Meta ‘removes LGBTQ+ Pride themes from Facebook Messenger app’
February 3, 2025
In a recent development, Meta has made the controversial decision to remove Pride and LGBTQ+ themes from Facebook Messenger, just days after implementing changes to its hate speech policies. These changes now permit users to label queer individuals as “mentally ill,” a move that has sparked significant backlash.
Changes to Messenger Themes
The themes that have been discontinued included color schemes reflecting the pride flags of transgender and non-binary identities. These themes were introduced as part of Meta’s efforts to celebrate Pride Month in 2021 and 2022. Other themes available on Messenger include popular cultural references such as Minecraft and Squid Game.
This shift was initially reported by 404 Media and follows a broader trend within the company, including the removal of fact-checkers from Instagram, Threads, and Facebook. Instead, Meta has opted for a community notes approach, reminiscent of the model used by X/Twitter.
Internal Reactions and Policy Changes
Meta’s recent policy adjustments have not gone unnoticed internally. Reports indicate that the changes have led to “total chaos,” with some employees taking sick leave, expressing feelings of being both “LGBTQ+ and mentally ill.” A thread on Meta’s internal communication platform garnered hundreds of comments, with employees seeking clarification from the board regarding the rationale behind the policy updates, particularly as they seem to diverge from established scientific consensus.
A member of Meta’s policy team addressed these concerns, asserting that the company’s “core values have not changed.” They emphasized that the revisions to the hateful conduct policy aim to correct what they described as “mission creep,” which had rendered the rules overly restrictive and prone to excessive enforcement. The spokesperson stated, “Reaffirming our core value of free expression means we might see content on our platforms that people find offensive.”
As the situation unfolds, Meta has yet to respond to inquiries from PinkNews regarding these significant changes.
Meta ‘removes LGBTQ+ Pride themes from Facebook Messenger app’
In a recent development, Meta has made the controversial decision to remove Pride and LGBTQ+ themes from Facebook Messenger, just days after implementing changes to its hate speech policies. These changes now permit users to label queer individuals as “mentally ill,” a move that has sparked significant backlash.
Changes to Messenger Themes
The themes that have been discontinued included color schemes reflecting the pride flags of transgender and non-binary identities. These themes were introduced as part of Meta’s efforts to celebrate Pride Month in 2021 and 2022. Other themes available on Messenger include popular cultural references such as Minecraft and Squid Game.
This shift was initially reported by 404 Media and follows a broader trend within the company, including the removal of fact-checkers from Instagram, Threads, and Facebook. Instead, Meta has opted for a community notes approach, reminiscent of the model used by X/Twitter.
Internal Reactions and Policy Changes
Meta’s recent policy adjustments have not gone unnoticed internally. Reports indicate that the changes have led to “total chaos,” with some employees taking sick leave, expressing feelings of being both “LGBTQ+ and mentally ill.” A thread on Meta’s internal communication platform garnered hundreds of comments, with employees seeking clarification from the board regarding the rationale behind the policy updates, particularly as they seem to diverge from established scientific consensus.
A member of Meta’s policy team addressed these concerns, asserting that the company’s “core values have not changed.” They emphasized that the revisions to the hateful conduct policy aim to correct what they described as “mission creep,” which had rendered the rules overly restrictive and prone to excessive enforcement. The spokesperson stated, “Reaffirming our core value of free expression means we might see content on our platforms that people find offensive.”
As the situation unfolds, Meta has yet to respond to inquiries from PinkNews regarding these significant changes.