Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has defended his company's decision to scale back its content moderation policies, citing a return to the social media platform's roots of "free expression." In a candid conversation on Joe Rogan's podcast, Zuckerberg explained that the changes are aimed at giving people more control over the content they see, rather than relying on Meta's moderators.

The key updates announced by Meta include the end of its independent fact-checker program, which will be replaced by a community notes feature similar to that used by X. Additionally, the company will increase the thresholds for its automated content filter, meaning fewer posts will be automatically taken down. While this may reduce the number of bad posts on the platform, it also means that fewer good posts will be mistakenly removed.

Zuckerberg's decision has been met with widespread criticism, including from employees within his own company. However, the CEO remains adamant that the changes are necessary to promote free expression and give people more control over their online experience. "You only start one of these companies if you believe in giving people a voice," Zuckerberg said. "The whole point of social media is basically giving people the ability to share what they want."

The timing of the announcement has raised eyebrows, coming just days before the inauguration of Donald Trump, who has previously clashed with Meta and Zuckerberg. However, the CEO claims that the timing is purely coincidental and that the changes have been a long time coming.

Zuckerberg also used the opportunity to criticize the Biden administration, claiming that they pressured Meta to take down true information about vaccine side effects during the Covid-19 pandemic. He also praised X and Twitter for their approach to content moderation, saying that they "just did it better" than Meta.

The conversation with Rogan veered into a wide range of topics, including jiu-jitsu, AI, and broader shifts in American culture. Zuckerberg noted that people are increasingly trusting social media creators and podcast hosts, such as Rogan, over government officials and established media.

This shift in trust is reflected in Meta's recent changes to its approach to news on its platforms. The company briefly stopped promoting news or political content, but Zuckerberg signaled that it would phase this content back in. The CEO also defended the need for a more masculine presence in the country and its businesses, saying that Western society and corporate America have become "emasculated" and "neutered."

Zuckerberg's comments have sparked controversy, with some accusing him of promoting a hands-off approach to misinformation and hate speech. However, the CEO remains committed to his vision of a more open and connected world, saying that "if it's okay to say on the floor of Congress, you should probably be able to debate it on social media."

The implications of Meta's policy shift are far-reaching, with potential consequences for the spread of misinformation and the role of social media in shaping public discourse. As the company navigates this new approach, it remains to be seen how it will impact the online landscape and the broader social and political climate.