Meta Platforms is reversing course on its commitment to diversity and inclusion, ending mandatory interviews with underrepresented candidates and partnerships with diverse suppliers. This move, coupled with relaxed content moderation policies that permit hate speech against marginalized groups, raises concerns about the company's commitment to social responsibility.
Meta is disbanding many of its diversity and inclusion efforts, telling employees they will no longer be required to interview candidates from under-represented backgrounds for open roles, or look to do business with diverse suppliers. The note to employees, shared with Bloomberg News verbally, represents a significant undoing of diversity, equity and inclusion priorities at the company.
Maxine Williams, Meta’s chief diversity officer and highest-ranking black woman, will be reassigned to a new role, the memo states. Technology | Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg has been working to appeal to President-elect Donald Trump, who he recently met in person at Mar-a-Lago, after years of tension with the politician. Earlier this week, Zuckerberg halted Meta’s work with third-party fact-checking organizations. Meta on Tuesday also updated its policies around what kind of content could be removed on its sites. These changes included new provisions allowing its users to at times wield insulting language “when discussing transgender rights, immigration or homosexuality” as well as to argue for gender or sexual orientation-based limitations on military, law enforcement and teaching jobs. The new policy also removed protections against language that describes women as “household objects or property” as well as dehumanizing language focused on Black, transgender and non-binary people. Meta joins companies including Walmart Inc. and McDonald’s Corp in a retreat from DEI policies. Following the Supreme Court’s ban on affirmative action in college admissions, legal challenges to corporate diversity programs aimed at boosting underrepresented groups have prompted executives to review the initiatives. Trump, a vocal critic of DEI policies, has promised to root out the efforts from the federal government. As of 2023, Meta was a majority Asian company, at 51% Asian and 36% white, according to Bloomberg analysis of the data the company reports to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission each year. Percentages of Black and Hispanic workers, at 3.5% and 6%, respectively, have seen slight declines since 2020. Meta had among the biggest decline in Black managers among 84 S&P 100 companies from 2022 to 2023
Business Social Issues Meta Diversity Inclusion Mark Zuckerberg Donald Trump Content Moderation Social Responsibility
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Meta Dismantles Diversity and Inclusion InitiativesMeta is scaling back its diversity and inclusion efforts, ending requirements for interviewing candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and partnering with diverse suppliers. Chief Diversity Officer Maxine Williams is being reassigned. This move comes amidst Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's efforts to appease former President Donald Trump, a vocal critic of DEI policies. The company has also revised its content moderation policies, allowing more inflammatory language related to transgender rights, immigration, and homosexuality.
Read more »
Meta Dismantles Fact-Checking Program, Embracing 'Free Expression' and Trump's InfluenceMeta's decision to end its fact-checking program, a key initiative against misinformation, signals a shift towards 'free expression' and aligns with the policies of X (formerly Twitter) under Elon Musk. This move, led by Meta's new global policy chief Joel Kaplan, a close associate of Donald Trump, has raised concerns about the platform's commitment to combating misinformation, especially ahead of Trump's potential return to power.
Read more »
Six States Ban Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives in Public CollegesSix states, including Utah with a Democratic governor, have enacted bans or limitations on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in public colleges and universities this year. The move reflects ongoing controversy surrounding DEI practices, primarily opposed by Republicans who argue it promotes a left-wing ideology. The legislation prohibits the use of DEI language and concepts in teaching, application processes, and institutional policies.
Read more »
Utah Can Thrive Beyond Zero-Sum Diversity, Equity, and InclusionA Utah higher education chief diversity officer reflects on the state's recent legislative restrictions on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, drawing parallels to historical resistance to racial integration.
Read more »
Utah Can Thrive by Moving Beyond a Zero-Sum Approach to Diversity, Equity, and InclusionThis article argues that Utah can foster a more inclusive environment by shifting away from the perception that diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are zero-sum games. The author draws a parallel between current legislative restrictions on these programs and historical resistance to racial integration in public swimming pools. They emphasize the importance of continuing these efforts despite political and social pressures.
Read more »
McDonald's Rolls Back Diversity Practices, Emphasizes Inclusion Over Representation GoalsMcDonald's announces changes to its inclusion standards, moving away from 'aspirational representation goals' and focusing on embedding inclusion practices that support business growth. The company also suspends external diversity surveys, rebrands its diversity team, and shifts its approach to supplier engagement on DEI.
Read more »