With Donald Trump ready to take on his role as the 47th President of the United States, Meta-the parent company of Facebook-issued wide-ranging policy updates that appeared to align with what is being projected as the conservative nature of the new government. Among these changes was a decision that sparked huge debates: Meta’s removal of tampons from their offices and not to allow it to be available in men’s restrooms at those premises-this did not go unscathed with a wide outcry on social media.
In an internal memo, Meta’s Vice President of Human Resources, Janelle Gale, revealed that it had canceled a number of DEI programs. According to her, “the legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing.” She said that the company will instead focus on practices that are equitable and consistent with all groups rather than on equity and inclusion training. The company will also dissolve the DEI team and revamp the way it selects its suppliers.
Elimination of Tampons
This is the decision of removing tampons from men’s bathrooms, a facility provided by Meta for its nonbinary and transgender employees, which has gone viral on the social media. Many have commented on X with disappointment, “Meta’s idea of inclusion was always performative.”.Now they’re just showing their true colours.” Others mocked the move, saying, “Guess Meta’s next step is banning empathy from the office altogether.”
However, some users argued in its defense, calling the change “common sense” and conservative in values, as in this response, “Not totally support this decision.”
Wider changes in Meta’s policy
This is part of a broader transformation at Meta that also includes axing its US fact-checking program. Its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has said that he is replacing the program with a community note system like X, claiming that “fact-checkers have been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they’ve created.”
These sweeping policy changes are significant shifts in the approach that appears to now align more closely with conservative policies influenced by the incoming administration. It remains to be seen whether such decisions will help improve Meta’s public perception or dig the hole of polarization deeper.
