Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, recently announced it will end its third-party fact-checking program, a significant shift that could have serious implications for Nigeria. This change, which was made public on January 7, 2025, will replace the existing system with a crowd-sourced moderation model called “Community Notes,” similar to the approach taken by X (formerly Twitter).
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated that the new moderation strategy will focus on high-severity violations, such as child exploitation and terrorism, rather than addressing controversial or misleading content that doesn’t necessarily break community standards. He emphasized the need to simplify policies and restore free expression on the platform.
However, this decision has raised alarms among experts, particularly in Nigeria, where misinformation has already had dire consequences. Shirly Ewang, a Senior Specialist at Gatefield, a public strategy and advocacy firm, expressed her concerns about how this change could worsen existing ethnic and religious tensions in the country.
Nigeria has been grappling with misinformation for years, especially during the recent 2023 elections. Ewang pointed out that false claims about candidates circulated widely on social media, leading to heightened tensions among different religious and ethnic groups. Reports indicated that fact-checkers were identifying over 100 false claims daily during this period.
The African Digital Democracy Observatory has noted that disinformation is often wielded as a political tool to manipulate public opinion. Ewang recalled instances where fake images spread on social media incited violence, such as in Plateau State.
One particularly troubling example involved a misleading post by Nigerian politician Femi Fani-Kayode. He shared an image of a man holding a burnt child with a caption that falsely attributed the incident to violence by Fulani terrorists in Oyo State. In reality, the image was from the Southern Cameroon crisis.
With Meta’s new policy potentially rolling out in Nigeria, experts fear that misinformation could spread even more unchecked. Ewang warned that without effective moderation, false narratives could exacerbate existing conflicts, particularly in a country where social media plays such a pivotal role in shaping public discourse.
In past years, Meta has faced lawsuits over its role in inciting violence and hatred in various African regions. The company was sued in Kenya by Abraham Meareg after his father was killed during the Tigray war, allegedly due to hate speech proliferated on Facebook.
Zuckerberg argues that Community Notes will enhance free expression and reduce bias in moderation. However, Ewang is skeptical about its effectiveness as a replacement for traditional fact-checking. She believes that misinformation would likely spread before any community notes could be created to address it.
“Community Notes will only encourage conversations,” she said. “It’s not a solid method for content moderation.”
With millions of users on Meta platforms, over 51 million on Facebook and 12.6 million on Instagram, Ewang stresses that Nigerian citizens also bear responsibility for combating misinformation. She advocates for individuals to verify information before sharing it online
Ewang calls on the Nigerian government to collaborate with civil society organizations to educate citizens about identifying fake news. She emphasizes the need for clear guidelines for tech companies like Meta to ensure safer online spaces.
Meta’s new content moderation policy poses significant risks for Nigeria, where misinformation can exacerbate ethnic and religious tensions. To combat this challenge, citizens, civil society organizations, and the government must work together. Promoting media literacy, encouraging verification of information are essential steps and most importantly, regulators should establish clear guidelines for tech companies to ensure safe online spaces.
