Meta Shields Searches For ‘Potentially Sensitive’ Topics On Threads, Like COVID

Threads, the latest addition to Meta’s app portfolio, is making strides to maintain a responsible online environment. The app has introduced keyword-searching capabilities, but with a notable caveat: it’s blocking searches for certain “potentially sensitive” words.

Accordingly, the primary objective behind this measure is to prevent the spread of controversial and potentially misleading content within the Threads app. Among the terms that fall under the ban are “vaccines,” “covid,” and various word variations closely associated with misinformation on Meta’s platform. This was first spotted by The Washington Post.

The company has confirmed the implementation of this search block, emphasizing that it’s a temporary measure designed to keep potentially sensitive content from surfacing in search results. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram and Threads, expressed Meta’s commitment to learning from past mistakes and being cautious in its approach.

This decision aligns with Meta’s history of prudence regarding search functionality. Instagram’s search function had faced criticism in the past for promoting conspiracy-driven anti-vaccine accounts during the early days of the pandemic.

In the case of Threads, Meta is going beyond curbing rule-breaking content. It’s now blocking all searches containing “potentially sensitive” keywords, regardless of the actual content in the posts.

This move, however, raises concerns about limiting access to credible information and advice on the platform, especially in the context of covid-related search terms. While the intention is to maintain a responsible online space, the challenge remains to strike a balance between safeguarding against misinformation and ensuring access to valuable resources.

[via Engadget and CNN, cover photo 283199447© Illia Martynov | Dreamstime.com]