(fyiteam)You might have noticed that, recently, we’ve started obscuring certain words with dots.
This isn’t to annoy you. We’ve found that the algorithm hides our news unless we obscure some words.
Why? Because we’re victims of shadowbanning. But we always get back on our feet; it’s no big deal.
(fyiteam)Unfortunately, no, but we do apologize.
The term describes the experience of social media users who notice that the algorithm “buries” content with specific topics or views.
Platforms call it “content suggestion guidelines,” while critics see it as “algorithmic suppression.”
The algorithm varies by platform and includes rules that “determine” how many people will see a user’s content.
(fyiteam)We’re not discussing content that violates platform rules, like misinformation or violence, but rather content that’s permitted yet not promoted.
Generally, platforms tend to avoid content that might upset users or advertisers, affecting their revenue. This varies by platform and is often not transparent.
(fyiteam)In February, Meta announced it would stop promoting (or shadowbanning) political content on IG and Threads.
At the same time, without telling anyone, it implemented a new setting that is active by default, designed to show less political content from accounts we don’t follow (see slide 10).
The reason? “People told us they want to see less politics,” Meta says.
(fyiteam)Meta considers content to be “political” if it refers to:
• Governments
• Elections
• Social issues—though it does not elaborate further in its official definition.
According to Meta’s explanation to the Washington Post, “Social issues” refer to content that highlights global problems resulting from the actions or inactions of others, such as international relations or crimes.
(fyiteam)According to a Washington Post study, whenever @mrs.frazzled (380k followers), a teacher who creates humorous reels on IG, talked about politics, her audience decreased by an average of 40%. When she used the word “vote” in a caption, her audience loss averaged 63%.
Additionally, five major political accounts on IG (e.g., @feminist with 5.8 million followers) experienced a 65% reduction in their audience over 10 weeks following the decision to limit political content.
(fyiteam)Meta does not notify users when a post is shadowbanned.
This affects content creators who earn from social media, deterring them from discussing any “political” topics.
However, “political” content may also include personal matters not intended for political discourse, like being transgender or having family in the Middle East.
(fyiteam)The restrictions particularly affect parties, politicians, NGOs, and media outlets focused exclusively on “political content.”
This results in posts crucial to citizens’ lives being buried, lowering the likelihood that the information will reach those who most need it to make informed decisions.
In 2024, 61% of Greeks are informed via social media.
Then do the following:
Open the app on your mobile: Go to Settings and Privacy > Suggested Content > Political Content > Select “Do not restrict political content from people you do not follow.”
You’re welcome.
