In recent years, META has become one of the most influential corporations shaping modern social life. Through platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, the company has embedded itself into how people communicate, socialise, and access information. While these platforms are often presented as optional tools, in reality META has created systems of dependency that make disengagement increasingly difficult, raising serious concerns about autonomy, free speech, and democratic accountability.
META’s power lies not only in its technology, but in its exploitation of social dynamics. Its platforms rely heavily on network effects: people stay because everyone else is there. Social events, community groups, professional contacts, and even family communication are often organised through META’s services. As a result, disconnecting can lead to social isolation, missed opportunities, and loss of visibility. This generates a persistent fear of missing out (FOMO), which discourages users from leaving even when they are dissatisfied with the platform. Participation therefore becomes less a matter of free choice and more a form of social pressure.
This dependence grants META immense control over public discourse. Unlike traditional media, META does not create content but controls its visibility through algorithms and content moderation. These systems determine which posts are amplified, restricted, or removed, yet they operate with limited transparency. While META claims to enforce neutral “community standards,” the real-world effects of these policies are often uneven and politically charged.
One of the most controversial aspects of META’s moderation practices is its treatment of pro-Palestinian content. Numerous journalists, human rights organisations, and civil society groups have documented cases in which posts supporting Palestinian rights, reporting on civilian suffering, or criticising Israeli state actions have been removed or suppressed. Such content is frequently flagged under broad categories related to terrorism or security, even when it is clearly political or humanitarian in nature. Meanwhile, comparable restrictions are less consistently applied to pro-Israeli narratives. Although META denies political bias, the repeated silencing of certain voices suggests that its moderation policies tend to align with dominant Western geopolitical interests.
This suppression of speech is particularly troubling because META’s platforms function as de facto public spaces. For many users, especially in the Global South, Facebook and WhatsApp are not merely social networks but primary sources of news, political debate, and civic engagement. When a private corporation restricts access to these spaces, it effectively shapes political participation without democratic oversight. Decisions that affect millions are made by a company accountable primarily to shareholders rather than the public.
Europe’s response to META’s growing power has been limited. While European institutions have introduced regulations aimed at protecting data and competition, they have failed to offer meaningful alternatives to META’s platforms. The absence of strong European social media companies has left citizens dependent on an American corporation to mediate social and political life. Regulation alone, without investment in public or cooperative digital spaces, has done little to reduce this dependence.
In conclusion, META’s influence extends far beyond social networking. By fostering dependency through fear of disconnection and exercising control over speech, the company has assumed a role once reserved for public institutions. Its suppression of pro-Palestinian voices highlights the dangers of allowing private corporations to govern public discourse. Addressing META’s power will require not only regulation, but a rethinking of who should control the digital spaces in which modern democracy increasingly takes place.
Non Meta ways to connect
La meta in Spanish means the goal. I’m trying to reduce my use of Meta products and want to use some other applications
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