Charities Advised to Prepare for Social Media Misinformation Following Meta Policy Changes

Charities warned to prepare for social media misinformation as platform policies shift

Charities are being urged to develop robust strategies for handling misinformation on social media following Meta’s recent policy changes regarding fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram.

The guidance comes from Charity Comms, the membership body for charity communications professionals, which published recommendations this week in response to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement that the company’s major platforms will no longer rely on third-party fact-checkers.

“While Meta users will now be empowered to correct hate speech and misinformation themselves, charity community managers will need to weigh in to protect the people that our organisations serve,” Charity Comms stated in its guidance document.

The organization advises charities to develop clear guidelines for content regulation, establish consistent processes for addressing misinformation and complaints, implement strong crisis communication procedures, and prioritize community management.

“It’s not just about mitigating risk,” the guidelines emphasize. “Good community management can help you grow your following because it encourages conversation and connection to a cause. Get it right and the algorithm will reward you with impressions and engagements.”

Meanwhile, the charity sector continues to see organizations abandoning X (formerly Twitter), citing concerns about the platform’s increasingly hostile environment since Elon Musk’s acquisition.

Rape Crisis South London announced last week it would leave the platform immediately, stating that X “no longer reflects the principles that guide our work.” Social entrepreneurship charity UnLtd plans to depart on February 3, expressing concerns about “harmful content, decreased transparency and actions that may undermine safe, inclusive online spaces.”

Scottish equality charity Equality Network also announced its imminent exit, specifically mentioning the “hostile” environment that has developed on X since Musk took ownership of the platform.

These recent departures follow earlier exits by sector organizations including ACEVO, a charity leadership membership body, and the Race Equality Foundation, which both left the platform last year.

Research indicates a growing trend among social justice charities considering abandoning X due to misinformation concerns. Some organizations are migrating to alternative platforms like Bluesky, seeking more controlled environments for their communications.

In a related development, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey announced Tuesday a $750,000 donation to BBC Media Action, a charity that trains journalists to combat misinformation. Dorsey, who helped establish Twitter in 2006 and served as CEO until 2021, is supporting the charity’s “Pursuit of Truth” initiative through his donation.

“This donation will support BBC Media Action’s Pursuit of Truth initiative to support the young journalists of tomorrow, and will enable the charity to invest in its bold new global strategy tackling division, distrust and disinformation through support for independent, trustworthy media,” the announcement stated.

BBC Media Action, established by the BBC World Service in 1999, works to promote independent media across 30 countries worldwide.

The convergence of Meta’s policy shifts and the ongoing exodus from X highlights the increasingly challenging social media landscape for charitable organizations. As platforms change their approaches to content moderation and misinformation, charities find themselves needing to adapt quickly to protect their communities while maintaining effective communication channels.

For many charities, particularly those working with vulnerable populations or on politically sensitive issues, decisions about social media presence now involve complex considerations of platform governance, audience reach, and organizational values. The sector appears to be entering a period of significant digital realignment as organizations reassess which platforms align with their missions and communication needs.