Google ($GOOGL) searches related to deleting Facebook, Instagram, and Threads accounts have surged since Meta ($META) CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the company will end third-party fact-checking, loosen content moderation, and reintroduce more political content in user feeds, according to TechCrunch. Critics argue that the shift aims to appease the incoming Trump administration and could worsen the spread of misinformation, hateful speech, and violent content on Meta’s platforms.
Interestingly, public backlash has been strong, with Google searches for “how to permanently delete Facebook” reaching the maximum score on Google Trends. Related searches like “how to delete all photos on Facebook” and “alternatives to Facebook” have spiked by over 5,000%. In addition, searches for Bluesky and Mastodon, two decentralized social platforms that have gained popularity since Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter—now X—have surged.
Meta’s decision to roll back protections follows years of criticism over its role in events like the January 6 Capitol riot and violence in Myanmar. Previously, the company reduced political content in feeds due to user fatigue. Now, Zuckerberg says the changes are aimed at restoring free expression, with plans to replace third-party fact-checkers with a community notes system, similar to the approach used by X.
Is META Stock a Good Buy?
Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Strong Buy consensus rating on META stock based on 39 Buys, three Holds, and one Sell assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. After a 67% rally in its share price over the past year, the average META price target of $683.72 per share implies 11.12% upside potential.
