How Facebook and Twitter Handled Their First Major Election Day Tests
Results were mixed
As election results trickled in overnight, President Trump falsely declared victory on social media, demanding that votes stop being counted and threatening to take his cause “to the Supreme Court.” In response, Twitter and Facebook jumped into action, rolling out disclaimers on the posts to curb any potential fallout.
The election has been a major test for Facebook and Twitter, which spent the last four years reckoning with their role in the 2016 election, which was marked by conspiracy theories, targeted misinformation, and hyperpartisan propaganda that went largely unchecked by social media platforms. Both platforms have made significant updates to their policies since then.
After Trump took to social media to falsely accuse Democrats of trying to “steal” the election, both Facebook and Twitter slapped warning labels on these posts.
Several of the president’s tweets are now overlaid with disclaimers noting that “some or all of the content shared in the Tweet is disputed.” In explaining its decision making, Twitter cited its Civic Integrity Policy, which prohibits users from manipulating or interfering in elections. Trump’s tweets were also effectively throttled by safeguards that limit other users from liking…
