Why has Stephen King quit Facebook?
Horror author protests social network's policy on political ads
Stephen King has quit Facebook in protest at the “flood of false information allowed in its political advertising”.
Explaining his decision, the horror novelist said he also lacked confidence in Facebook’s ability to protect privacy.
King, who is described by The Guardian as a “prolific user of social media”, wrote on Twitter: “I'm quitting Facebook. Not comfortable with the flood of false information that's allowed in its political advertising, nor am I confident in its ability to protect its users' privacy.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
CNN reports that King “is politically active and very outspoken, especially regarding his views on US President Donald Trump”.
“And when it comes to Facebook, King isn't much of a fan of it either,” the broadcaster adds.
In recent months, Facebook has come in for increased criticism for refusing to ban paid political adverts. Its social media rival, Twitter, announced last October that it would usher in such a ban, with CEO Jack Dorsey saying that he was taking the move because “political message reach should be earned, not bought”.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
On the same day that King told his 5.6m Twitter followers that he was quiting Facebook, its owner Mark Zuckerberg appeared at the Silicon Slopes Tech Summit in Utah.
In a speech declaring that the social media giant would stand up for free speech, Zuckerberg said that his approach was “going to piss off a lot of people”, The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
“Increasingly we're getting called [on] to censor a lot of different kinds of content that makes me really uncomfortable,” the paper quotes him as saying.
“It kind of feels like the list of things that you’re not allowed to say socially keeps on growing... And I’m not really OK with that.”
Last October, Zuckerberg struck a similar chord when The Washington Post reported him as saying: “I don't think most people want to live in a world where you can only post things that tech companies judge to be 100% true.”
Despite refusing to pull political adverts all-together, the company did promise to strengthen safeguards around paid-for political posts ahead of the 2019 European elections.
The move was as part of an effort to prevent foreign interference in elections.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The influencer court case shaking up social media
Under The Radar TikTok star accuses her rival of stealing her beige 'aesthetic' but are there shades of grey in US copyright law?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Mitch McConnell's legacy?
Talking Point Moving on after a record-setting run as Senate GOP leader
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'A man's sense of himself is often tied to having a traditionally masculine, physical job'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Bluesky: the social media platform causing a mass X-odus
The Explainer Social media platform is enjoying a new influx but can it usurp big rivals?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Pakistan 'gaslighting' citizens over sudden internet slowdown
Under the Radar Government accused of 'throttling the internet' and spooking businesses with China-style firewall, but minister blames widespread use of VPNs
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Threads turns one: where does the Twitter rival stand?
In the Spotlight Although Threads is reporting 175 million active monthly users, it has failed to eclipse X as a meaningful cultural force
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
Is the AI bubble deflating?
Today's Big Question Growing skepticism and high costs prompt reconsideration
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
How social media is limiting political content
The Explainer Critics say Meta's 'extraordinary move' to have less politics in users' feeds could be 'actively muzzling civic action'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Elon Musk's most controversial moments
In Depth The business mogul has a long history in the hot seat
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Last updated
-
Elon Musk's 'frivolous' but precedent-setting free speech fight with Media Matters
Talking Point The lawsuit is just the latest in Musk's ongoing tension with social media watchdogs
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Twitter's year of Elon Musk: what happens next?
Why Everyone's Talking About 'Your platform is dying', says one commentator, but new CEO is aiming for profitability next year
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published