of user appeals, and its decision-making process can take several weeks or months. Furthermore, it may take even longer for Meta to implement any rule changes based on the board’s guidance.